Friday the 12th Aug, we arrived back in Airlie Beach after a somewhat tense few hours, Mel & Kerrie seemed to be having a quarrel of sorts - something about woman travelling together, always a drama! Reminds me of a few holiday quarrels I have had with Miss Lara - alas, our friendship remains in tact - and I personally think that no relationship should be without quarrel, otherwise you have really never expressed your true opinion. I mean its a physical impossibility to agree on everything someone says and does, and if you're not speaking your mind you're a bloody pushover. In recent years I have however tried to be more diplomatic in my slating of other peoples ideas which differ to mine, I can report though that I have not yet mastered this..
We arrived back in Airlie around about late afternoon, and had a casual night in - with lovely dinner prepared by Mel, and an early night. We were pretty exhausted.
Saturday saw us going for a very adventurous water-jet skii with Mel's brother James, and I can confirm clutching onto a jet-ski hurtling at 80kms/hr over choppy waters, is probably the most terrifying, thing I have done in a while. We were out at sea for about 45 mins, and I literally had to hang on for dear life - it didnt help that Jame's was doing his utmost to terrify me, doing 360 degree turns without any warning. Terrifying but really fun! I would love to have a jet ski! Unfortunately my hair didnt appreciate the excursion and I had a massive dreadlock which took me an hr to try and get out.
The saturday evening saw us taking a trip out to Mel's pops, with the 2 brothers and one of their fiances. We went into what is termed the "Bush" here in Australia, a rather rural area - a small town inhabited mainly with the miners who work in the nearby coal mines. It was her Dad's birthday and we were going to have a liesurely BBQ at his house and spend the night.Mel's dads name is Hilary named after Sir Edward Hilary apparently - yes I kid you not, I mean they could have called him Edward, poor chap has probably had a life of ridicule. Its not even a unisex name, its like calling your son Elizabeth? Anyway - a fairly long drive - 2hrs away, I got to see my first kangaroo's - unfortunately - they were all dead ones on the side of the road. I mean there was a dead roo every km if not more, the poor things must be pretty abundant!
We had a fun filled evening around a camp style fire, drinking copiuos amounts of wine and having a good yarn. Highlights were trying to replicate dance moves taught to us by Mel's younger half brothers - they are like 10 & 13. Unfortunately having been born with little to no dance co-ordination, and I did not master the "Sponge Bob". I did manage however, to totally master their quirky little tricycle-style pushbike. It involved doing a very intense bum wiggle do get the momentum and some good rythm to continue this. It was very funny to watch Mel even took a video. Our general tom foolery, drinking and chatting went on into the wee hours, after a good few laughs.
The Sunday, was my birthday - and true to my usual style I planned nothing and tried to let the day go by with as little festivity as possible, I hate birthdays! I was forced however to have a birthday cake, which I admittedly landed up making myself (you know I like baking!), but Jame's refused to let the day go by withouth cake - and short of watching him bumbling around the kitchen - I insisted I take over!
I was quite pleased with my creation, a chocolate cake using of course, none other than Mrs Tough's recipe!
I must admit, it was very sad to not be with my family, close friends or boyfriend on the day, and I think my years of not making an event of my birthday are over. I should celebrate my life a little more! So I vow to not travel on my birthday again. It was lovely to see everyone on Skype though, and chatting to Emmy, Tanny Pie, Georgie, Rick and the whole Mashoza clan was wonderful!
The Monday was quite a fun filled day - I booked a day yacht trip around the Whitsunday Islands, which included snorkelling, a lunchtime BBQ, and unlimited drinks - WOOOHOOO!
The day was lovely, a little cloudy at times, but beautiful.
Some photos below:
the yacht and fellow passengers, stopped here for a snorkel and saw the most amazing fish & coral! only shame was that the visibility was a bit poor.
Whitehaven beach, voted one of the nicest beaches in the world - looks like South Africa?
more Whitehaven beach
Me looking VERY tanned and GLAM! It was so desolate that I was topless!
Lovely islands we were going past - Whitsundays is made up of a about 70 islands, some of them tiny, some of them luxury resorts.
Sun setting on the way home!
The main beach in Airlie - looks nice now but in the warmest summer months it is apparently swamped with deadly jelly fish! People wear suits to swim and all - another perk of South African Beaches!
Loved the name of this boat, I imagine that if I had a boat this would be its name!
That dark blob in the water, a giant turtle - it was a few hundred metres away - awesome!
Anyhoo - my first day of being 30 was was quite eventful, as said before in email. I slipped on the boat and severely strained my shoulder ligaments, fainted because it was so sore, I then walked into a low shelf splitting both my eye and nose open, and finally the event of the day had to be when I went for a pee and failed to realise that the toilet seat was down... I pee'd on my own bloody feet. GREAT.
I left Airlie beach the tuesday morning, unfortunately it too was with a little added Sarah drama. When I arrived at the airport I tried to check in and was told I was at the wrong airport. I had actually booked a ticket which involved getting a ferry to a small island (Hamilton Island), and my flight was from that Island. After having spent a considerable amount of money in New Zealand, and in getting around Australia - I was terrified of the thought of having to shell out more money! Thankfully the airline staff were very helpful, and I managed to secure a later flight for just over a $100 more... not as bad as I thought! The downside was that I was at the airport at 10am, and I had to wait four hours for my flight, and this airport literally makes PE airport look huge! I read a magazine about 4 times over, ate a lot of sandwiches, pies and junk food from the horrid little cafe type store, and baked in the sun like a fat little lizzard. It was awesome.
Thats all on my posts about Airlie! Next - Sydney....
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