Staff Infection (1:15)

I've done it again. I came back to Brisbane. After a great craic up in Cairns however. The money wore thin and I assumed (correctly) that I could get work again in the pub. I also missed all my mates here.

Up in Cairns I got to do two trips. I went out on a boat to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) to try my hand at diving for the first time ever! Not a bad place to learn either. I did one intro dive that eventually will count towards getting certified, which I obviously need to do. There were reef sharks, sea turtles, schools of squid, clownfish, and some wicked coral. The turtle had to be the coolest. That was actually when I was snorkeling. He was about twenty feet below me and he looked up and saw me. He then proceeded to swim straight at me. I swear he was looking into my eyes. He wanted it. He swam all the way up to me on the surface and then swam beside me a bit before diving back down. It was so friggin cool!


My second trip was up the coast to Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation. These are in the Daintree Rainforest which is another World Heritage Site along with the GBR. I think it's the only place in the world where two WHSs are right next to each other. We went on a crocodile cruise and saw a couple on the river. My first time seeing one in the wild! We walked through the rainforest and learned about all the foliage. Saw huge spiders and jungle lizards. We got to go to a remote beach and also to a famous swimming hole called Mossman Gorge.


On both trips I actually met a couple Americans! My first people from LA too. I partied with a guy from NorCal my last night. I obviously didn't learn my lesson in South Beach. At least this time I made my flight. I did sleep through the airport bus though and had to rush out of the place to catch a taxi. The other American from the same trip was also on my flight back to Bris. It was nice to speak American for a couple days at least.


So I came back with hopes of turning the $46 in my bank account to $460 and I struck gold! This week already I have 4 shifts AND they are putting me behind the bar more. So everything is great, and I am taking over the pub again. All my mates are still around and doing well. Let the shenanigans begin again. Late night debauchery at the Casino and at the bosses apt. cause "I'm a scholar. I enjoy scholarly pursuits."


Hope y'all are starting to get some nice warm weather and shakin the winter blues. Unless you're in LA and soakin it up all year round. I will let you know if I get some more pictures up too.



"What's next, Michael? Are you going to make dancing illegal? Is this the tiny town from Footloose?"

Spring Breakout (2:17)

"Oh, please. I’ve been drinking since before you were born. So if alcohol’s the reason I’m here, I got news for you, bub. It’s the only reason you’re here, too."


I've made it up the East coast! I just got to Cairns the other day and it's party central. Spring Break ALL the time! My friend Tom and his mate are up here right now too so we're soaking up the beach, the drinks and the beautiful people. "Don't call my escorts 'whores'."

From Airlie Beach I boarded an old wooden ship, unfortunately not called Diversity, and we set sail for the Whitsunday Islands. I spent three days on the ship and it was awesome. We saw pure whitesand beaches, slept below deck, and went snorkeling in a couple different reefs. Met some Canadians, Irish, and English. Typical.

After living the life in Airlie Beach I went to the small coastal town of Cardwell. I was in it now. Giant green tree frogs in the bathroom, geckos all over the walls, and butterflies everywhere. I took a boat shuttle out to Hinchinbrook Island to do a 4 day trek on the Thorsborne Trail. It was absolutely amazing! Sleeping on remote tropical beaches and hiking through rainforest to get to waterfalls and swimming holes. It was a really surreal experience because I really felt like I was on a deserted island in the middle of the ocean. It felt like a movie probably because it was. So far I have been to filming locations for Castaway, Nim's Island, and Fool's Gold. So watch those, or don't, and think of me. Laying on the beach and listening to the light ripple of the waves and the tropical parrots chirping away. Holler.

I think I will spend a week or so up here partying hard and taking advantage of the perfect weather. Someday here I will book a boat out to the Great Barrier Reef to do some snorkeling and maybe diving! My camera has gone to shit for some reason. I have most of the pictures up to now and they are on my website! Check out all the sweetness.

"This objectification of women has to stop!"

http://picasaweb.google.com.au/andersn8

Tropics Bound

My birthday was absa-fucking-lutely amazing. Sorry for the language, but it was that good. The festival was good and we had a great time getting drunk and all. Then it got dark, The Killers came on, and the torrential rains brought me to an absolute high. I was rocking out with randoms and we were all soaked from head to toe. Jumping up and down and singing every word. It was perfect. The best outdoor shows I have been to involve rain. It makes everything more fun.

Hannah and I caught the last train home and met our friends at a pub for a couple drinks. Then we took it back to our bosses apartment for all night shenanigans. It was brilliant. Thanks to everyone that dropped me greetings. Great to know people are thinking about you when so far from home.

I left Brisbane yesterday after another all night party bender with the bosses. I took a 7.5 hr train up the coast to Rockhampton. I am spending today here and leaving on an overnight train later for Airlie Beach. Rockhampton sits on the Tropic of Capricorn so I am crossing the threshold to the tropics! Bought some new boardshorts and I am ready to hit the beach starting tomorrow. Then I plan on doing a sailing cruise around the Whitsunday islands! Everything is going great and I can't wait to get in the sun again.

Take a look at the pics I posted http://picasaweb.google.com.au/andersn8
I just filled up my first memory card so I gotta go out and get a new one. Taking tons of pics lately. If you don't like them, get over it.


"There's not a lot of logic to it. It's kind of like on a boat with "Women and children first." I mean, why should they..."