Port Douglas.

I can definitely say that I've settled into Port Douglas quite nicely. To be honest, anyone visiting Port Douglas is hard pressed not to; the people are friendly, the mountainous backdrop is stunning, and the beaches are postcard worthy.

Since I arrived at the beginning of November, I’ve been working and sleeping at Dougies (http://dougies.com.au), an amazing backpacker’s hostel and campground about a kilometer away from town and a gorgeous 4 mile beach. It's a serene tropical paradise, and is 20 minutes away from Mossman Gorge and the Daintree rainforest: The oldest rainforest in the world.

My plan for my stay in Port Douglas was initially to settle down for a month or so to save some money, so I got a second job at Watergate, an upscale cocktail bar and restaurant. The job is a lot of fun, and the atmosphere and product is something I am proud of; the menu boasts some amazing fusion and Asian-inspired cuisine, and all of the cocktails are made with fresh ingredients and plentiful amount of quality spirits. My favourite drink to make (and enjoy) is a watermelon mojito; it’s so refreshing and packs a powerful flavour punch!

Needless to say, the last month or so has been full of adventure, beach parties, road trips, and relaxation. I’ve met heaps of new friends from all over the world. For instance, in my room right now, there are three Germans, a Japanese, an Irish and an Indian. Talk about learning new cultures! Truly, the advantage of staying at Dougies is that most of the people staying here stay for a while, which is a nice change from the disposable two-day friendships you encounter at hostels up the east coast. At Dougies, it’s easy to get to know people since its a little community. Everyone eats in the communal kitchen, complete with a pool table and bar, or out on the picnic tables by the big screen and pool, protected by the shade of massive palm trees. The vibes are good and everyone is friendly and laid back.

Lately, my days at Dougies consists of waking up at 8 am, six days a week to sweep the property, do laundry, clean and maintain the kitchen. I generally finish up around 1 pm and have the afternoons off to do whatever I please, which generally means reading a book in a hammock, fishing, going for a swim at the beach or pool, working out at a local gym, and taking naps. Since it’s so bloody hot in tropical northern Queensland, I often hibernate in my air-conditioned room during midday when the sun is sweltering hot; and when I say hot, I mean a sticky, humid, sweaty hot! Often, taking a shower is pointless since the moment you step out of the bathroom you start sweating profusely, again! Honestly, I’m not complaining one bit; it sure beats long underwear and scraping ice from the windshield of my car.

Recently, Port Douglas was visited by a big-budget Hollywood production titled “Fools Gold.” The film stars Matthew McConnaughey, Donald Sutherland, and Kate Hudson, and wrapped in early December. I’ve gotta say, I’m not one to become star struck, but it was slightly daunting having a conversation with sexy Kate Hudson and making her mojitos, in addition to sliding down waterfalls at Mossman Gorge with Matthew McConnaughey. The production brought a lot of business into the town, and made it a very exciting time to be in Port Douglas. Despite the inevitable paparazzi, the locals and tourists alike made it very comfortable, and the stars and crew mingled, drank and danced at all the local haunts. I’m really looking forward to seeing the final product, since I will no doubt recognize many of the locations, and extras, in the movie.

I initially thought that I would be heading back to Brisbane for the holidays but have decided to stay here in town until the 26th. Truly, I have fallen in love with Port Douglas and its easy way of life. The place is lively when it wants to be, but still retains a sleepy charm. The beach is incredible, the weather sunny and warm, and the locals are friendly; what else can you ask for?! I’ve made many good friends at Dougies, and the staffs are all like family to me. I wake up every day with a smile on my face, so why not stick around?

Truly, I’m in a good place, and although I still have a couple more weeks left, I’m going to really miss Port Douglas when I leave. Until then, I’m going to pack as much craziness into the next two weeks as I possible can. Oh yeah, and I just got inked. I think it suits my life at the moment, and I hope to live by it as a credo for the rest of my days. It was painful, but worth it.

“Live the Life you Love”

“Love the Life you Live”

Nough said.

BUGBITTEN