Aus day 0, 1: Night Mkt, hike, beach

Thus begins the blogging about our AUS trip - I will use these posts as a sort of "journal" as well. Also, the reader should note that although I will put a few pictures on these blog posts, many more pictures will be posted on my website. This hasn't happened yet, but I will let people know when they get posted.

Our trip over was interrupted by a missed connection and resulted in adding a 4th flight; which meant we arrived about 4:30 PM as opposed to 12:10 PM. The day we arrived I call day 0 as day 1, in my mind, was our first full day. Also, some other notes, there is a 17 hour time change. Our itinerary was SEA to LA (2 1/2), LA to Brisbane (15 hrs), Brisbane to Sydney (2 hrs), and Sydney to Cairns (2 hrs).

First impressions as we arrived? Nice weather! Warm, slightly humid, and very tropical. These first few days I had to keep reminding myself that we weren't in a 3rd world country, but were in fact in Australia. I'm not sure why; maybe because the last and only time I traveled to see Terri, Scott and the nephews was when we went all the way to Papua New Guinea.

At any rate, we checked into our room, threw some stuff down, piled in the van and headed downtown to the "Esplanade" and "Night Markets." We were so tired from the travel that about all I could do was shove down some dinner (a Kebab, which I love) and briefly wander the night market. The night market is an appropriately named market that is only open at night and filled with all sorts of touristy things.

Our first full day we spent going on a short hike which afforded a great view of Cairns, and spending the afternoon at the beach. The water was cool - you could be out in it for 45 minutes or so before you'd get cold. It is "winter" in Cairns as well so most of the time, the weather was mid to upper 70's with a little humidity...although it is also the "dry season" which meant the rain was minimal, and the rain forests were very dry. Enjoy the pictures!


(Moon over Cairns: taken from the Esplanade looking back towards the Market)


(Andrew enjoyed his chicken on the first night)


(Julie, Scott and the boys taking in the view at the top of our hike)


(downtown Cairns from the hike)


(cool lookin' yellow caterpillar of some kind)


(Kyle looking good)


(Julie and Kyle body surfing together)


(Andrew in full sprint)