Nearly a disaster

So somehow I forgot to mention the tsunami that hit the east coast of Australia...or should that be gently nudged. Just as I was getting into Airlie Beach the bus driver announced that there'd been an earthquake in the Solomon Islands and there was a tsunami heading towards Australia and it would hit Cairns 1st so then everyone would know whether to head for the hills in Airlie or not. No-one it seemed was particularly bothered though which was strange although I later found out that they had cancelled operations and closed schools in Cairns and in somewhere called Mackay they had pulled people out of the water. It turns out the tsunami was about 2 cm high by the time it hit the east coast so it was a bit of an anti-climax though I was happy as it meant I could still go on my sailing trip.
I did decide to try and get soaked by waves anyway so I went whitewater rafting (yet again) on the Tully River south of Cairns which was fun.
Next I headed to Port Douglas which is just north of Cairns where Matthew McConaughey hangs out a lot, though not at the moment. However my mate Sally who I met on the west coast was there so we have some beers which was cool.
Back in Cairns and I headed to the Atherton Tablelands which is a waterfally scenic area. One of the waterfalls was used for a Timotei advert and alas also for the video for 'Mysterious Girl' by Peter Andre, apparently they had to build a wooden platform under the water so he wouldn't look so short!
Still in the water I headed out to the Great Barrier Reef and went snorkelling which I'd done last time I was here but was still worth the bumpy ride out, though I could have done without having to dodge the shit that was floating around the second reef.