02.05.2026

Today, breakfast was served at the hotel, including hot dishes like beans in tomato sauce, bacon, sausages, rice, mushrooms, eggs in all varieties, and of course, small pancakes, also known here as crepes. We like to try a bit of everything. The seasonal fruits now include pineapples, various types of melons, and oranges. We particularly enjoy the small puff pastry treats filled with jam, pudding, or nuts. The hotel is filled with many locals who prefer a hearty breakfast! The tourists from the Middle Kingdom are noticeably absent! Before we set off on our planned hike, we also took note of the following reminder: Slip, slop, slap! - which stands for: T-shirt, sunscreen, hat! We drove several kilometers inland and then hiked the 'Forts Walk'. We wandered through the forest towards the remnants of a military defense facility that the British built during World War II to fend off Japanese attacks. Along the way, we spotted our first koala in the wild, peacefully perched on a eucalyptus tree. There were a few other animal encounters ahead. We continued to some bays that lay along the way, each almost deserted. There are over 20 beaches around the island, all pristinely clean, with Pacific waves guaranteed, and often only accessible by foot. We visited several of them, and of course, we went swimming - by the way, the water here isn't too salty. On the island, there are four villages that cater to everything tourists might need and desire. Today, we tried some fantastic fried fish and mango lassi. Very delicious! And those black 'crows' are of course hoping that some food will fall down. After a tiring day of walking in the heat, we returned to the hotel in the afternoon. Coffee break! Later, we went back to the harbor, where the wallabies were once again being spoiled with carrots by the tourists. They are nice to watch, but I wonder if that's good for them ...?

Meanwhile, the cicadas are chirping, and it’s very quiet in and around the hotel. It’s a pleasant day to sit on the balcony, with no insects bothering us! At 6:30 PM, it’s still 25 °C, and the wind has calmed down. A sense of tranquility settles everywhere, only the Pacific is roaring - as always.

By the way, 'Magnetic Island' was named by James Cook, who has 'encountered' us several times during our tour. When he sailed past here in 1770, his compass wasn’t working correctly, which he attributed to magnetic rocks.