Cairns Part 1...

This place is one big party.  It feels like I am on senior trip in Mexico but with WAY MORE tourist oriented things to do; bungee jumping, overnight moon party jungle

excursions (which I was going to go on according to me last night on a pub crawl with Alicia and Emma but woke up this morning and said yeah right), sky diving,

diving, 4x4 tours, boating tours, reef tours, snorkeling, helicopter rides over the reef, etc, etc, etc.  This place is like Disneyland for travelers between the age

of 18 and 38.  I got into Cairns airport late afternoon and was pleasantly surprised to see a guy holding a sign with R. Mcloud on it.  Might have to say that is a first

as we always wonder the day will come when you pass those limo drivers in the airport when your name will be on one.  This wasn't a limo driver though.  It was a

bushwacking hat wearing pure Queenslander guy with messed up teeth, dirt in his finger nails, and jeans that appeared they were washed last in January.  Very friendly

man although who instructed me where the Gilligan's van was.  Gilligan's is an over the top backpackers hotel and resort complete with a nightclub, a gym, a waterfall

going into a man made lagoon, kitchens on every floor, and 24 hour reception.  This place is pretty cool for $30 bucks a night.  I got my 7th night free for booking a

week and the guy at the counter was cool enough to give me a week long locker rental for $20 (normally $7 a night).  Checked into my room (a 6 bed deluxe...meaning we

have a TV and a fridge) to find I had the place to myself.  Balcony looks west and down on the night club.

The van driver I met at the airport gave me some brief info on the streets as we approached Gilligan's.    The main thing that caught my ear was that there was a pub

crawl going on at 9pm out of JB Obriens down the street for $20 and you get 5 drinks at 5 different places.  After showering and resting for a bit, I headed out to

find this infamous pub crawl.  WHAT A BLAST this thing was.  Right away, Snapper, the gentleman who is the business man behind this operation and a few others,

introduced me to Alicia (from Nevada) and Emma (from England) and we became friends within 30 minutes.  We 3 joined forces with some other British people to make the

dance floors and places we went to as fun as possible.  Let me add in here that my first night Cairns, I saw 2 girls take their underwear and public nudity in private

establishments.  You see, on every stop on the pub crawl, Snapper would get on the microphone and do contests.  The first one at the first bar was a combination of

musical chairs and a scavenger hunt.  Boys and girls dancing on the dance floor would need to go and find things in the bar when the music stopped.  Well, one of them

were underwear and Alicia and Emma, my new friends, did not have a problem with this.  Long story short, Alicia won the contest and received a buy one get one free on

some kayaking thing for the next day that she was going to take me on (if I went on the overnight thing to Cape Tribulation).  Later, actually back in Gilligan's night

club, (3rd stop on the crawl).  The game as I remember involved groups of people that had to build a line on the ground of clothing and hats and bar items and none of

them touching could be the same thing.  The next thing I notice is their are people ripping their clothes off and running around the bar ripping other peoples clothing

and belongings from them.  My white mesh hat had no chance and was soon on the ground helping Alicia and Emma's team with there line of objects.  The winning team

barely had clothes on at the end and I have a vague image of young adults holding their 'junk' as their loyalty to the game had resulted in using every piece of

clothing on their body.  I don't know what they won.

Day 1 involved going to the bank to get money out and see if my debit card had came yet.  It hasn't.  Then to the City Center to find a prepay cell phone, find free

Internet in an establishment that sells beer, and to buy postage.  Posted up in an Italian place near the food court that had great Internet and $5 beers.  Had a

couple and worked on my websites and photography.  Back at Gilligan's now for dinner (penne with red sauce) and beer.  About to head out to meet Quenten, a bloke of

Mark Kickbush's whom I met on a golf course in Los Angeles.  You hear that Australians are very nice and I can tell you that is true.  I met Mark for maybe 4 hours and

he has already referred me to people in QLD that I could meet up with.  Tonight is ladies night and after last night watching girls dancing on tables at the Wood Shed,

I am very curious to see what a Thursday night in this northern tropical city is like.  Tomorrow:  start looking for work, find the coast, and find the public lagoon.

Saturday, 26/9/10.  This place is unbelievably cool.  The other night I went out two Ozzies whom live in Cairns and an absolute BLAST.  The night started at Gilligan's.

in our back beer garden and it wasn't very long until the girls said "we are going to take you out dancing and

show you a Cairns night."  It didn't take long to agree.  Long story short I ended up waking up in a taxi cab at 5am talking to a gentleman I thought was one of my

Irish roommates and he was explaining to me that I owe $30 for the cab and if understood what he was saying.  Coming out of my nice taxi slumber, I realized that it is

a Cairns police officer and he was helping me, and the taxi driver out to get me home.  He was very nice and helpful and I thanked him sincerely.  The main thing I

remember from the night was dancing on tables at the Wool Shed.  Hard to explain but this bar is built around the concept of dancing on tables (wooden and rectangle)

to where you can touch the low ceiling so you don't fall over and can be stable.  It is very dark and the music is very LOUD.  Great bar.  I think part of the reason for the lost recollection of the night is due to starting the night off with a box of GOON in our room.  GOON is boxed wine and is the cheapest way to to drink in Australia.  You can buy 5L for $10 to $15.  It makes for a BLAST of a night but the next day can be a bit weary due to the sugar content.  I will easily drink it again.   Went to the public lagoon

the next day to swim and sunbathe on the sand.  Listened to some music and re hydrated.  That evening went with Jeff and Dave to Bella Vista to get $5 pizzas and 2 for

1 pints for $5.  It is amazing sometimes how being in the right place at the right time works itself out.  After beers and starting to feel tight (as Hemingway would

say...we would say buzzed), I noticed a Tusa dive shirt on this woman next to our table.  Long story short these two instructors gave me A TON of information on

getting certified to dive.  I was even given the director of ProDive's cell phone number and a referral from Steve, the guy I met that night.  Prodive has a cook

position open as well that I already have the application for...so calling Alex, the director, today and then going in Monday morning with my app and resume to hit up

Paul (who I emailed with actually back in the states before I came to Oz).  ProDive is the #1 dive company in the world and am excited to learn from and hopefully work

for, the best.  

My new roommates are very cool.  2 Irish, 1 German, and 2 Japanese.  Everyone is very nice and the Irish guys and I have clicked so well that I could see myself

traveling with them at the end of October when they head south in Dave's 4x4.  Jeff works at the Hilton in housekeeping and Dave is a painter.  Their accents are very

thick and it feels like I am rooming with the Boondock Saints.  Tania, who dates Dave, is around here and there and is a very cool Australian from New South Wales.

She offered to send an email for me to the owner for Deep Sea Diving Tours.  I met her for like an hour and she was already willing to refer me to someone which was so

appreciated and so kind of her.  There are no Americans here.  None.  I would say for most people with holiday making travelers/workers I come across over here the

English come in #1, then Germans #2, and then Canadians and Australians tied for 3rd.  In two cities and like 9 nights out.  I have met 1 American who was doing the

same thing I am doing.  I wish more Americans knew about this holiday work visa and/or more Americans would get out in the world more.  I just feel bad as there is so

much cool shit to see that isn't in our little West Coast backyard.  If any of you want info on this visa and or this process of doing a career break or gap year or

two let me know as I would love for people to experience the things/people/places of the world and to broaden their horizons :)

Getting close to finding work.  10 resumes dropped and a couple of call backs and a face to face on Thursday.  Keeping fingers crossed.  Finding work I wouldn't say is

any harder than any other city in the world except for the fact that there are thousands of backpackers just like me traveling.  On the flip/positive side, the fact

that I speak clear and crisp English, have an American accent, and have a positive/outgoing/likeable personality (so the English receptionist at my old hostel in

Brisbane so kindly complimented), it has been easier to be received when approaching establishments.  The RSA (liquor license) to serve in Queensland was cake as it

took about 30 minutes online and cost about $70.  I didn't get the dive boat hostie job I wanted but I am excited that I got a September discount special with Deep Sea

Divers Den to get my 5 day certification for open water.  The first two days are in the classroom and the last 3 are overnight on a large vessel on the Outer Reef of

the GBR.  10 dives in all while out to sea including a night dive with sharks!  Should be amazing I am so excited for this as I have always had a fascination with

diving in pools growing up.  After the course is over I may have the opportunity to volunteer on one of their boats as well as a hostie for 5 days where all dives and

food and accommodation is provided.  Stoked for the future of diving with Ryan McLeod and perhaps photography?  Definitely not out of the question...

Cairns is the most explosive small town I have ever been to.  It is a bit over 140,000 in population yet it feels smaller than the Pacific Beach area of San Diego.  I

can walk from one side of the city to the other in 15 minutes basically.  There is 1 post office, 1 grocery store, 1 mall, 1 public lagoon, 1 marina area, and only 1

GILLIGAN'S.  Gilligan's never sleeps.  Picture a backpackers resort with a beer garden, a night club, an outdoor pool with a waterfall and sand to lay out in, 5

stories like a hotel, communal kitchens/fridges/stoves on every floor, and 600+ people from all around the world drinking beer specials every night.  Probably one of

the coolest and most efficient hostels I have ever stayed in.  Last few nights been hanging out with the Irish, Torsten (cool German guy in our room), and Deb and

Katie.  Deb is a cool chick from the UK and Katie is a very rad hippie from Calgary.  They are heading south in a campervan for 30 days and are looking to pick up 2

more people to split the cost.  I would join them but I have more of Cairns to see before the wet season hits.  Just now getting my feet on the ground and wet and

don't not ready to pick up and move just yet.  Cairns has a lot more for Ryan McLeod...

Australia is expensive.  For example, going to the movies will cost you $19 dollars.  A pack of cigarettes will run you from $12 to $30 depending on the quality of

tobacco you would like to torch into your lungs.  Rolling smokes on your own is the way to go to save money.  A pint of beer is usually always $7 to $8 dollars.  A

case of beer or 30 pack will be anywhere from $30 to $50 dollars depending on domestic and imports.  Let go of my arm and my shoulder Queensland I don't even have a

source of income yet to pay for GOON!  I get $5 pints at Gilligan's due to staying there and trust me that is an attractive price.  I just passed through

Woolworths today to by peanut butter and jelly ingredients and noticed beach towels were over $20 and they did not look big and thick.  Just different, but worth it.

The mood, culture, way of life, and scenery is all laid back and chill and their is always a no-rush feeling in the air that I can't seem to put my finger on it just

yet.  I have heard that Sydney (from Katie and Deb) is the exact opposite of here.  They say there is no work to find, clubs you can't get into, people are in a hurry

like Paris, NYC, and LA, and they LOVED Cairns so much already in two nights as it is just DIFFERENT than the bigger cities to the south.  This is not keeping me from

Sydney as the support I have had thanks to all of you friends and family with regard to contacts and connections over here has been AMAZING.  Thank you all again who

have extended vouches I appreciate it so much.

Alright, gotta end the first Cairns segment so I can finalize this travel blog and get it ready to email out to everyone.  Thank you all for the support I

miss you all and hope everyone is safe and sound.  Cheers for now and lots more to come.  RCM