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andrew
10-02-2010, 09:40 PM
I just got back from my first real holiday since 1995 and it should have been longer :)

I went to Cairns for a week with my parents to see my sister for her birthday (Cairns is here (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=cairns&sll=-35.28204,149.12858&sspn=0.060887,0.111494&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Cairns+Queensland&ll=-18.791918,146.57959&spn=18.011493,28.54248&z=6))

Tropical weather complete with humidity and heat and...well....backpackers from all over the world hehehehehehe

As far as sightseeing went I didn't do a heck of a lot really, just spent much of the time relaxing and enjoying the weather.

I booked myself to go snorkeling and scuba diving on Thursday. As luck would have it, we met my sister for dinner the previous night. My sister, who is a doctor, made me swear that I wouldn't go diving. Apparently it causes pneumothorax in people such as myself, of which I have had several in previous years and have no intention of experiencing again. It was a stroke of luck and a blessing that it happened that way as I was nearly booked for the day before. Had I done that it would have been touch and go at 30 feet below the water and 60km offshore.....

Anyway, enough of the downside...oh wait...there's more downside lol! I had an asthma attack when I went snorkeling so that was out of the question too haha - yeah I can laugh now! I cheered myself up by getting a helicopter ride back to land instead of going on the boat. That was awesome!

I met a bunch of interesting people and had a blast. The nightlife there is something to behold. I bought myself a 12-shot rubber band gun so I'm armed and dangerous now.

Had some great walks along the boardwalk and got fitter just over the week I was there. Definitely pay a visit if you're ever over here. I'm going back again :)

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RCOSSIO
10-02-2010, 09:48 PM
Nice holiday mate.

Well you had an eventful holiday....Glad you enjoyed it and that you came back ALIVE!

elephant
10-02-2010, 11:06 PM
Great pictures Andrew, view is awesome! Glad you enjoyed yourself!

Sangye
10-02-2010, 11:07 PM
Wow, that's beautiful! I'm so glad you were able to go, Andrew. (And glad you survived the asthma attack in the ocean OMG) Thanks for indicating where Cairns is-- I read it and was going, "Wait, do I know that? Egypt? No, that's Cairo...." LOL

marta
10-04-2010, 03:02 PM
Welcome home Andrew. You sound like me in that I'll do anything for a helicopter ride.... anything (well almost anything - ha ha).
Looks like an awesome holiday ! Is that your smiling face in the chopper? It's great to put faces to the names on here.
Glad to hear your sister was there at the right time and right place. Pheuf, I just looked 'pneumothorax' up - sounds horrible.

Doug
10-04-2010, 03:07 PM
Doesn't hurt to have a doctor in the family! On the other hand, I wonder how serious you can take somone you grew up with. How does it work, Andrew?

andrew
10-04-2010, 03:08 PM
Wow, that's beautiful! I'm so glad you were able to go, Andrew. (And glad you survived the asthma attack in the ocean OMG) Thanks for indicating where Cairns is-- I read it and was going, "Wait, do I know that? Egypt? No, that's Cairo...." LOL

:) I thought the map would be best. A picture is worth a thousand words so they say! It's a truly awesome place. Really nice to visit and perhaps live there???!!


Welcome home Andrew. You sound like me in that I'll do anything for a helicopter ride.... anything (well almost anything - ha ha).
Looks like an awesome holiday ! Is that your smiling face in the chopper? It's great to put faces to the names on here.
Glad to hear your sister was there at the right time and right place. Pheuf, I just looked 'pneumothorax' up - sounds horrible.

That was my first helicopter ride. Loved it and saving up to go again. Yep that's me in the chopper grinning like a Cheshire cat. Yes, apparently I had multiple pneumothoraces when in ICU. I was unconscious for all but one of them. I think unconscious is the best way to experience them.

Doug
10-04-2010, 03:11 PM
Helicopters are fun!

andrew
10-04-2010, 03:11 PM
Doesn't hurt to have a doctor in the family! On the other hand, I wonder how serious you can take somone you grew up with. How does it work, Andrew?

Hi mate, yes it's a bit weird however my sister and I have a relationship where we only talk to each other when we are face to face i.e. about once every two years :) I never ask her medical advice due to the fact that it's family and there's never going to be that 'distance' of a normal doctor-patient relationship. Therefore when she offers advice I tend to listen. She also never asks me computer-related questions. Given that we never talk medicine or computers there's really nothing else to talk about so the relationship works really well LOL!!

andrew
10-04-2010, 03:12 PM
Helicopters are fun!

W00T!!! Yeah baby!

Doug
10-04-2010, 03:13 PM
LOL! Love my siblings, too~!

andrew
10-04-2010, 03:17 PM
I guess it sounds like she and I don't get on but we just have completely different lives. There's no angst, we just don't have much to say to each other. When we're together we get along great :)

Doug
10-04-2010, 03:23 PM
On the contrary! I read that as, well, just what you said! It's nice when you can meet, have a nice relaxed time with a sibling, and just enjoy them as the same little squirt they used to be, olnly more beat up and older! Ha!

andrew
10-04-2010, 03:24 PM
Haha definitely more beat up! Sshhhhhh...don't let her know I said that.....

Doug
10-04-2010, 03:25 PM
[I have your back, mate!]

marta
10-04-2010, 03:27 PM
my little sister lives next door to me - if I look out my bathroom window I can see into hers (gross, I know lol) and if she's not looking beat up enough on any given day, I'll just reach over the fence and give her a good beating.
Seriously though, she's been a total life saver through the insanity of the last several months. It's great to know I can hollar if I need a hand with anything and my little sis will be over in 10 seconds.

Deanne Hull
10-05-2010, 12:34 AM
Hi Andrew, awesome photos, I just got back from my holiday on friday and had a great time with my family. I should put some photos up as well...glad you are okay and had a good time.

Sangye
10-05-2010, 12:59 AM
These posts made me giggle. :laugh:

freakyschizogirl
10-05-2010, 05:14 AM
I thought Cairn was in Scotland!! Total opposite...is that where ya get a Cairn terrier from??

Glad you had a good time....dunno if i culd stomach a helicopter...i get travel sick!

eileenv
10-05-2010, 07:10 AM
Lovely photos Andrew, i was there fourteen years ago and went diving off the great barrier reef and fed a five foot cod fish awsome!! it's sad to think i wont be able to do this anymore, also went trecking hrough the rainforest up there. My sister lives in Adelaide, i just love Australia!!!

andrew
10-05-2010, 10:02 AM
Glad you had a good time....dunno if i culd stomach a helicopter...i get travel sick!

I wasn't so much worried about the helicopter as the boat. I took three ginger tablets before getting on board and one about every hour or two after that and felt fine. Several people weren't so lucky. My feet got puked on though. Didn't bug me as I was going to get in the water soon anyway LOL!

andrew
10-05-2010, 10:03 AM
Lovely photos Andrew, i was there fourteen years ago and went diving off the great barrier reef and fed a five foot cod fish awsome!! it's sad to think i wont be able to do this anymore, also went trecking hrough the rainforest up there. My sister lives in Adelaide, i just love Australia!!!

The Cod are awesome. Not so many of them left anymore unfortunately. The crew fed on next to the boat which was awesome to see. His name was 'Wally' (the Cod that is). Apparently there are about eight 'Wally's' in the surrounding areas :)

Sangye
10-05-2010, 12:15 PM
My feet got puked on though.

The more details that emerge from this vacation, the more I'm surprised by how much you enjoyed it! :laugh:

jola57
10-05-2010, 02:53 PM
OOo super photos Andrew, it looks like you had fun. When you mentioned scuba my heart stopped but fortunately I read on and my heart started up again. ( It is the reason why I mourn not being able to scuba) Uh no scary Jola again like that puleeze.

Fran
10-22-2010, 01:00 AM
Andrew,

Happy birthday to a very special person - YOU ! Best wishes http://www.wegeners-granulomatosis.com/forum/images/editor/smilie.pnghttp://www.wegeners-granulomatosis.com/forum/images/editor/smilie.pnghttp://www.wegeners-granulomatosis.com/forum/images/editor/smilie.png

Palmyra
10-22-2010, 01:23 AM
Ohhhh! I do so love adventure. It cleanses a worried soul, and energizes the weary! So glad you had a good holiday....(I noticed the bikini clad underwater pictures. Quite the wildlife in those lovely waters.:wink1:)

DEE
10-22-2010, 07:16 AM
Happy Birthday ANDREW!!!:rolleyes1::thumbsup:

chrisTIn@
10-22-2010, 08:16 AM
Is today really your birthday Andrew?
Congratulations!
And many happy returns! :smile1:

elephant
10-22-2010, 08:21 AM
Happy Birthday Andrew!

Geoff
10-22-2010, 08:27 AM
G'Day Mate and throw another shrimp on the Bar-B!!

Wishing you a great Birthday on Friday.:hug3:

andrew
10-22-2010, 07:11 PM
Thanks peeps :)

Sangye
10-23-2010, 12:15 AM
Happy 24th Birthday, Andrew! You're so lucky-- if you were in the northern hemisphere, you'd be 42. :biggrin1:

I hope you have a great day. I'm sure glad you were born, my friend. :smile1:

Sangye
10-23-2010, 12:21 AM
Message from the northern hemisphere

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/2b966187-411a-45da-9f41-2d073c112d17.jpg (http://www.wegeners-granulomatosis.com/forum/%3Ca%20href=)

Sangye
10-23-2010, 12:35 AM
We all chipped in and sent you a little something

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/38974a78-ab9b-4dc3-85ac-c211af3ca9e3.jpg (http://www.wegeners-granulomatosis.com/forum/%3Ca%20href=)

Brooke
10-23-2010, 01:54 AM
Happy Birthday Andrew! :smile1: Awesome pictures too!

jola57
10-28-2010, 01:43 AM
Happy belated birthday Andrew, sure glad you are here