Airlie Beach and Rainbow Beach

Aierlie Beach

After Cairns the trip went on down to Airlie Beach. A good night sleep is what we needed and having time to look at the small town. Airlie beach is a small backpacker town, I would say a party place, and there is not a proper beach in Airlie however it is just a boat ride to Whitehaven beach.

After staying one night we were set for our boat trip, 2 days and 2 nights on a sailboat called the Broomstick. The Broomstick was used for racing between Africa and South America, and is a fast racer at 75 foot long. We cruised along at 10 knots with the winds. Even though we stopped for a snorkel and a stay 

on the Whitehaven beach, the sailing was the most fun.

Broomstick at the harbour.

 Broomstick at sea

Airlie Beach Harbour.

Broomstick can carry a total of 24 passengers and her crew of four. It was one of the more spectacular events I’ve attended while being here. I wouldn’t mind being a crew aboard one of the vessels. The crew was friendly and had a good knowledge of the boat and waters. Information about the Whitsundays and the Islands we passed was excellent. Our skipper, Ned, had a lot of sailing experience, however the most experienced there I would recon was a guy they just called “Chopper”. He’s participated in almost all Ocean races in Australia, and have 10000+ nautical miles of experience in competition. Although the crew was experienced the focus was on the passengers and creating a good experience for us.

So after this trip I’ve set myself a new goal, I want to learn how to sail properly and sail down the coast of Norway (north to south) and maybe even go down the coast of Europe. 

Rainbow Beach.

It’s said they call it Rainbow beach because of the sand ha a lot of different color, unfortunately we didn’t get to see that. I stayed there two nights and got to go sand surfing. That was cool, but a bit excusing. If it wasn’t too expensive I would definitive go to Fraser Island and do the 4x4 Tag along ride on the beach of Fraser. I instead decided that I would go back to Brisbane and head down to Melbourne. So I will be in Melbourne on the 25^th of November, and plan to do a tour of the Great Ocean Road, then head to Sydney for some fun in the sun.  

Rainbow beach, not by the water though.

Sand boarding is quite fun.

Cairns

After been in Brissy for too long, not finding any work that suits me, it was time to move along.  The trip went from Brissy to Cairns, in one haul. We were so lucky to get a ride with this guy named Jack. We were a total of three drivers, and four passengers. I'm travelling with a friend, she’s been here for a foreign exchange student in Brissy. The ride took around 22 hours, including stops. The road to Cairns is much like the E6 in Norway. A lot of single lane, it’s quite different from the city and suburbs of Brissy that has dual lane (or more) almost everywhere.

The 4^th passenger was a Kiwi/Egyptian, and a former drug dealer in Melbourne. Crazy guy! They (Jack and this guy) were heading up to Cairns for the Solar Eclipse festival. Around 7000 people was to gather at this festival, which I was told was in the middle of nowhere. I got a couple of good shots of the partial eclipse, however some clouds were in the way when the total eclipse occurred.  But it was still amazing. Within a few seconds daytime became night-time and the animals (birds) were pretty confused. The total eclipse lasted for around two minutes.

Twilight occurred during the Total Eclipse.

Partial of the Solar Eclipse

The partial of the Solar Eclipse.

Solar Eclipse starting to hide behind clouds.

We spent three days and two nights in Cairns. We booked a Skydive for the last day. The skydive was from 14.000 feet, and gives you around 50 seconds of free fall.  The feeling when you get out of the plane and start falling is amazing! Going toward the door of the plane you don’t have time to get scared. The jump just happened so suddenly and you are free falling. Screaming might help for your own mental state, but no one can hear you. It’s an adrenaline rush from another world. Then everything stops for a while as the parachute opens and you soar down and can enjoy the scenery.  The landing was also interesting, a few steep turns in the end before we landed and we dropped quite fast toward the drop zone. I’m here in one piece, which is awesome. When I get back to Norway I might try skydiving on my own. Although I don’t think you are dropped from 14000 feet in Norway, it still will be an experience.   I might also do another skydive when I’m here in Australia, cause that was just an awesome experience!

So now we are on the way to Airlie Beach to do a 2Day 2 Night boat trip in the withsundays. We are riding the Grayhound Bus, what is kinda funny is that the bus is red. So one night in Airlie Beach and then off to the ocean with snorkeling on the reef.

First job in Australia

So the last few weeks I have tried as hard as I can to find a job. I've handed out resumes and visited restaurants, bars, regular shops, well basically everyone. I finally got three interviews last weeks. All jobs were positions for sales work.

So after the three first interviews, I got two call backs to a second interview. I was skilled enough to get both the jobs. So I have started for a company that promotes humanitarian organizations, and on Monday I start representing a company called Mission Australia.

It's an exciting opportunity to try something that I've never done before, and to finally make some money here. It could have been quite a short trip unless I found work, as money doesn't last forever.

So now I've got some "home work" to do. I'm reading up on the organization to learn all that they do. It's all in a sales job.

So that is why it's been quiet here for a while, but it might pick up as things progress.
Have a good one! Cheers!

O'Reilly's

O'Reilly's Rainforset Retreat, that's where we headed for on Monday morning. Me, Kym and Anne Berit set off around 9AM (09.00). It was going to take a couple of hours to drive to the location.

O'Reilly's is located two hours south of Brisbane.It's a nice place to have been at. It works as both a day trip or a weekend getaway. Their webpage can be found here: http://www.oreillys.com.au/
But first Kym took us Wine Tasting. It's not exactly what you would do at 10.30AM in the morning. But the place was nice, and most of the wine was nice too. We even got to see turtles.

On the way to O'Reilly's we ran into a wild Kangaroo. Just standing by the road, it was kinda cool.

I tried a new hat (that I didn't buy, because of obvious reasons). 

There is a tale about a plane crashing in the area and the owner of the establishment rescued two of the people in the aircraft. This is a replica of the aircraft.

Then we went for a walk. Which had strange trees.

 
  

We then went on a "sky bridge" probably around 15-20 meters above ground. I was slightly terrified, yet I completed two rounds of the sky walk.

 

After a quick lunch (get it?) we went to Morans Falls Lookout. On the way we found a hollow tree. And there are some good pictures of the waterfall. 

That concluded our trip to O'Reilly's.

Thanks, Kym, for taking us!!

Brisbane Riverfire

This weekend was the ending of the Brisbane Festival. Saturday we headed to South Bank in Brisbane, by the river, to see the fireworks, and the F18's and some Choppers (I believe it was Black Hawks).

When I arrived at 4PM (16.00), the place was all ready started to get packed with people. I think I heard someone say that around half a million people gathered alongside the river and other places to see the fireworks. I spent the day with Kym, Marco, Marius and Becc (Rebecca). Everything is shortened her in Australia, even peoples names.

We stayed and watched the Choppers and F18, and then finally at 7PM (19.00) the fireworks started. It lasted for 25 minutes and was spectacular. I really had a great time this evening. After the fireworks we headed into the city and found a place where October-fest had started.

Bayron Bay

Last weekend I went to Byron Bay. The beach was amazing, the water held a temperature of 20 degrees.
We also went to the eastern point on the Australian mainland, at the lighthouse. I saw whales and had a nice walk down to the eastern point of the Australian Mainland. We saw some people flying in hangliders, no more than a 40 meters above our heads.

 What can be said about Byron Bay? It's a tourist place and is very popular in the summer. It's not a big place, basically only one street and a long beach and the lighthouse. The place will be crawling with surfers and people going to the beach. The place still lingers with some of the "hippie" spirits with people beeing relaxed and easy going. You don't have any worries when in Byron. It's one of the places you just have to go, even if it's just for a day or two.

Brisbane adventures

It's Tuesday, and it's been some days since my last post.
The weekend has been quite eventful, with a visit to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. They had almost everything I was wanting to see of animals. With enything from Dingo, Kangaroo and a lot of Koalas. I was able to hold a Koala, Sea Eagle and a Olive Python Snake.

The wildlife park was amazing. Kym's parents took me to the Brisbane lookout point "Mt Coot-tha" before we traveled to the wildlife park. Pictures are uploaded to the Picasa Web Album.

I met friends of Kym's and a coffee "guru" named Jay (Pronounced "Jai") who is passionate about his coffee. I was served my best coffee to this day. Me and Kym also had a day in South Brisbane and went to Max Brennan (chocolate cafe/store). I also went to the wheel of Brisbane (60meters high).

As for this day I have arranged for my 18+ card, and I've also been able to play at the "Pat Rafter Arena" on the Center Court (Tennis), where the Brisbane International tournament is played every year in January.

Still looking for work and a place to live. Until next time!

Norwegian Church Abroad - Sjømannskirka i Sydney

Today the trip went to Marly, Sydney and with the intention to visit the Norwegian Church Abroad (Sea men's church). With the help of Margrethe, helping me with the address, I got the the church safely. I had a nice walk from Marly to the church. Although the weather today wasn't as good as it has been the last couple of days it was fair. Clouds, with almost no wind in the morning.

I had a nice chat with both employees and with Norwegians using the church as a meeting point. It was very nice and the people was very welcoming. Thank's alot!
I noticed they have some Norwegian food from back home. And they made waffles! Kudos!! =)

Check out the Norwegian Church Abroad

The trip back to Sydney from Marly was not the ideal one. The wind was getting stronger and I wasn't dressed for that kind of weather. I had just wore my shorts and t-shirt, bad idea when I look at it in a retrospect. Cold wind on the way back to the Marly Wharf. The trip is about 35 minutes, and it was raining by the time I got back to the Sydney Qy. Luckily I had taken the train from the Sydney Central and was returning there. Sydney Central is a 1 min walk from the hostel where I'm staying.

 

Tomorrow it's off to Brisbane!