Portland to Cairns - The Longest Day Ever

Two calendar days and about 36 hours later - I made it to Cairns!
This being my first update from Australia and my first effort at travel blogging (I'm scared!), I'm going to go easy on myself.  Here's a list of highlights as I went from Portland to Cairns:

San Francisco - loooong layover, took Bart into the city, went to the Embarcadero where there was a market, walked up the hill to Chinatown and confirmed that I am LOVING my 15lb backpack.  Had an extremely good Hum bau and got a little blue wallet for my travels. Love SF.

Flight to Sydney - surprised to be seated next to a girl that had a *striking* resemblance to Claire on the show Lost.  Seriously.  Unlike Claire in Lost, I did make it to my end destination, Sydney.  And I slept most of the way.  Go me.

Sydney Airport - had a perfectly brief stay, got to enjoy the sweet voices of little Australian boys playing with their mom and reading the paper.  I learned about some new Australian tax law.

Arriving in Cairns - My first encounter with the locals - made the mistake of saying "excuse me sir.." to a bus driver.  He rolled over laughing... "well I've been called many things in my life..." hah.  Note to self: will be taking a less formal approach in future.  Other shocking sight - children driving!  Okay actually just caught me off guard - the driver is on the opposite side than I'm used to. Just passengers.  Phew.

Medical Clinic - I went to the local 24-hour clinic to get a dive medical.  Another experience with formality or lack of it - one of the patients in the waiting room was barefoot.  No worries mon.

So there you go.  I'm here now and heading out in a few to check out Kuranda.  Then getting my dive gear sorted out tonight.  Then off to the Great Barrier Reef early tomorrow morning.  Things are looking very good and its good to be here.

Last-Minute Details

Just a few days left until I get on a plane headed to Cairns, Australia.

I've been daydreaming about this trip since last November.  Which means I've had plenty of time to scour the internet for activities, read travel guides and make some new purchases (underwater video camera!).  I recently started reading Bill Bryson's In A Sunburned Country about his time in Australia.  Funny.  Also started my SCUBA certification this spring which I am going to finish up on the Great Barrier Reef when I arrive.

My biggest concern right now is to take care of all of the small pre-departure details - pay the bills, stop the mail, make doggy arrangements.  Then there is packing.  This year's challenge - paring the main bag down to 15lbs!  The reasoning is that it will make traveling more fun AND I can take the bag as carry-on luggage.

The 15lbs includes my mask and snorkel that I'm bringing.  So I'm going to have to make some hard decisions come Friday night.  If I need something I can always get it there, right?

Wish me luck!