Noosa

I saw the Frenchies again, that makes four times we've bumped into each other. I was sitting in the hostel in Noosa eating dinner, the door opened and Roger came in. It took a few seconds for us to realize what was happening and then he just backed out again and closed the door. It was so funny but lovely to see them again, we had some wine and a chat. I think they have gone back to France now so maybe I will see them again one day in Avignon.

The next day I went on a canoe trip up the Upper Noosa River into the Everglades. The boat took us to Booren Point and then we canoed up to a place called Harry's Hut and camped overnight, it was really beautiful but it rained from about 1pm so it was very wet. I had booked to stay two nights but I came back after one. I was also a bit concerned about doing the second day on my own as most people were going back after one day and although more people would arrived on the second day it was just too unpleasant with the wet weather to make we want to stay. They also seemed a bit casual about safety as they just take the people to the canoes and leave them, no instruction or guide or anything. Anyway it was really easy to find the way, it was also easy to canoe, the river was so clear and smooth.

Today I went to the Australia Zoo, the place owned by Steve Irwin the crocodile hunter, it was the most fantastic place. They encourage people to feed the animals and to stroke them. Small children line up to feed the massive elephants, its really lovely to see how much they enjoy it and the elephants seem to like the attention too. I had my photo taken with a Burmese Python around my neck, he was truly beautiful. I saw Steve, he does a show with the crocodiles and his wife Terri, they have two kids and they are really into getting children involved in learning about the animals and understanding conservation. There are guides everywhere, in all the enclosures playing with the animals and telling people about them. The best one was the Tiger enclosure, they had the tigers in the pool playing with balls and jumping around in the water. They also tell you that there are less than 2,000 tigers in the wild now and the numbers are declining due to man destroying their habitat, it is a really good show and very educational. They put a lot of the money they make back into conservation.

I've realized that all the backpackers are going the same things that I am doing after this ie we all go to Fraser Island and then Airlie Beach to cruise in the Whitsundays and then Cairns to dive. I feel like I am on a package tour and I don't like it. I hope New Zealand is less like this. The places are beautiful but there are just too many people doing the same things. They are mostly between uni and work and they have no idea what they want to do, it gets a bit boring after you hear the same thing a few times.