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!
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!
