We took the day as slowlyyy as possible because we have a long night coming up. After all that saltwater and sun yesterday we were pretty tired out but nothing was going to stop us because today is the hostel’s bi-monthly pool party, where all of the mad monkey guests come from different hostels and enjoy good tunes, bbq, games and the pool together. We walked around town together and went to rusty’s market, then came back to get ready for the festivities. Luckily, with some generous staff prices we didn’t even break the bank! We were split up into two teams and played this crazy card game from Scotland where you “make it across the river” and your whole team drinks together if the dealer picks up cards that are meant to be avoided (ex: face cards, etc). This game made quite the rucous.
We ended our sesh quite early around 9 and went to get dinner at Cock & Bull, which is a restaurant and bar right next to the hostel. It definitely has a stereotypical American vibe to it, with large meal portions, animal busts lining the wall and carpet on the floor. We split a dish and of course… a dessert, and then crawled our way back to the hostel to round out the evening. I love getting to enjoy these hostel events with my sister!
The next morning Shayna and I got up to go skydiving. In her words, “You literally cannot mess this up” (referring to scuba diving hahaha). We got picked up by the skydive company (at 6 am!), and made our way to the shop for the safety briefing and gearing up. Any day you need to sign a waiver for your life is definitely one you won’t forget. It all happened so fast. You get strapped up to your instructor and then they take you up in this tiny plane filled with others about to jump. You feel the elevation so soon in that small plane. I didn’t have much time to think about anything because I was out of the plane first. They scootch your tush over to the edge of the plane and you feel like you’re about to be sucked into the pilot’s seat from the outside of the plane. I’d never felt a rush like it before, it almost felt like a green screen. 3, 2, 1 out we went! The rush was real. But the craziest part was that you don’t feel your stomach drop, it is just very windy. We did fun spins and enjoyed the free fall. It was a totally new perspective of seeing the world, and the pictures can absolutely attest to that. Shayna and I landed and immediately gave each other big hugs. What did I tell you, a day we wouldn’t forget.
Afterwards we went back to the hostel, napped a little and got ready for a nice lunch together. Salthouse is a restaurant/bar/outdoor club that hugs the Cairns marina and has sprawling seating areas with open firepits and amazing décor. They had a $20 AUD lunch special where you get a meal and a drink. Did someone say drink? Lol. We had the most gorgeous day to go, loved everything we ate (additionally got this amazing pull apart spiced bread) and then got gelato afterwards and sat on bean bags at Mooz Gelato next door. Livin’ is easy.
We met up at night with one of shayna's friends who she met while traveling, and then headed back to the hostel. Shayna left the next morning and it was so sad to say goodbye to her :( I am so incredibly lucky that my friends in Cairns got to meet her and spend time with my best friend from home! Shayna- the next chapter of graduate school is going to be amazing! Good Luck at Adler University, I know you will make the best Art Therapist!
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