no i missed that bit... I assumed (yikes) that you were possibly UK. And moved to Finland. Not sure how i missed that. but i did. Or there is the worse possibility that i DID know that and forgot. Appologies.

I hear you on taking surroundings for granted. There are some wonderful places here in Australia. and just SUCH a different type of landscape with different daily challenges.

Cairns i have only been to once, flew in the airport on the way to Port Douglas for our honeymoon. Rainforest. is Just so....well its just so intense!

It always surprises me when people don't know basic facts about the world they live in. The number of people that despite the finances have never left their country and never experienced another culture. NOT that needless air travel should be something they spend money on, just saying that people in general possibly don't have an understanding that live is different in different places.

One of my funniest travel moments was a fresh of the airplane 50 year old American woman who had never left US before experiencing Paris Toilets for the first time...

I was like... umm... these are not THAT different... and was genuinely worried for the rest of her big Europe trip.. lol

anyway have a great day,