Danger Danger Danger

Last week, Jen and I decided we'd like to go for a swim. Problem is, Cairns itself doesn't have a swimming beach - nothing but mudflats and crabs and strange little walking mud fish as far as the eye can see. So, we hopped a (smelly) bus and rode north, to Halloways Beach. Turns out, swimming in Australia (in the tropics, anyway) is something of a hazard. We were forced to swim in a netted area about the size of a 7-11. For some reason, despite the heat, we were the only two in the water. And of course, the entire time you're in the water, you see this net bobbing along beside you. And when you see this net, you think, wow, they're trying really hard to keep something out, aren't they? But boy, that net sure looks flimsy - and is that a tear?

Truth be told, they're trying to keep many somethings out, although the primary culprits are the saltwater crocodiles and the Irukandji (tiny, deadly jellyfish). Bobbing along in the ocean, we suddenly realized we were the only two in the water.

"Did you feel that?" Pat asks.

"Feel what?" Jen replies.

"Something just brushed my leg."

"Not funny."

"I'm not kidding."

Needless to say, we didn't stay in the water all that long (and no, there was no croc - I'm just a cruel prankster).

The locals keep large jugs of vinegar in posts along the beach. Supposedly, pouring vinegar on an Irukandji sting numbs the pain a bit. Unfortunately, the little suckers tend to float along in giant killer swarms... Anyway, Irukandji season is just coming to an end, so maybe we'll head back for a dip in the near future. Who's really scared of a croc, anyway?

That's all for now - here's a spider I walk past daily on my way to the library (you may have to click on the image and zoom in for a better look).

A POLAR BEAR IN THE TROPICS

Hey everyone! Or maybe I should say "cheers" or "howzit?" I've officially made it to Cairns (actually, I've been here over a month now). Jen and I found a two bedroom apartment about a minute's walk from the view above. According to the groundskeeper, the building was a brothel during World War II (he swears it's true, but says the landlord, a sweet old grandma sort, would never admit to such a thing). So it's sort of like living in my own little piece of history. Maybe if I listen hard on a dark, stormy night, I'll hear the ghosts of...never mind.

So you may have noticed the title of the post - it's how I've felt for the past month. Cairns is HOT! The first time I walked the 2 km to the grocery store, then trudged home with a gallon of milk (3 L, really, but I'm not yet acclimated to the metric system) and a gallon of OJ, a backpack full of groceries on my back, I thought I'd melt. But we're going into winter, so it should stay "Cairns cool" (28-29 C ~ 80s F) for the next six months or so. I told the groundskeeper it wasn't winter without snow - he mumbled something along the lines of "damn yank."

That's enough for now. I'll send you off with a picture of my favorite furry flying buddies, hanging out in the trees around the library.