Day 17: Journey to Darwin

Weather Update: Sunny Intervals with a chance of showers. Precipitation 49%, High 34c

I hope you enjoyed just some basic facts about Cairns because I do not want this to come across as just a diary, I want to show more about how to be a storyteller so I will have to learn on the job and it might take some time. I hope you enjoyed the basic historical information I published last time and hopefully help your reading experience to be more colourful. I'm happy for any feedback you can give me which you can do through the home page under contact, I welcome your feedback and thoughts. This is just not about me travelling the world on my own, I want to take you with me. I want us to explore what this world has installed for us. This is a journey into the unknown and each day it will bring a different story. I think my journey although it started some weeks ago is now just starting in a few days when I enter Timor Leste my second country. When I get into Asia I will see the world differently from my life and my background here in New Zealand.

Farewell to Cairns

After updating and posting my blog, I hung around the hostel until it was time to leave. I made one last stop at the pub for a schooner of beer to bid farewell to the friendly girls from Tauranga, although they weren't working today. That cold beer before the walk to the bus station was a perfect send-off.

The Hot Walk and a Stroke of Luck

Walking in the heat of the day is hard work; breathing in the hot air feels like gasping for breath. The bus dropped me off 500 meters from the junction to the airport, leaving me with at least a 3-kilometer walk ahead. I wasn’t looking forward to it, but then, out of nowhere, I scored a ride straight to the front door of the airport. It's amazing how things work out sometimes. When I was younger, hitching a ride could take hours, but I suppose people see me as less of a threat now that I'm older.

Airport Delays and In-Flight Experiences

The flight was scheduled to take off at 2:50 pm but was delayed by 25 minutes. With three hours to kill at the airport, I indulged in a couple of glasses of wine. I had to arrive early because my online check-in kept redirecting me to the counter. Otherwise, I would have shown up two hours later. Australia's Wi-Fi setup is impressive; you can get connected almost everywhere. The flight itself was straightforward with no bumps, but the in-flight snack was disappointing a hard-to-eat cheese ball with something else equally unappetizing. Qantas, if you’re listening, you need to improve your meal offerings!