August 18th...

So, Ken and I decided to check out a little more of Australia - or I should say, Queensland, because we've mostly been here anyway. It's a huge state. Probably as big as Ontario, or bigger.
We chose the diverse northeast subtropical area just 2 hours north of Cairns. Click on the map if you want to see where I live (Surfers Paradise) and where I went (Daintree).
http://www.ozhorizons.com.au/qld/map.htm

Anyway, lots of travel and after checking into the chillest hostel in Queensland – PK’s Jungle Village (which is also the practically the heart of Cape Trib) Ken and I decided to just cruise around the area and check it all out. One of the first things we saw was this sign.



Freaky, hey?

On our way back from Cape Tribulation beach, we had to cross this murky stream going from the ocean into the jungle. There were several people around and no signs so we thought it would be alright to wade through to cross. Halfway across I joked to Ken, “Hope there are no crocs in here” and I laughed at him cause he got his pants soaked.
Storm coming in Myall Beach

When we were sorting out activities for the week, Ken overheard the reception staff telling guests that there were big crocs in the creek we had crossed and not to wade in at high tide. Our hearts sunk to our stomachs. We did not find it funny. In retrospect, it still isn’t. O

August 19th...

The short history of Cape Tribulation: In the 1980’s, this area of Northeast Queensland, on land, known as the Daintree (one of the oldest rainforests in the world) and in the sea, known as the Great Barrier Reef (one of the seven natural wonders of the world) became classified as World Heritage Regions. Cape Tribulation is where the Reef meets the Rainforest. So, anyway, Captain James Cook was sailing along around two hundred years ago and ran ashore at Cape Trib and discovered Australia. He sent some of his crew up the tallest mountain near the cape to look out and map the reef. Local rumour is that those crewmembers disappeared into the jungle and never came back. Captain Cook named that mountain, Sorrow.
So, on our second day, Ken and I decided we’d hike Mt. Sorrow. Nowadays, there is a marked path that is a pretty steady climb. It took us nearly 3 hours to climb and the view was amazing. We took a picnic lunch and chilled at the top with a few other hikers. We hung out and took pictures of the landscape. We could see the Great Barrier Reef from the summit, which was an hour’s trip out to sea. It was pretty spectacular.
I was so sore the next couple days from the hike.

August 20th...

On our third day in Cape Trib, Ken and I rented bicycles and spent the day checking out the area a little further than walking distance. We made it to Coconut Beach and then rode our bikes, at low tide, down the rock hard beach. It was killer. And we got the best view of the mountain we had climbed just the day before.


Oh, and we went to this beautiful little restaurant called the Dragonfly in the middle of the rainforest for dessert and a glass of port. It was decadent.

August 21st...

Decided to take it super easy this day. Spent the morning by the pool reading and swimming, then headed to Mason’s for lunch and a swim at the waterhole. I think we had the most fun so far at this beautiful hideaway. Only a few other people decided to check it out and with the babbling bit of falls at the far end it was a relaxing retreat. The water was so clear you could see all the way to the bottom in the sun. Ken and I took turns taking pictures of each other underwater. I CANNOT believe we didn’t drop the camera in the water – we laughed so hard at how ridiculous some of the shots turned out.

In the early evening, we headed to the Exotic Fruit tasting event at a local organic exotic fruit farm. We tried 10 different fruits that were explained by a lovely man and his wife who had been living in Cape Trib for nearly 17 years. Learned heaps that I didn’t know – especially about Cape Trib. Realized that north of Daintree there is no electricity. Everything is run on generators. I was shocked. No wonder the Internet was so slow. We also learned about the weather in the subtropics – high winds, cyclones and floods are something they live with every year. Thank God we had beautiful weather. And we tried some amazing fruit that I will try to find in Chinatown once I’m living in Toronto again… custard apples, sapotes, cherimoya, and the best – soursops… it tasted like cherry blasters.

August 22nd...

This is Cape Tribulation from the boat as we were returning from the reef. And the higher peak to the right is the peak of Mt. Sorrow...



Great Barrier Reef Day! We booked a trip to snorkel and dive the reef with a catamaran crew called Rumrummers. It was a blast. There were about 30 other people from several other countries aboard – Ireland, Canada, Argentina, New Zealand, France. It was pretty cool. We got lucky with our own dive instructor and guide, Pat (a crazy Aussie) who took us down for two dives and it was spectacular. We didn’t see the shark that other people saw but even though that would’ve been exciting, it was enough for me to just cruise along and learn to breathe and relax under water. Saw heaps of beautifully coloured fish. We snorkelled as well and saw way different fish from the deeper coral. I almost enjoyed the snorkelling better because it was warmer, brighter and quieter. But diving was really exciting too. In any case – I’m glad we made it to the Great Barrier Reef. I’d like to do it again in my lifetime.


That night we partied with our roommates whom we hadn’t seen much of until then. Three British soldiers! Calum, Dave and Giles were tonnes of fun. We spent the night drinking and watching the yokels dance. Even danced a bit myself actually. We ended up on the beach wading in the warm water in the rocks on the shore and staring at the southern sky of stars until 4am.

August 23rd...

August 23rd…

Slept in for once and relaxed all day long – did yoga, read book & magazines, swam, and sunbathed. Until about 4pm, when I signed up for a sunset kayak trip. We headed down to Cape Trib beach and the sky turned all kinds of beautiful colours as the sun set behind the mountains. There was still a lot of light in the sky when we spotted two whales! And I don’t just mean spouting and swimming – they were really playing – breaching way up into the air and splashing down. They were at a distance but we could see everything plainly. It was breathtaking. And just when it I thought it couldn’t get better, I heard a commotion next to my kayak and a big sea turtle had come up for air. It was incredible. Too bad Ken didn’t come with me. Only got a picture of the sunset sky but it didn’t turn out very good. I’ll remember it in my minds eye… on my last night in the Daintree.
Ken and I had another great dinner at the Dragonfly and then we ended up drinking again with the English blokes. But called it an earlier night because we were checking out together the next day to head for Cairns and some wakeboarding…

August 24th...

Up and at ‘em at 8am. Checked out of our rainforest home and piled into the station wagon toward Cairns. It was a lovely drive and with some good music finally. We made it to the wake boarding lake at 10am. It was a blast. I couldn’t really manage the wakeboarding too well so I stuck to knee boarding. It was tough but fun. The guys were much better at it than me. Afterwards, we made it into Cairns for lunch and had the best burger I’ve had in Australia (which actually isn’t saying much but it was good). We all checked into the most fabulous hostel I’ve EVER seen, Gilligans, and then we cruised around Cairns, shopping and whatnot. It was a cool little city. We had a dip in the amazing pool back at the hostel and then I had a much-deserved late afternoon siesta. Ken and I had a really great dinner at a Mexican restaurant and then went back for… drinks with the soldiers. It was a good time. We said our good-byes with a dance (or as they said ‘make shapes’) and a celebratory shot. And then I made my way to the lovely bed in the lovely hostel to end my trip.

It was fantastic.

I love Splendour

Splendour in the Grass!!!! It was THE time! It made me want to travel the world and experience the people and good times by attending bigtime music festivals. I have never had such a good time at one of those majorly orchestrated music festivals. It is usually not worth the money or the time as the bands have less time to play and the crowds are super gigantic. But Splendour. Oh, Splendour. It was just the right amount of everything. I highly recommend it for anyone visiting Byron Bay, Australia in the month of July.

The day started out early. I woke up to singing and a excited drive to Byron with very handsome someone. Then I met with my bro and we headed straight for the fun. As soon as we got there, Ken lined up for ice cream/juice/food, which we had to do frequently over the next few days. For how thin that dude is, he can pack away the junk food. But then onto a new band we were anticipating would be a must see and they were - Dungen. Again, I recommend.

http://www.splendourinthegrass.com.au/


If you click on any of the following photos, they will open up bigger in another window.

the fun of it...

Impromptu miming










Me and our new friend Kate waiting
for the Scissor Sisters to come on





So the festival was full on... people dressed up, high out of their minds, spreading the love, jamming with the music, dancing their asses off and it was just fun to dig it all. I was extremely impressed by how organized the whole thing was. There was free water. Yes, America, FREE water. No gouging people for $3-$5 dollars a bottle. If you brought your own empty container, there were free water stations to fill from. There were plenty of porta bathrooms, and the flow of people from area to area was just fine. The place was muddy as all hell, but that was sort of the fun of it. My beat up Lacostes kept my feet dry so I was happy. Everyone seemed to be blissed out.



Mark and Simone







Random Scissor Sisters fans

death cab to the moroccan wine tent

So, Death Cab for Cutie. Something we were both excited about. And something we were both underwhelmed by - unfortunately. They sang almost all the songs I wanted to hear and were really great, but something was missing. It felt rushed. I guess having a 50 minute set at a big music festival is hard to play for a band like Cutie, who have a large repertoire. And they also played at 3 in the afternoon so it was a strange time of day to shove ot the front and really be into it all. They were good. It just really gave me a preview that I'd like to see them again someday, headlining their own show, where they can add some of their more obscure tunes and be a little more intimate with the crowd.

After that we realized we were hungry and needed refreshments so headed to the Moroccan Wine Bar to partake in libations. The Hare Krishna food was THE best!

walk around know you are future youth

So, as dusk fell with a few glasses of wine down our gullets, Ken and I headed to the Big Top Tent to see TV on the RADIO. I wasn't very familiar with their music except for a few chance listenings. And I could hear something exciting going on there in the cacophony. But they blew my mind! They were intense and alive and beautiful and everyone was kind of confused at first but by the second or third song the crowd was completely with the band. And we were all one big swaying mass...

Usin' and confusin' beats that you never heard

K, so on into the evening... We were both stoked and bummed that Sonic Youth and DJ Shadow were playing the same festival because they were overlapping. We watched as much SY from the sidelines and they were great like I remembered. Still would like to see them in a smaller setting. Then we headed over to the Mix Up Tent for the Shadow. He was having some technical difficulties and it definitely affected his show but we still danced and jumped up a storm. I somehow caught up with mate, Blain & co. who attacked me with a marker, tagging up my arm. Ah, yes indeed its funtimes...

split the ocean in half

Okay, so Day 2 started slow. It was the perfect weather. The sun had dried a lot of the mud and people were happier in the warmth. Ken and I caught the surprise act The Vines but then opted to head on to get to the front for Matisyahu. It was so worth it. It started off the quest for front row tickets for the rest of the day. Once we had that rush we wouldn't go back. We wouldn't settle for less. Matisyahu was inspiring...

Take me to the drug store!!!

So, night fell and the time was to be had. At this point, Ken and I could not stop dancing. We had miraculously hooked up with friends in the middle of the giant crowd and in the dark that was punctuated by glow sticks, stage lights and such. Gerling was a find. We really just thought we were going to beat the Scissor Sister crowds to the front and get there early for Gerling and the interim DJs but Gerling kicked our arses. They were amazing. Playing straight to a festival crowd with stage antics and the most amazing rock/electro music. We stopped only to capture the moment on celluloid and then kept on jumping around...

fasten those pants for the lap dance!

Okay so the finale and the highlight of the festival was the hot damn, Scissor Sisters! Having paid our dues and danced our butts off waiting at the very front row centre, they put on THE best show. Jake Shears was like a gay-er Freddie Mercury - the envy of flamboyant homosexual men everywhere. He shook his pink leather clad ass in our faces and loved every minute of the limelight. And Mis Ana Matronic was brash and bold and belted it all out with a bit of filth, like we like it! Here are the coolest pictures I took of them... I couldn't use my flash because we were so close it was lighting up the stage and ruining the effect!









The last fellatio style photo was during their encore Filthy and Gorgeous and for all the dirty minds out there, it was his microphone...

she was a daytripper

So... Sharon bought a cute new car and took a restless Canadian on a lovely daytrip up the Sunshine Coast. It was a beautiful drive and I ate the best pizza I've had in years! Here are a few photos from that day...

Noosa Headlands