Magnetic Island, take two

Warning: This post is really long. It is also, however, filled with pictures. Beware.

So, as expected, I am awful at updating this, and as I am about to go on a new adventure, I figure I should get up my entry about my last one -- a visit to Magnetic Island, almost three weeks ago. Although my first visit to this miniature paradise was less than I expected, my second visit was all that much more than I could have hoped.



























Although we got a later start than we wanted, and the ferry ride out was concerningly turbulent, we were picked up from the ferry terminal by the extraordinarily nice couple who owned the first place we were staying. Although I do not have a picture of it, the inside of the car they picked us up in was akin to a giant, squishy lamb. It was covered in inches of fluff, which was in turn covered by some material that was made to mimic sheep pelts. The house itself was something of a mix between a hostel and a bed and breakfast. Most of the rooms were nicer, more expensive, and fitted to only two people, but we managed to get a place in the room called "Horseshoe Bay," which was made for four people. To our luck, the room was only $30/person/night, even if there were not four people in the party, and although this room was one of their less extravagant ones, it was still impeccable.







I ate this. The whole thing. It consisted of a bun and burger - ordinary enough - but also contained a mystery meat (which I am fairly certain was some kind of bacon), sauted onions, a fried egg, pineapple, tomato, lettuce, beats, and normally it would have carrots, as well, though I asked for it without those.

We only stayed at our first shelter for a night, though, and the next day we packed up to begin our hike from Arcadia Bay to Horseshoe Bay. Honestly, I don't know how far the hike was, but it took us about four hours. One map (which I've now lost) allowed me to estimate it was 5km, but as we all know, estimates are not my strong point. However far it was, I can now truly appreciate hiking without anything on my back.













On our way, there was a small offshoot from the path that led to a waterfall, at the bottom of which was a picturesque pool with a rope swing hanging from a tree. I'll admit that, out of the four hours we hiked, at least half an hour was spent here.










Eventually (meaning when a bunch of guys came to sit in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall and drink beer) we left and continued on our hike.








Finally, we arrived at Horseshoe Bay, where I promptly found a really cool looking dead possum!




























Our destination was Bungalow Bay Koala Village, a hostel in the midst of a national park. Originally, we booked the cheapest accommodation we could, intending to share a room with six strangers. Yet, when we arrived, we learned that we were lucky enough to receive a free upgrade (due, most likely, to an overbooking somewhere) to a two person bungalow...with air-conditioning. Normally, I am not one for artificially cooled air, but after only knowing restless sleep due to the heat for a month, even toxic coolants start to sound like a brilliant idea. It. Was. Fantastic.

Here, we met up with out other friend, Amy, who only stayed one night, but was awesome to have nonetheless. (The "we" I have been referring to the whole time is me and my friend, Lindsey, by the way.) After our hike, we weren't up for anything too strenuous, so we spent the rest of the day chilling at the beach...until it started to rain.

The agenda for the next day (for me, at least) was to snorkel. Unfortunately, when we went to rent the equipment to do so, we were informed that a cyclone (which never ended up hitting us) was on its way, and the conditions were bad for such things. After a brief bout of disappointment, I happily lounged on the beach while Amy and Lindsey went jet skiing. I must admit, it looked like a great deal of fun, but the price was a bit too high for me!

After spending some time at the beach(less than an hour, actually....with sunscreen....and I still managed to get burned!), and eating not-college (and therefore delicious) food, Amy had to leave (it was a really short trip for here, but she had bee there the weekend before anyway), and Lindsey and I decided to hike a trail called The Forts Walk, which we had heard much about.

All the fantastic reviews we heard about it were true (except that we would see wild koalas there), and the pictures and videos that follow are really the only way I can even begin to describe what it was like.

















You can ignore the conversation I am having as I begin to record this one :p




The Forts Walk is a trail that goes through an area that was a fort back in WWII, and is now basically just ruins. One of the main buildings still stands, though, at the top of one of the tallest hills on the island, and that is where we hiked to. We lucked out and made it to the top just as the sun was setting.

It took me three weeks to get this up, but it may be one of the longest (in literal length, if not word length) blogs known to the internet. I shall leave you, then, with this, the beautiful song of tropical birds: