Australia > Farewell to Cairns

The last day in Australia has arrived. I take a shower and pack the last of my things. Across the street, at Murry’s, I order toast with egg and coffee. It’s busy on the terrace again this morning. A lovely breeze blows in from the sea, disguising the fact that the temperature is already above thirty degrees. After breakfast, we walk along the boardwalk to the Lagoon. Because the sea is not safe due to the presence of crocodiles, there is a large free public pool on the boulevard.

Australia - A large public pool on the boulevard

The water is wonderfully warm, but also a little salty. While in the water, we are approached by a woman originally from the Netherlands. She tells us she fell in love with an Australian fifty years ago and moved to Australia. She comes from The Hague. She still speaks Dutch remarkably well and without an accent. After swimming, we visit the Aquarium. The Cairns Aquarium showcases various fish and reptiles. A lot of effort has gone into the decorations.

Australia - Sea animals can be viewed in the Cairns Aquarium

Many fish swim among colorful coral. The sharks and stingrays have a large aquarium. A glass tunnel runs underneath it, allowing for an excellent view of the animals. In the food court at the shopping center, I order something to eat. I spend my last Australian dollars. At the hotel, I change clothes. It feels a bit strange to wear jeans again. When the bus arrives, the trip is really over. In just about fifteen minutes, I reach the airport. I check in my travel bag and receive two boarding passes: one for the flight from Cairns to Singapore, and one for the onward flight to Amsterdam. On the plane, I try to get some sleep. A meal is served during the flight. As we approach Singapore, a sandwich is served. Around quarter to eleven local time in Singapore, flight SQ204 lands at Singapore Changi Airport. After leaving the plane, I quickly look for the new gate. I only have fifty minutes for my connection.