Due East to Magnetic Island
Trip Start
Jan 17, 2008
1
89
186
Trip End
Jun 30, 2009
Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
On our first night , we headed over to Horseshoe Bay on the north coast so we could have a bite to eat. Unfortunetly as the bus turned the corner, we were flagged down by some motorists, there had been crash involving a moke, which is an electric car stroke buggy, hired by tourists to get about the island. The accident was quite serious, and we were held up for 2 hours on the top of the hill while the firies (fireman) and the ambo (ambulance) worked hard to set them free. Australians love to abbreviate words. They even scrambled a helicopter, but after encircling us a few times, it eventually went away. As a result, the bus eventually arrived at Horseshoe bay shortly after 8pm. Unfortunately, for some annoying reason, most restaurants and cafes stop serving food at 8pm, so we were sent packing from most as they were like, how dare you come to eat at our crappy pub after 8. There was one place that was willing to give us a table, it was the most expensive place on the small strip, though we had a lovely dinner, Daniella had a lamb shank and Jon had pork crackling, also we saw possums climbing on the tables trying to eat the the leftover food. We learnt our lesson that on Magnetic Island , it is difficult to get food after 8pm, and the island is not exactly party town.
But we enjoyed some lovely nature the next day as we walked up to the fort, where there were WW2 fortifications built to defend Australia from the threat of Japanese invasion. On the way we saw a koala sitting in a tree, to be honest, it did not do much except look cute. It was not even our first koala of the day, Daniella had held one at breakfast. We had gone to a champagne breakfast at the wildlife sanctuary. For 25 dollars, you get a lovely breakfast with all the trimmings, including bacon, eggs, lamb chops, guava champagne, pancakes and much more. As you eat, the rangers bring round to your table some interesting wildlife, such as snakes, crocodiles and kockatoos, and finally a koala. I would defintely recommend the champagne breakfast to anyone visiting Magnetic.
After the fort, we chilled on the beach reading our books, before heading back to Magnums, with the intention of catching up on some blog writing. I put about 6 pounds of change in the machine, but when I left the computer inactive for about 2 minutes, it ended my session, meaning that I lost not only about a fiver, but also lost of my writing. I cursed the stupid machine, but the jobsworth on reception pointed to the small print on the poster, saying that if you leave your computer inactive, your session is ended and there will be no refunds. But Daniella kicked up a fuss with the manager the next day and got our money back. Well done babe!
We had a quiet dinner at Magnums, before watching the toad racing. Yeah I know, it is a bit uncommon and you probably dont have it where you live, but it was a good laugh. Basically the organiser guy, an Australian guy with an accent so thick it is difficult to understand introduces all the toads (about 8 in all) and people bid to buy them. Then the toads are released and the first to reach the edge of the circle is the winner. Some winners won over 100 bucks after an initial investment of 20 dollars, so it could be a good option, provided you pick the right toad, if you pick the dud, its dead money. It was a good laugh, and brightened up an average night at Magnums, but could only keep my interest for a short time before I went back to the exciting game of Japan V Australia at softball, which seemed to go on forever and ever, as neither side managed to hit a home run.
