Sitting down to write this entry is just another item on my increasingly long procrastinating-from-packing-up-life-again list- so far this morning I've finished Anna Karenina (again), downloaded the Russian version for my kindle (over-ambitious), and then downloaded a Russian dictionary for said kindle mere minutes later (much more realistic), made a half-hearted attempt at learning some Nepali and then a full-hearted attempt at caffeinating myself to previously unheard of levels in hope that that will inspire some productivity. Rather, I sorted through all my Cairns photos and am now making you all, dear readers, accomplices to my procrastination mission by sharing them with you! 

My last two weeks in Cairns flew by, with my wonderful parentals paying a much appreciated visit and work winding up for the season. We trekked through misty rainforests, lazed on palm tree-studded beaches, chased glimmering tropical fish out on the reef, and just generally enjoyed spending time together. We spent our first week based in Yorkeys, adventuring off on day trips. On our first afternoon I dragged my flip-flop wearing Dad and more appropriately shod Mum up to Stoney Creek- aptly named, this creek winds its way down a rocky gorge, stopping to create refreshing (read: bloody cold) swimming pools which are visited by amazing electric blue dragonflies and surprisingly no people. Continuing our rainforest-exploration theme, we headed up to Mossman Gorge the next day- probably one of the most touristed sites around the Cairns/Port Douglas area. Despite a hugely packed car park, once we were out on the trails we didn't see too many people- just amazing fig trees, with their intricate roots, and the clearest creeks I think I've ever seen. 

Of course the most touristed site of all is the Great Barrier Reef- and while we are a tough lot to satisfy (I wanted to dive independently, Dad wanted to adventure snorkel and Mum wanted a How-To-Snorkel sesh) we managed to find a boat which covered all options and spent the day frolicking- my highlight was certainly following a sleepy white tip reef shark around and heading through an unbelievable chasm (following Dory's advice- swim through, not over!). By this time we had discovered the $15/45 minute Chinese massages at the night market so headed straight there off the boat- I'll admit despite my masseuse using her elbows I still nearly fell asleep after three dives in a day. We spent an afternoon or two exploring Cairns itself- my parents marvelled at the constant throng of people and partygoers- made even more pronounced by the sudden infiltration of every football and netball club in the country on their trip away. 

For the second week, we hired a campervan and took off in search of cassowaries and Cape Tribulation. Luckily we found both! 
Once you've crossed the Daintree River, the landscape shifts to even more green, even more lush, and even more oh-wow-this-creek-is-certainly-hiding-crocodiles. The distance from that ferry crossing to Cape Trib itself is quite small, so we enjoyed being able to stop and look at everything- a distinct change from normal touristing in Aus- 'Ok, so where's our next stop... Oh I see. 300 km away.'

The weather was quite windy and a bit stormy looking most of time, but we lucked out and had no rain and sunny, beachy afternoons. Our one goal for the trip was to spot a Cassowary- with only about 1000 left in the wild, our chances weren't great but while driving down to Cow Bay Mum let out a strangled cry that Dad and I eventually figured out was 'Cassowary!' Dad threw the van into reverse and sure enough, down a dirt side road there it was- strutting across the road like nobody's business. This sighting finally put to rest Mum's earlier assertion that Cassowaries were the size of chickens (?!) but also shot down mine that they stood a solid 2m high. Sadly no pictures were taken. Instead I offer a documented sighting of a gorgeous goanna- what a babe.

And with that my time in Cairns was done! A last kitesurf, visit from a dear university friend, another trip out to Fitzroy, the amazing music of the Beautiful Girls and incredibly trashy music of Cairns's biggest backpacker club rounded out my last day, and then it was the old airport shuffle to end up back in Vic. The next time I write will probably be somewhere in noisy, colourful, Kathmandu- and all I'll be able to talk about is mountains. Consider yourselves warned. 

Love and peace, 
Lucy. 

Ladies and gents, I've been sitting on this one for a while. Not normally one to procrastinate from blogging, the months since I last wrote have simply disappeared into a whirlwind of oh-look-the-tradewinds-finally-kicked-in and wow-you've-been-here-three-months-and-haven't-actually-taken-any-pictures-to-share-with-anyone-except-of-baked-goods. Luckily, over the last couple of weeks a few things have happened to remedy this- Mona came to visit and took oodles of photos which she has authorised me to share at my leisure, and I took a solid week off work to enjoy her visit and then follow it with diving on the Great Barrier Reef for a few days. 

With not too many stories to tell, this entry will be mostly photos- which, let's be honest, is what y'all are here for anyway. In an update-type vein, my time here in Cairns is coming to an end- my parents will be here in 4 sleeps (yes I'm counting down) and then I'll be back in Vic just two weeks after that- hopefully the weather is warming up down there in readiness. After a scant week at home manically packing and repacking and probably also sleeping a lot, I'm flying out to Nepal for 7 weeks- a well-needed foray into mountains before another summer in Melbtown. I've been indulging with much online gear shopping- assembling a birthday-like pile of packages to await me at home. Tis hard to shop for -10 degree sleeping bags while lolling about in a sundress- I think the Himalaya are going to be a massive shock to my I'll-keep-this-29-degree-winter-thanks-very-much body. 

So, to the turtles! After a wonderful weekend of frolicking in salt water and sunbathing, slurping pad thai and swimming under waterfalls (and because it is Mona and I, non-stop talking), we ventured out to Fitzroy Island before Mona flew back to Melbourne. Fitzroy is a beautiful continental island, surrounded by reef and covered in rainforest. We snorkelled, wandered, flippered along behind a turtle and chased down a nemo or two. 

With a taste for this whole holidaying-venture, immediately after Mona's departure I booked two days diving on the outer reef. Since I came back my students could be forgiven for thinking I run a dive company and not a kite school- as I'm urging everyone quite emphatically to get out there and see it for themselves. In two days I swam with sharks, hunted with giant trevally, oogled turtles and families of nemos, was suddenly surrounded by maori wrasse and made particular friends with one named Wally. Not only was there an abundance of amazing reef life, the boat I stayed on was well-stocked with great food and great company. 

Lots of love and have-you-been-to-the-reef-yet-because-oh-wow-you-really-must-absolutely-go...

Just as birds are wont to migrate during the winter months, I have done the same and fled Melbourne's bitter cold for the tropics. This entry comes to you from sunny, sunny Cairns, in the far north of Queensland. Days are a balmy 28 degrees, and my lone jumper that I brought with me remains balled in the back of my cupboard. 

I am working managing a kite school up here- bit more work than simply instructing, but my brain is enjoying the workout (also I get to feel super professional with a work diary, and work folder, and work phone... I'm pushing for a work jet ski at the moment). The trade winds are just starting to kick in, and it's been fun watching all the kiters come out of the woodwork and seeing the beach transform into an explosion of brightly-coloured kites flitting this way and that. I'm planning on staying up here through September, and if anyone feels like a tropical getaway they can find me in my office: a hammock slung between coconut palms. 

As my 'office' location might suggest, life up here is incredibly relaxed and lazy- when not in my hammock I can be found trying (key word there) to learn to surf on a Stand Up Paddle board- there's a great bunch of guys up here who roll up once the tide is low enough to generate some nice rolling sets just off the point at the end of my road, and what they pull off with style and grace I am fumbling through with many thorough dumpings. If there is no wind a ride through the sugar cane plantations is always on the cards, though the many, many, MANY signs warning of crocodiles living in the area are certainly enough to keep my pace nice and sprightly. 

I'm living about 2 minutes walk from the beach- when I leave my window open at night I can hear the waves (and then the kookaburras at the crack of dawn), with the former being soothing and the latter being pillow-over-the-ears worthy. My suburb is north of Cairns and super sleepy- I'm getting used to walking in the middle of the road a-la-country Victoria, and riding around without a helmet and without shoes. Also, it is named Yorkeys Knob. Yep. 

And that, friends, is about it from me! I hope you are all healthy and happy.

Until next time!