Sand, sand, and more sand

When we went to Farewell Spit in New Zealand (the massive sand dunes stretching out into the ocean at the very northern tip of the South Island) I was blown away by the sand. I thought I wouldn't see that much sand again until I traveled to the Sahara Desert. However, that was just a warm up for the amount of sand that Australia has on it's East Coast alone.
Last week we went to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world.

We joined a group of 6 other backpackers and rented a 4x4 vehicle with all the gear we would need for 3 days on the island. Unfortunately, Howard had to be left on the mainland, 4x4's are the only way to get around the island as there are only sand road and beaches to drive on. As promised, there was A LOT of sand on Fraser Island. There were beautiful beaches and crystal clear dune lakes and streams.

The company we rented our 4x4 from called the self-drive trip an Authentic Aussie Camping Experience. I think that referred to the camping equipment they gave us, as I have never seen anything like it.
The tents were super simple to put up- one pole in the middle, tee pee style. However, they didn't fully close. The doors simply flapped over the entrance leaving and opening at the bottom.
Now, as you well know by now, I like to be organized and prepared. So it should come as no surprise that I have read every section of the guide book on Australia's Dangerous, Poisonous and Deadly Creatures. Australia has more deadly things...spiders, snakes, insects, etc. than any where else...and Aussie are quick to remind you that many of these creepy crawlies pack lethal punches. Not to mention the dingos on Fraser Island...the purest, wildest strand on earth.

So when the same Aussies turned around and sent us into the bush with a tent that doesn't close, I started to question whether they really want the tourists to return from these 'Authentic Aussie Camping Experiences'. However, I ignored my suspicions and went with the old saying...when in Australia, do like the Aussies.
Below is an email I sent home upon returning from Fraser Island....my "Authentic Aussie Camping Experience".


So last night, at about 2am I woke up screaming in our tent...something had just stung me in the neck. I started freaking out.
Rob woke up and instantly turned a light on...I was freaking out trying to feel if my airway was closing...I was sure that I had only 8 minutes to live and we were on a sand island with no help for hours...
"Relax, relax, relax" Rob kept saying...and I kept thinking I have to listen to him...I read that it is super important to keep calm if you get bitten by poisonous things so you don't send the bad stuff pumping through your body.
But then I felt something string my leg inside my sleeping bag.
By now Kath was awake and I was frantically trying to get OUT of my sleeping bag.
"It stung my neck" I kept yelling "It's stinging my leg"...2 minutes left of life now I am sure....
Then I see it...down near the bottom of my sleeping bag...A CRAB!!! A freakin' crab!

So I am still alive, I have a crab bite mark on my jugular vein, but otherwise I survived unscathed... and Kath and Rob think it's the funniest thing ever that i freaked out so much over a crab...but Rob admits that it was a rather large crab to have on ones neck...

Okay, so maybe I was little paranoid from all the reading material. Regardless, I am looking forward to getting back to my own, North American tent, where the doors FULLY CLOSE and the only things we have to worry about are big mammals like bears and cougars.