I don’t usually get colds. When I do, they’re not fun, but normally I tend to be very healthy. So I should have known that my immune system would conspire against me to get sick the very week I was supposed to do a 5-day PADI learn to scuba course on the
Great Barrier Reef. I took a chance in attending my first day of the course, knowing that they conduct a medical to access your health prior to taking the course. And I almost passed too…until the doctor failed my dive medical because he thought I’d have trouble equalizing due to my flu. They gave me no choice but to cancel the course, thankfully giving me a full refund, and I suddenly found myself with 5 unplanned days in Cairns. Needless to say, I had an instant craving for a cappucino and some travel brochures. I’d also heard Cairns has some good bars, so I thought I’d work on my beer gut a bit too.

Yes, I’m a little disapointed at the lost opportunity to scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef. Who wouldn’t be? But at least due to the change in plans, I have some freetime to get over my cold. And anyway, I don’t think I’ll have a problem finding something to occupy myself…I’ve already found a cool cafe within a short walk of my hostel. This little unplanned alteration of my itinerary has also freed up a few days to go see the crocodiles on the Daintree river or have a go at bungee jumping, all adventures that I can do in Cairns.

Oh really, come on, people – do you really believe I would waste my entire time in a foreign country holed up in a bookstore? Definately not! …Just an hour or so each day will be okay though…