Stinging Jellyfish and Skin Grafts
Mackay -> Townsville, 11th to 12th February 2002
The journey today was fairly easy-going. Although it was hot and
sticky, it was only half the distance we drove yesterday, and we
were starting to get used to the heat. We made plenty of stops to
get drinks & ice-cream, essential in the tropics.
We also made a short stop to have a look at one of the northern
beaches. Unfortunately, north of Brisbane, the water on the coast is
not safe to swim in. There are a large number of box jellyfish on
the coast. Their stings are deadly, so, just as the weather gets
hotter, swimming in the nice cool sea isn't an option.
There are a few 'netted' beaches which are safe to swim in, and we
managed to find one. We stepped out of the van into the sun and
walked down to the beach. Josh, still covered in burns, hid in the
shade. The netted enclosure was literally a tiny section of water,
surrounded on 3 sides by submerged tennis nets. This is supposed to
keep the jellyfish out. Just in case, a guy with a white swimming
cap, swam around the enclosure all day, keeping an eye out.
The beach was actually not that nice, so we just stuck our feet in &
took a quick paddle. The water was really, really hot! We're talking
almost bath water temperature! It's ridiculous, even if you could
swim at all the beaches here, you wouldn't want to because its not
actually any cooler than the air!
After this brief diversion, we continued to Townsville without any
problems.
When we reached Townsville, the first thing we did, of course, was
the motel hunt. Since we've learned that we can get a really nice
motel for the same price as 4 hostel beds, we only hunted for
motels, not hostels.
We managed to find 2 very average motels, charging above average
rates and refusing to barter. So we continued looking. As a last
resort, we checked out the very new & expensive looking 'City Centre
Motel'.
Josh, Stinge and I walked into the ice-cold, air-conditioned lobby.
The lady at reception said she'd be with us in a moment. We looked
around and the brand new decor and were almost certain that they'd
charge at least $200, but we hung around anyway.
When we asked the price, we were shocked when she said it was only
$80 for all 5 of us, that's about 30 pounds! The only downside, was
the lack of a pool. But when she showed us the huge, brand new,
sparkling clean room, fully air-conditioned and equipped with a
fridge & TV, we immediately took it.
We checked in, parked the car and moved our bags & stuff in. The
'motel' (the room was as good, if not better, than any expensive
HOTEL I've stayed in) was so cheap & good quality, we decided to
stay in Townsville for 2 nights.
Looking around the room, we noticed that half the equipment had
never been used. The microwave, toaster, kettle and bathroom were
brand-spanking-new!
We spent the rest of the day exploring the town and looking at the
shops. In the evening, Josh & I went for a couple of pints and
chatted about life back home. Actually, we had a pint, then a
'schooner'. We're true Ozzies now!
The next day was just a relaxing day. After spending countless hours
driving up the coast, we wanted to spend a day in Townsville, just
experiencing an Australian town.
The problem with powerful air-conditioning, is that while you're
freezing in your room, it's easy to forget how hot humid it is
outside. You never get used to stepping out of the front door. One
minute you're in nice, crisp, cold air, then WHOOMP! you've walked
into a solid wall of thick, moist, hot air. You practically need a
knife to cut your way through the air! The first few times we did
this, we stepped through the door, said "Yeah right!", spun round
and walked right back in again!
Coming from the UK, we weren't used to extreme heat, so we'd do our
best to stay in shops or shopping malls where the air-conditioning
was a God-send. I'd always thought that air-conditioning wasn't that
important and I was surprised when I read a poll where it had been
voted the best invention of the century. But since we've been in
Australia, I've understood why. Air-conditioning is essential. Life
here would be unbearable without it! There's nothing nicer than
walking from the hot, humid outdoors, into a nice, cool, refreshing
air-conditioned building. If you're from the UK, trust me.
Eventually, we did actually have to go outside. I drove Josh up to
hospital so he could have his burns checked. He'd run out of pain
killers for his burns and needed some more, but he'd need a
prescription to get them because they were so powerful. As he needed
a check-up soon anyway, he decided to go today.
When I went back and picked him up 3 hours later, he'd been tidied
up, given new bandages and some slightly weaker pain killers than
the ones he'd initially been given. When he went in, the first thing
he said, was "I want more of those pain killers". The doctor told
him that he couldn't because it looked like he was becoming addicted
to them! So he was only given weaker ones. He'd also had a skin
graft, some skin had been taken from his leg and put onto his back.
Ouch. Those burns must have been really bad.
I spent most of the day updating my diary because I'd fallen quite
behind. Apart from that, it was a quiet day.
Tomorrow we leave for Cairns, our final stop in Australia! I hope
Custard the van will make it!
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