SYD - BNE - ROK - GKI

Well, I just came back from my trip to Great Keppel Island and I had a FABULOUS time!

Woke up at 4.30 am-ish on Tuesday to get my 6am flight to Brissie. The only downside to going to GKI is that you have to get 2 flights, and then a coach and a jet cat (or alternatively charter flight, but unfortunately, the charter flights only take bookings for a minimum of two people) to the island itself.

I was initially a bit disappointed with my room, simply because it didn't quite live up to the picture on their website (they made v good use of "mood lighting" ), but really, it was actually pretty good, and best of all...the beach (and pool, for when I was feeling lazy) was literally a minute from my doorstep!

I had to share my balcony with two possums. The first time I noticed the possums, was when I was going to put my towel out to dry on my first day and one was clawing at the flyscreen door, trying to get in. This was kinda disconcerting. I was held hostage in my own apartment by a feral possum :) They actually were ok to live with, and so long as I kept the door shut I was fine (one of the guys who was living a couple of apartments down from me got bitten on the toe - I didn't see what happened, but only heard the commotion, and it was pretty funny).

The weather on Tuesday and Wed was absolutely glorious! Lots of sun!!! Needless to say, I spent most of my time outdoors, either in one of the pools, or lazing about on one of the beaches reading or just laying about. I did a bit of snorkeling too, and *drumroll* I even did a bit of "bush walking" to Shelving Beach, one of the more isolated beaches away from the resort. This reminded me why I am not too huge a fan of bushwalking.

Apart from the breakfasts, the food at the Resort Restaurant isn't really that great. Lunch is v boring, and they only do buffet dinners. The muzac they play there is a bit ordinary (all that Mix sort of stuff) - and they play the same stuff - the 3 times I walked in there for lunch, Bic Runga's "Sway" was playing. Major groundhog day moment each time.

However, there is small pizza place, not associated with the Resort that makes unbelievably yummy pizzas. I had their Capri pizza 2 of the 3 times I visited them - nice thin base (not oily- bonus points), tomato sauce, mushrooms, spinach (silverbeet, not that English spinach, raw and sliced thinly, including stalks) and fetta cheese (it comes with onion, but I ordered it without). I never thought I'd say this, but Young Alfreds' - you have competition. They were playing one of Neil Diamond's "live" concert CD's one nite - so funny - my parents were (are) big Neil Diamond fans and he used to get a lot of airplay at our place when I was a young'un - so that was kinda cool...nice and nostalgic.

The great thing about the Island is that everything is close, and they really do have everything - one nite I takeaway-ed my pizza, then picked up a "takeaway" champers & OJ from the Wreck Bar, and planted myself by the pool beneath the Sunset Bar, where they happened to have a live acoustic due performing - bliss.

Thurs and Fri were proof that the slogan "beautiful one day, perfect the next" does not hold true - we had 2 full days of constant tropical rain. So it was just me and the possums on the balcony (joined by some lorikeets), reading. It cleared up on Fri nite, so I went out for dinner and had a chat with a couple who drove up to Qld from the nthn beaches in Syd, saw a movie at the Sunset bar, and then topped the nite off with a drink with some other guests at the Wreck bar. Till 3 am. : )

Yesterday, Saturday, was my last day : ( I was a bit bummed about the relatively early check out time (10am). But I was determined to squeeze as much sunshine from this holiday as possible, so after a coffee on Fishermans Beach in front of my place, I then wandered off to my fave beach there, Putney Beach, and lazed about reading (I havent enjoyed reading this much in AGEESSSSS) till it was home time:(

I have to admit, I am a fan of the whole traveling solo thing. Its really not as bad as I thought it would be. It has some downers, like eating alone, having to apply sunscreen on your own (I realised this morning I missed a few spots), not having anyone to take photos with /of you, and getting a bit freaked out when I was bushwalking (there were a couple of really steep rocky bits and I kept on thinking - what happens if I fall and sprain an ankle while I'm out bushwalking - no-one will miss me!!!)

However, the big bonus is that I could do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. Which was really nice. It also helped that most of the other guests and staff were pretty friendly, so I wasn't a total nige!

Whoever said a change is as good as a holiday had it all wrong. Sometimes, nothing is as good as a holiday.