Cairns, Australia

Hi- back from dive,snorkeling, sitting around on a boat trip. Can I just say that I am sick of packing. Not unpacking but repacking. I completely emptied my suitcase and backpack looking for these bandages the hospital cut for me the other day. I must have left them at the hospital because they are in neither container. And it's pretty annoying because my splint rubs the v between my thumb & pointer finger and also the knuckle of the pointer finger. It is worse since they cut it down or opened it up so I can get in and out of it without assistance now.
I went to the movies today. I saw "Ides of March" with George Clooney. It cost me $16.50. That seems like a lot of money for a movie.
It's very weird here. The Cairns YHA I am staying atnis right across the street from the mall. A week before Christmas and the mall is closed at 5 p.m. On Sunday. Actually, I don't know if it's been open at all today.
Cairns is pronounced cans. In the morning I am going on an overnight excursion to Cape Tribulation and to the Daintree rain Forrest. I wonder why predictive text wants Forrest capitalized? Anyway, it's supposed to be spectacular. And will be going on a night hike to see the creatures that are awake at night. There are two night activities to choose from, the one I am going on or tp go look for crocodiles. I saw crocodiles at Katherine gorge, Kakadu canyon and Litchfield. They are very large reptiles. I also some in a pen in india.
I discovered the night markets tonight. They are right next door to the best gelato I think I have ever had. It took a lot of will power to not have another dip tonight. It's very smooth and creamy.
This afternoon I also went to the "lagoon". It's a public swimming pool and free to the public. Unfortunately, it was grey, cloudy and overcast and the water was pretty cold. I waded around in it for awhile. It's only 1.5 meters deep at the deepest part. I don't know how deep that is in feet. However, it's a very cool setting. It looks out over the harbor where the boats come in from the reef. So when you are looking across it, you get the optical illusion that it is as big as the harbor. Although there is a changenin color from turquoise pool to dark blue ocean.
I was thinking about going to the botanical gardens today but ut wasbgrey, cloudy and misting so went to the movies instead.
After cape tribulation, I am coming back to cairns for about 6 hrs., gathering up my stuff and getting on the night bus to Airlie beach. The bus leaves at 12:25 am. I am hoping the seats will recline a little so I can sleep! It's an 11 hour trip no matter how you go. And what is in Airlie beach. It's the starting point for a cruise in the Whitsunday's. Apparently the whitsundays are famous for white sugar sand beaches and crystal blue clear water. So I am going to see for myself. The pictures I have seen on the brochures tell you that. And a woman from the Vietnam trip said the whitsundays are fabulous. So I will be there two days and then on or back to Sydney. I think I am having Christmas dinner with my cousin although I haven't heard from him lately.
Souvenir shopping is an interesting experience. There is lots of clothes and jewelry. Lots of T-shirts, towels, bottle openers, bracelets and stuffed animals. Being in Australia there are boomerangs and small didgeridoo's but I don't see many things for boys. I guess the boomerangs could be for boys.
I am still carrying a roll of toilet paper I bought in india. It's half used. When I have needed it I didn't have it with me, when I have had it I didn't need it!

Hi-

I am at the apple store for last minute twitter, blogger, webpage adjustments before taking off for my around the world adventure. In case your interested, Vietnam doesn't let it's currency out of the country and you have to let banks, american express and other money changers know ahead of time that you want other countries money to get it. I did find India Rupees, so when I get to India in October I will have money.

I have bought 3 suitcases from Whole Earth Provision Company and taken two back. I started out with one that was 80 Liters. I think that is an odd way to measure how much stuff you can get in a suitcase. Last spring I went on an Alaskan cruise and took way too much stuff. So since I have a tendency to take too much stuff, I took the 80 Liter suitcase back and got a smaller one. The next version was 60 L with a zip off day. Now that sounds like a good idea right. It had a slot for the ipad2. That also sounds like a good idea. Even though I had already bought a blackberry sleeve for my ipad2 (we should tell apple they could make a case that has a zippered pocket)because it was the only one I could find that had a zippered pocket for all the various, plugs, camera connectors, ear buds. It got the pink personalization touch. The up side to this suitcase model was it had lots of zippered pockets, nooks and crannies to put your stuff in. The down side was all the zippered pockets went into the middle of the suitcase and there was no room for my tennies, etc. So back to Whole Earth Provision Company for version three. And it seems to be perfect. I am packed. I have everything in there. I am sure I have too much stuff. I took out the white crop pants and added a couple of extra tops. It is an Osprey. It is guaranteed, whatever that means. Supposedly, if you have the label and it breaks they will fly you a new suitcase to wherever you are.

Travel insurance for your luggage. A novel concept.

So I need to personalize it because there is no way I can travel luggage that doesn't have a flower or star painted on it.

Super Shuttle is picking me up at 2:30 a.m. to take me to the airport. I fly to Chicago. Change Planes in Chicago and on to London. Spend the night in London and then on Monday, fly to Abu Dhabi. I will be in Abu Dhabi for 6 weeks, awaiting the birth of "Matilda." That is not her proper official name, it is what I am calling her until she is born.