Mango season

Every year I go through the same battle with myself. Shall I go home to Jamaica to see my family for the Christmas? or should I go when it's mango season? I'm sorry to say that sometimes the mangos win *grin*. Throughout my time in Singapore with Charlotte, she was been going on (and on) about this fruit called durien which I *must* try. Sadly :) it wasn't the season so I didn't get a chance, but in turn, I was going on about how I loved mangoes and that I hadn't had a good one for a long time.

So when we entered mango country in Australia, I was pretty excited. We are now on day 2 for me (day 21 for the rest of the group) and on the bus heading from Mission beach where we were yesterday to Airlie beach where we would be for the next two days. A bit of background before I start to wax lyrical about the mangoes (and yes, they are that good), there are about 14 of us travelling down to Sydney in a white van with a trailer attached. Toby is our group leader and we're mostly camping... in tents... outside... as we go.

the bus	my tent

Most of you who know me will be wondering a bit at the moment about whether or not I have lost my senses. Vaniah doesn't do camping does she? So what's going on? To be honest, I don't really know but hey, I've done so many new things this trip that what's another one? After two nights I can't say that it's my first choice of accomodation but, hey, it's not that bad... I have to admit that the sleeping eye covering thingies that I got on my flight to Brisbane definately help so thank God for that.

So back to the mangoes then *grin* and this part of Oz has no shortage of the delicious fruit. We stopped at an ice cream place called Frosty Mango and I would recommend it in a second. They have their own mango trees out the back, as well as lots of other fruit trees, where they get the mangoes and other fruit used to make their ice creams and sorbets. Some of the guys bought sorbets but I went straight to the source and enjoyed the biggest, juciest mango I have had in a very long time. Yumm!!



Once we got on the road again, we started passing stalls and shops which sold mangos so we had to stop off at one which had a honour box system - $6 for a dozen mangos. They are sitting in the bus ripening as we speak... can't wait.

For my trouble, the group has decided to nickname me "Mango". Everyone has a nickname so getting one is kinda nice, a way of feeling a part of the group.

On my thoughts and feelings? I'm taking today (I think it's Friday?) a little easy and catching up on myself. I haven't read my book in a couple of days so I'd like to do that and of course update this blog. The group is pretty nice but I'm still finding where I fit in, it's already been formed so in many ways I'm the outsider so I have to be a little careful not to tread on anyones toes but I have to say that they have been very welcoming so far. I'm meeting a few of the others who didn't go on the yacht trip (see it's still Vaniah) a little later for lunch so that will be a good opportunity to get to know some of them a little better.

Overall, I'm still having a fab time. Australia isn't exactly what I expected... more on that later.