Cairns!

Thank god we checked into a new hostel! It's so much better here! We have our own bathroom and best of all we don't have to walk 3 billion miles to get to the main area...and an added extra is there are no moths here; yesterday I had to go on a rescue mission for Courtney to save her from the outdoor toilet where she was ambushed by a moth she claimed was "an evil demon".  Caravella hostel has made our stay in Cairns so much better!!

It's a strange climate here; very hot first thing in the morning when the sun comes up, cooler mid morning, then absolutely baking hot at midday and afternoon, then reasonably bareable during the evening. It always looks and feels though it is going to storm but it always stays hot and sunny (we don't like it!)

This morning we got a taxi from our old hostel (Traveller's Oasis) to our new place on the front of the promenade (Caravella). We couldn't check in until 1pm so we walked along the prom and found a small restaurant to get some breakfast at. 

To our delight the menu was awesome! I had poached eggs on wild mushroom and asparagus ciabatta while Courtney had an extravagant bruschetta with avocado and ricotta! For $30 each we didn't expect much less though! 

After this hearty breakfast we did a little bit of souvenir shopping (I bought gifts for George, Leighton & Taylor, Joe and Keith Sue. Don't worry I have plenty more time to get the rest!!) and then retired back to the hostel to rest as the heat of midday was exhausting.

Room 72! We got a free upgrade to a deluxe double en suite room!!! 

We had a few cold showers and relaxed until this evening, when we ventured out into crazy Cairns. We got a $7 food voucher from our hostel to eat at P J Obriens (an Irish pub) which actually wasn't bad! (Although I was at first very hesitant!) And it saved us a dollar or two! Courtney had a huge 300g steak and I had veal fillet, just for £3.50 each with a drink! After this we strolled round Cairns and explored some of the side streets.

As Courtney paddled in the lagoon I noticed there were these huge bird-like silhouettes squawking in their hundreds in the sky above the city; they were bats! Their wingspan must easily reach 60cm in width, they're pretty terrifying! 

Tomorrow we have booked a trip to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef! :-)