So it’s 6.25pm in Cairns, its about 26 degrees out and the sun has just set over the mountainous rainforest. I’m sitting out by the esplanade, the bats are swooping and the sky and clouds have that redish-orange tinge that you get no-where else in the world. Yep, it’s your typical Australian, northern Queensland sun set.
Though sitting here and enjoying this has actually been a rare break for me in what has been one of my toughest weeks in Australia. Tomorrow it will be 2 weeks since I’d arrived in Cairns, and 2 very contrasting weeks I’ve had.
The first week was a week of partying, amazing trips and tours and my last week with my travel companion Georgia. We kicked off the week with the Cairns ‘Ultimate Party Bus’ with our friend Becca. This somehow resulted in me busting out some insane breaking-dancing moves to almost 100 people, that got me recognition from strangers for days to come. I felt like a celebrity. Though some have ridiculously suggested the recognition may be based upon how shocking my dancing skills were- ridiculous.
It was one of the best weeks I’ve had in Australia. I saw some amazing sights that I could see no where else in the world, some unbelievable tropical rainforest, some beautiful waterfalls, including the infamous falls where Peter Andre shot one of his many, many worldwide hits. As you’ll undoubtedly be at a loss as to which song I’m referring to I’ll help you out-‘Mysterious Girl’.
I certainly can’t spot any difference.
I also did a reef tour and a trip to Green Island with Georgia. Unfortunately, the conditions weren’t the best out, but we still got to see some pretty fish and coral. And if nothing else I got to see Georgia frantically pant about and flail as if her life was on the line down to the shark infested waters. But hey, we both came out alive; devoid of any wounds from shark attacks, sting rays, jellyfish or blue ringed octopus.
Triumphantly surviving the north Queensland sea
It was also nice as we got to meet up with our friend Becca, who was finishing up the east coast in Cairns before flying home. The three of us got to enjoy some quality time; reminiscing of drunken shenanigans back in Sydney and planning out the raves we’re going to have in the summer back in the UK. On top of this I had a top bunch of roommates, who filled me up with goon on a regular basis.
Last Sunday that all came grinding to a halt. Georgia departed for Airlee Beach that morning and Becca flew to Sydney to catch her flight back to Heathrow later in the day. My party loving room mates had all moved on to pastures new. For the first time in my travels since that first week in Sydney, I was a lone- really a lone- 14,000 miles from the people and places I loved. 14,000 miles from Bexley, the Furze Wren, the village caf, my severely obese cat, my dear borderline-alcoholic friends, my little black cat, my loving family and dare I say it, even that sticky club in the dregs of Dirtford, Zens.
Though I’d never forgotten about these people and places over my travels they were never as prominent in my mind as they were at this stage. I could just see myself walking into the caf, Naz serving up my usual, sitting down and having a heated debate with Joe and Jake about the weekend’s football over a village breakfast, the smell of brown sauce tickling my taste buds. Anxiety kicked in and I began to feel homesick in a way I’d never felt homesick before. Well I suppose I’ve never spent 4 months away from before.
But as much as I missed I thought to myself ‘I’m not ready to go home yet, I still have unfinished business in Australia, and now will be the making of me. It’s time to start proving your cut out for the real world.’ I had been looking for jobs in Melbourne, but at the same time I’d had a group of friends a round so I perhaps didn’t give it the focus and attention that I should’ve done. Not to say I didn’t try but I think I just went the wrong way about it, which is why I landed shitty sales jobs. But I wasn’t going to make the same mistake in Cairns.
I was really divided as to what route I should take, would my work prospects be better in Brisbane? How much will it cost me to get to Brisbane? How much money do I have left? However I’ve learnt the grass always seems greener on the other side, but often it isn’t. Plus financially it made no sense to go down the coast and then back up. Would be an extra $300 I don’t have. So my conclusion was to give Cairns a real go, and that’s exactly what I did.
Day and night I trawled through gumtree, seek, the backpackersjobboard looking for work. I spoke to a few places but no one ever got back to me. Yellow pages was the next step, ringing up every, bar, café and restaurant in town. I ran round rifling CV’s into every place I could. It was tiring, it was demoralising and every lead seemed to wither away into nothing, as much as I pestered. Until on Saturday a string of hope came my way- a trial shift.
So I sweated and toiled in the bars kitchen for 2-3 hours (as the bar only hired girls) thinking that I’d proven my worth to my potential employers. The atmosphere was friendly and I felt as though I’d got the position. I was completely wrong as it is now Monday night and they have not yet called me.
It’d been a while since the last picture
So now I’m left in Cairns, no money, no job and very few friends. So I figured now is the time to do something completely ridiculous, but something memorable- that would send me out on a high in one last blaze of glory before if it does actually come to arriving home a tad earlier than anticipate.
My first thoughts are taking up John the circus coordinators offer to join his small Australian circus (this is deadly serious- I was offered a position in the circus). John seemed keen for me to join his team and tour the outback in a caravan with him, a guy called Dave and 4 illegal monkeys. He asked if I could ride a unicycle and assured me that even though I couldn’t it’s not a problem as I could learn. After taking my measurements for a clown costume I thought, well it’s not exactly what I’d like, but it’s different. Until I heard the story of the previous employee who’s mum drove up to collect him from the outback and tried to free the monkeys in national parks. It now seemed more likely to be a paedophile rouse than anything else. But still in my position, I can’t be fussy.
Other than that, there’s doing a skydive, which could be fun. I would be absolutely terrified but I guess that’s half the appeal- and I can do it right here in Cairns. Then there’s moping around, drinking and feeling sorry for myself- always an option worth exploring.
Either way now is make or break time. It wasn’t always going to be a stroll in the park. In hindsight I was perhaps a little naive in my first 2 months. But regardless, the real down to it stuff has really kicked in.
Haggard Ben Updated 