What is this Drought you speak of?

Everywhere you look you can't help but take notice of the ever increasing water restrictions.  I think now Queensland is at Level 5 restrictions, which means you cannot water your lawn as well as time restrictions on showers.  While watching the news yesterday there was a story warning that if households consume more than their 'allotted' water, the houses water pressure will be turned down to mere drops, making things like showers incredibly annoying.  And yet, I can't help noticing the brilliant green lawns.  This was especially true when I was in the Outback.  Everything was coated with a thick layer of red dust and the sides of the road were essentially a desert.  However, when you managed to get into a town all the lots had green grass.  This is perplexing to me.  How important is green grass over a shower? I sometimes question the priorities of the Australian people.

I have also recently been told that the Australian population is the most overweight population in the world.  I have to question this, I would have thought that American population would take the cake on this one (pun is intended).  Most everything here seems geared towards health, from smaller portion sizes to exercise equipment set up along the beaches.  But, since this was pointed out to me I have started to notice the fortune of easily accessible junkfood, such as Tim Tams (chocolate covered wafer cookie, possibly the best cookie in the world) and beer.  I'd say that Australia is possibly more obsessed with beer than we are.  But, and this is a serious concern of mine, they do not have GOOD beer.  I'm serious, I have yet to find a truly standout Australian beer.  I miss my McAuslan and Creemore.

I'm currently in Rainbow Beach waiting to meet my group of travelers that I will spend 3 days and 2 nights with on a 4x4 adventure on Fraser Island.  Fraser Island is listed amongst the World Heritage Sites (of which there are some 830, I think I will make it a little quest to see all of them - not this trip though).  It is also the largest sand island in the world and offers no roads, so a 4x4 is essential.  This is where I'll be spending New Years, camping on a beach - typically Australian and hopefully more exciting that my usual Canadian New Year's plans - which usually flop.  I leave for that tomorrow morning (Dec 31) and I'll be back at Rainbow Beach for a night and then on an overnight bus to Airlie Beach.  Airlie Beach will hopefully be a break point of the trip for me.  This is where I hope to get my Dive Master's (technically Dive Control Specialist), however, I still need to be interviewed by the owner of the company.  I will obviously let everyone know how it goes.

I apologise for the lack of pictures and updates recently, but my life has slowed down considerably since the Outback.  I spent several days in Brisbane and then just outside of Brisbane for Christmas with Kev.  He was housesitting his boss' house and we cooked a big dinner for his coworkers - and ourselves of course.  Menu included a turkey, mash, Mediterranean Barley salad, Beet and Orange salad and stuffing.  Definitely not part of the backpacker diet.  And best of all was that his boss paid for it.  So, it was essentially a free week of accommodation and relaxation, very boring and very needed.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Years!