Adventures on our way to, and then at Tangalooma.

I'm sorry if the following story is boring... I've already told the stories enough times that my mind is now a little mushy. Here are the events as best as I can now write them.

So, Sadie and I got up at 6 am on Saturday to get started on our journey to Moreton Island. Sadie and looked online the night before and found it was going to be pretty difficult to take the bus there, but possible. So we just out at 6:45. Seconds later Sadie realized neither of us had grabbed the vouchers! She went back inside and grabbed them. We then headed up the hill. A few blocks later we realized neither of us had grabbed the bag of food after we'd gone back for the vouchers. Sadie took of running down the hill, got the food and met me back where she's left me. We figured we'd lost too much time so we axed getting coffees at my favorite little place. We made it to the bus stop with 15 minutes to spare... amazingly. Our bus arrived on time and we began the long journey to the no-where area where we would transfer. Upon arrival, we checked the bus time and found we had an hour of waiting to do. Better too early than too late, right?

We set up camp in the bus shelter and shared a few tim tams with the guy sitting next to us. Half way through, a bus pulled up across the street which we could have caught to bring us to where we were, had the transit web site told us about it. Oh well, better too early than too late. Shortly after, our bus arrived. We smiled and flagged the driver (as one must to in Bris to get it to stop) only to be informed the bus wouldn't be going to our stop again until 2:30! I was only 8:30 then and the boat was leaving at noon. I walked across the street to ask a woman there if she knew a taxi number. She didn't. I then went to ask a woman about to enter her front yard if she knew a taxi number. She recited the number for me and asked my situation. I filled her in and she said "Well, best of luck to you" and turned to walk away. Then she stopped and said "ah, what the heck. I'll drive you there." We were thrilled and so thankful! When we arrived we found out there was a 10 am boat as well, and that we could go on it!

We arrived on the island at around 11:30. It was kind of like chaos. We didn't really know where to go, but an employee who didn't really speak English told us we could come on the bus to reception. We got in the maybe 30 seat bus with two other people and went along for the one (maybe two) minute drive. We quickly realized this place was very poorly set up and the employees were not made to provide very friendly service. We were told our room might not be ready until as late at 3 (contrary to 2 o'clock check in time the website said) but they would announce on the loud speaker if it was ready early. Although it was raining, we decided to suit up and go for a swim in the ocean. That was nice for a while but it was a little chilly with the wind. Plus, we'd heard that there were some announcements but couldn't make out what they were saying. We got dressed again and went back to the... blah blah blah... they were impatient and unapologetic and we were annoyed they were that way... went for a walk... came back at 2:45, still no room... so we sat and watched them and waited for 3:00. At 3:02 we went to the desk and no one looked up to help us. Then a manager walked in and asked "has anyone helped you?" we told him not really and were about to ask about the room when a girl working there interrupted and said "here is your room key" etc. We went to our room and found that it was nothing like our expectations. We had been told it was a "luxury room" by our travel agent. It was unclean and awful. There was a twin size bed and a single bed. What a bummer. The couch was made of plastic like material and felt sticky and there was grime in the shower. We couldn't accept that we were paying over $300 per night for a dive. I called reception and explained our disappointment and issues with the uncleanliness and told her we would like a less expensive room if we were going to get a dive no matter what the cost... and she said she could send house keeping over but otherwise there were no options. If we left we would sacrifice all our money. If we had further complaints we could send an email to "feedback@tangalooma.au".. obviously that would be less than instant results. We hung up and  filled Sadie in. Then I called back and talked with a supervisor and was a little more forward about it. He was extremely apologetic and seemed to feel it was his fault. I reassured him and he told me he would do anything he could to help us enjoy our stay. After much discussion he offered us a free upgrade to a room on the 4th floor in the kookaburra
building (which we soon realized was the nicest of the buildings) we were unsure at first because unlike our current dumpster room, the new room didn't have a kitchenette. We agreed to go look. We were sold almost immediately by the king size bed, gorgeous bathroom and balcony with picturesque ocean view. We were cemented with the complimentary bottle of wine and chocolates. It was all better from then on.

Although it rained almost the whole time we were there, we had a great time. We spent the rest of the first day looking around the resort and getting sorted. The next day after we went to the breakfast buffet at 7 am (a huge let down - awful food and super crowded with kids and idiots) we went for an adventure walk up the beach. We figured we would walk around the norther tip of the island and check out the other side. Then we got a map and started walking. After about half an hour, we walked past "the wrecks", a feature for which Moreton Island is known. I just checked online to see if I could find out why the ships sank there, but I couldn't find anything, leading me to believe what my friend Alan told me, that they were sunk there to attract fish... We check the map and saw we hadn't really covered any distance at all.  check it out: http://moretonislandrecreationcamps.com/Pages/Map.html
We started half way up the island at Tangalooma and it was an exhausting walk to the wrecks in the sand.

Then we climbed a huuuuge sand dune and ran down it. That was SO fun. I've never done anything like it.  We got about half way up the red dotted road at Cowan Pt in an hour and a half and decided to go back. We were back around 11:30 for our lunch of cheese and crackers, mango, and three shots of Jose. Then we went to the beach and had a great talk. We went back to the room to grab Sadie's bathing suit (I wore mine all day for three days) had a shot and went for a swim. Then as you can imagine, knowing me, we passed out cold for about 2 hours in our room.

Both nights we boiled noodles in the kettle and then ate them with cold sauce from a jar and cheese. I am proud to have not purchased any food from the "restaurant" as it was obscenely priced. We were planning to get a small bowl of seasoned fries ($9) at some point and an ice cream cone ($5.5) but we didn't get around to it.

I've learned that your surroundings can be as awesome as the people you're with. Although the resort was pretty lame, Sadie and I had lots of fun. Even though it was cloudy, we both got some nice colour (and some not so nice colour despite being slathered in the 'sun milk' UVA,B,&C coverage) I learned to look into "typical weather" reports for a given time of year when I expect to be on vacation, and to not let the rain get me down when it pours for three days in the height of summer.

Today is Tuesday and Chris will be here on Thursday. I am soo soo sooo soooo excited. I've booked a room in a hostel for three nights from the day he gets here. I'm not sure what we'll after but I am sure no matter what it is, it will be great and I will be thrilled. Chris has basically got us jobs at a resort if we choose to take them (I think...?) and we'll scope that out. The breeze coming through the door is lovely as I sit on my bed writing this. Last night I had my first touch of homesickness. I hope everyone will update me on how you're doing. I love getting messages and emails. Talk soon!!