Cairns (like Hotel California, you can check out but you can never leave)

The great barrier reef was good. Not great, but good. The boat was excellent, the crew were top notch, the food delicious etc. But the force 7 winds that knocked the boat around like a rubber duck in a bath marred the whole experience. At least the fish were well fed with about three quarters of the people vomiting at least once. I didn't toss my cookies and took great glee in dancing about as other people drove the porcelain bus. At one stage the waves got so high that a wave struck us and I sommersaulted over the sofa in the living quarters and landed on a poor unexpecting swedish girl who was sick as a dog. I introduced myself and slowly climbed down off her.

Due to the weather, the visibility underwater was not the best either. I managed to see a couple of white tip reef sharks, which although they are relatively small, was quite an experience. Also on the highlight list was a moray eel poking out of his hole and blindly attacking everthing in striking distance, and two night dives which really scare the fuck out of you at first - descending into the black depths with only the sound of your breathing to keep you company. My torch ran out after about 2 minutes which made the whole experience even more eerie. Luckily my diving buddys lasted the 30 minute dive.

After the 3 days diving I was scheduled to get on another boat to go out to the coral sea and do some shark feeding, but as we plied the heavy seas back I was not looking forward to another 4 days at sea. I was contemplating just saying fuck it and not getting on the other boat and saying bye bye to 500 bucks. Luckily as we docked a representative of the other company told me the trip had been cancelled due to the winds. I actually hugged the rather bemused man.

Back on dry land, sorry back on rain sodden land I now have to wait for my flight to Melbourne on the 20th. Decided to use the rain and go river rafting on the Tully river tomorrow. Hopefully the guides speak better english than in Thailand...

Remember kids: More fast more fun (as our guide said in Pai)