I had set off for three relaxing days on gorgeous North Stradbroke Island - tropical white-sand beaches, crystal clear sea, very few people... about five on a three-kilometer beach. I spent most of my time reading books. The supposedly spectacular marine wildlife (turtles, mantas, sharks etc.) will have to remain for an other trip as relatively strong winds resulted in very choppy water - no snorkeling hence. But I made an other important discovery, ginger ice-cream. Yum!
Today, Clare and Gordon took me into the very beautiful hills near Brisbane, to Tamborine Mountain. Tropical rain-forest and a very persistent and mean Kukaburra which almost snatched the sandwiches from our plates. To top my time here off we went to a very nice seafood restaurant tonight overlooking the river. To get there we had to take a ferry ride along the river which is actually a very scenic journey itself. Brisbane is indeed a very pleasant place to live! And there is significantly less vanity than in Sydney, the general attitude is certainly much more down-to-earth.
Tomorrow, I am off to the red centre, a quite different Australia experience as I expect. What is to come after that, I do not know yet, probably a longish overland journey by bus since I do want to get an idea of the vastness of the Australian continent. So far, however, I do not yet know whether to go north or south from Alice. We will see! I will keep you posted.
