Naomi stayed one day. I stayed at least ten, most of which were spent barefoot. Cape Tribulation is where Captain Cook ran his ship into the Great Barrier Reef and got stuck, thus the name. It is where the Rainforest meets the Reef. I stayed at the Beach House in a backpacker dorm-room (getting more used to the hostel thing) steps from the untouched, secluded beach. There I did yoga some mornings on the beach, hung out with some pomes and a Naomi Klein-loving Aussie, read my "Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" on the beach, went diving and snorkeling, and let go a bit more.

I especially let go of the mistakes I made with the project in Switzerland. Friends from B-school had told me it was a mistake to split the proceeds evenly. And yes, it was a bad business decision. However, it was not a bad life decision. The project was my kangaroo, and my classmates were my clan. It is better to make a bad Business Decision, but good Life Decision than vice-versa. Maybe a bad Life Decision but good Business Decision is made out of Ego. However I soon discovered I did make a bad decision out of Ego early-on, and that it caused me more stress in the long run than had I fixed it when I had the chance. Lesson learned. About where to go next, I was thinking Perth so I could take the Indian-Pacific across. However, in my time there, I discovered Cape Trib is not only where the Rainforest meets the Reef, but also where the Universe meets the Sea. The night sky and crashing waves on the beach are no less than amazing. Soon a feeling emerged that I wanted more. I wanted to go out on the ocean, and not with an organized diving class, but instead as a crew member on a boat sailing south.The trip back to Cairns, again with Adventure Tours, included a stop-off for a boat trip down the Daintree River to see wildlife. Afterwards I was talking to some others who expressed disappointment at the river tour. Asked why, they responded, "It wasn't what we expected." Then I began to wonder if the problem was with the experience . . . or the expectation. Drop expectations and you drop disappointment. And you begin to live for the moment.I made it back to Cairns, intent on finding a way to sail down south, but all I heard from people were negative answers about it being the wrong time of year and such. At the yacht club I met a yachtie, Perry, who also said I would have no luck, but told me where the bulletin board was. And there I found it - a posting for a crew needed to sail to Brisbane, leaving in three days, and best yet, no experience was necessary. I quickly called Skipper John only to learn I was too late . . . he already had a crew together. Meanwhile Perry tells me to go and talk to a guy named Joe at the marina office that may know of other opportunities. On Friday I do this, but Joe only knows of the Daru, Skipper John's boat. Coincidentally in Joe's office I meet another yachtie, a scruffy and cheerful man by the name of Max. Max had stopped by for a chat, and as it happens he was one of the three-person crew for the Daru. It seems Max was having second thoughts about going due to an approaching storm. He lets me take his place.

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