January 24, 2007 Cairns, Australia

January 24, 2007
Cairns, Australia

The Serpent Resort had a checkout time of 10:00. Thus, we were forced to get up at around 8:30 in order to leave on time. After packing and showering we made our way downstairs and left our bags at the hotel.

Next, we called our van rental agency and inquired as to whether or not our vehicle was ready for us to pick up. Unfortunately, the van was not going to be ready until 14:00. Not expecting this, we did not know what to do with the day.

We decided to head to downtown and check out the city. After finding some breakfast (a $5.00 fruit bowl) we decided to spend some time on the internet. A little after noon we pulled ourselves away from the computers and continued wandering town.

We made stops at a bookstore, pawnshop, and grocery store (where we grabbed some food). Sometime around 13:00 we decided to try to find the place where our vehicle was being held. After asking a few locals for directions we found the street.

As we walked down the road each of us began to feel the heat. We were drenched in sweat and could not find the address. We were forced to stop at a store and ask to use the phone. A few minutes later we headed back outside more confident in our destination.

Eventually we arrived at the address. To our surprise it was an apartment complex with a silver VW van parked in the front yard. We found the guy we were supposed to talk to (Ian) and made the proper arrangements. After paying the fee (about $666 ASD each) we thought we were good to go.

Just as we were ready to pull off the grass Ian got a phone call from his boss. Apparently, B’s credit card would not accept the payment. We had no idea what to do. Eventually Ian suggested that we head down the road to an internet café and have B call his mom.

Sadly, B did not have a phone card. The only phone card within our group was mine. Even so, I did not have the appropriate number for Australia. I used my last 50 cents to get on the internet and look up the number. A few minutes later we were standing at a phone booth listening to B beg his mom for her credit card number.

Incredibly, everything got sorted out. Shortly after 15:00 we left the apartment complex in an old, silver, VW van. I suggested that we name our new vehicle and tossed out the name Diversity (an anchorman reference). The other boys agreed and we began referring to our van as Diversity…

Our first stop was the Serpent Resort to pick up our big bags. We stopped a little longer than we intended and even decided to sneak into the shower and wash off the sweat from our long hike across town.

After booking an activity for tomorrow we jumped back in Diversity and headed for the supermarket. Each of us stocked up on food for the next week. Knowing that restaurants are incredibly expensive here, we tried to account for each meal.

About an hour later we hoped back in the van and made our way to a waterfront park. Once parked, we organized our van and then explored the park. Extraordinarily, the park was equipped with a pool, free BBQ area, and showers. For us, it was heaven.

B and I took a quick dip and then the three of us decided to handle a little more business on the internet. On our way back to our vehicle we stopped again at the supermarket and grabbed some hotdogs for dinner. We used the BBQ and hung out at the park for a few more hours. We even jumped in the van and decided to watch a DVD. This, however, was a brutal process. It was ridiculously hot inside Diversity. By the time the Deadwood episode was over we were all covered in a thick layer of sweat.

Before leaving Spizz and I decided to utilize the shower facilities while B went in search of desert. A little later we met back up and drove our van to a less crowded part of town. We stopped in a secluded parking lot and converted the van into sleeping mode (basically folding out a mattress).

At 22:30 we settled in and tried to get to sleep.

NOTE: Having the van is going to be an experience. We are going to be hot, sweaty, and in very close proximity to one another. It should make for some interesting stories to say the least…