Cairns, Daintree, Bungy Jumping & Saying Goodbye

July 15, 2012:

We left the Koala Sanctuary in the morning to catch the ferry back to Townesville. "Koala" is an Aboriginal word meaning "no water" because koalas don't drink. They get water from the eucalyptus leaves they eat.

We cleared out Jucy and gave her away (only somewhat sadly). Checking into Giligan's hostel was like booking a suite at the Ritz. Compared to our digs for the past two weeks, it was fancy and clean. We got free dinner!!

We spent the evening reveling in the glory of being clean and not living in a van.

July 16, 2012:
Our Daintree Tour left at 6am. We had an Aboriginal guide for the driving and forest bit, and a really animated guy for the Croc Tour on the river. Words cannot describe this Rainforest. There are many species that are exclusive to this nature reserve.

I am obsessed with mangrove trees! We read a novel in my French Caribbean Literature course at Brock called « Traversée de la mangrove », where the imagery of a tree that abandons its roots to survive was linked to the idea of diaspora from Africa for the descendants of slaves in Guadeloupe. It was an amazing novel, and the imagery made me curious about them. On this tour, I had a close-up look. We had some views of crocodiles as well, which was pretty terrifying.

This has got to be one of the most naturally dangerous places in the world. And we survived it!

July 18, 2012:

The last day of our tour, we were picked up from Giligan's and taken to AJ Hackett's Bungy Tower (the only bungy in Australia). Because Brittney and Caitlin had gone skydiving first, I opted to be the first one off the tower. Jay had done it before, so she wasn't too concerned. The only moment I felt scared was the moment I stepped right up onto the platform. It was a different feeling than before skydiving.

I did a swan dive. It didn't look as graceful as it felt.

Jay described it right when she explained that you get a peaceful feeling after you jump. Jumping was really easy, in the end, and it just felt like flying, infinitely, until you bounced at the bottom and then you got to do it a few more times for shorter periods of time. The worst part is when you've finished and you're waiting to be taken down. I am not a bat, and all the blood rushing to my head is not a pleasant experience.

Bungy jumping is totally different from skydiving. Skydiving doesn't feel like flying - and it gives you way more adrenaline than bungy.

Brittney and Caitlin did a tandem jump and they screamed the whole time, so maybe that's a more adrenaline-inducing experience, but that's not for me to say. It was pretty funny to watch, though.

What a way to end our two-week bender up the East Coast of Australia!

We headed to the airport and caught our flights from Cairns to Melbourne. Brittney and I had one day left in Melbourne (one which we spent meeting up with my lovely friend Greg, who I met again in Paris during my exchange, for a beautiful lunch at the Woodhouse Pub, eating dumplings with Britt's family friend, and repacking).

It is amazing to me, looking back now, to think about how much this trip impacted me. I had never been particularly desperate to go to Australia, the way I had felt about France, but I took an opportunity and as a result of this trip, I have made so many Aussie friends, and have so many wonderful memories. I also took away a small scar on my left leg from skydiving (which I love because I am practically a bad girl like Angelina Jolie now... maybe not). All those annoying "get to know you" games now have an answer to "What is the coolest thing you've ever done?".. I can say I've been skydiving, bungee jumping, surfing, sea kayaking, snorkelling, that I've lived in a van for two weeks, and that I've spent a month and a half of my life living in Australia. And I am actually so excited to go back to see a different part of this incredible country.