Day 1 & 2 - Cairns - Move In & Rainforestation

... So the first day I arrived in beautiful Australia, we were thrown into chaos! We got a bus ride from the airport into Cairns (pronounced Cans) where we stayed at the Bohemia Resort, which is a hostile mostly for backpackers. The hostile was set up with dorm style rooms (6 girls/room - see pictures), a pool and nice little bar area. Upon arriving, all sweaty and jet lagged, we had 20 minutes to carry our 50lb bags and carryons up to the third floor, shower, get dressed and ready for dinner downtown at Blue Sky Brewery...fun. Dinner was great, but I was way too tired to eat much and went to bed early.






I woke up at 4am starving (normally it would be around lunch time at home) and took some sleeping medicine to go back to sleep. A few hours later.... we were off to the Rainforestation where I was able to see and experience some of the Aboriginal customs: spare throwing, boomerang throwing, Didgeridoo playing and various dances (see pictures & video). We were asked to try some of their 'ice cream fruit", which only resembled ice cream because it was very sweet, but after peeling and sucking the flesh there was a big pit that you spit out; not at all filling or refreshing (see pictures). I learned how to throw the handmade boomerangs, which was so cool! We also took a "Army Duk" tour (similar to Boston's duck tours) through the rain forest and swamps to see the many diverse plants and animals living in the rain forest. We ate some, lunch with delicious, fresh passion fruit and then finished our day with the animals. I held and took a picture with a koala and fed and pet a group of kangaroos and wallabies that were just hanging out on the lawn (see pictures). Nana the next one is especially for you! I held a PYTHON!! :) It was really strong as it slithered around my arm and hand, so awesome! (see pictures). Some other tropical animals we saw were less fun because we couldn't touch them; Cassowary (an endangered bird in Australia), dingoes, a huge crocodile and alligator.











Keep checking my updates for day 3&4 here!