Voting is now open for the 2010 Golden Backpack Awards! Powered by Thumbrella, these awards recognize the best of the best of Australia and New Zealand backpacker experiences. Categories up for grabs include best accommodation, best activity or tour, and best backpacker night. “The Golden Backpack Awards reward those companies who work hardest to make backpacking around Australia and New Zealand that extra bit special.”
As an incentive for voting, voters are eligible to win two return flights via Virgin Blue Airways. Voting ends on September 24th, so make sure you get your votes in!
Between birthday cakes and going away cakes, we single-handedly kept the Woolworth’s baking department in business this week.
Starting on Tuesday, we celebrated a very special birthday as well as the departure (that part wasn’t too much of a celebration) of our kitchen cleaner, the fantastic Cat. It was bittersweet to see her go, but we made sure she had a great send-off with a huge trivia turnout, 17 pizzas and a beach bonfire complete with a fire show!
Cat’s going away cake, one of many this week.
On Thursday, we celebrated our resident ninja…err…bus driver’s birthday a day early. Staff got temporary tattoos to match his rather permanent tattoo, kept their spirits high even though attempts at having a pool party were thwarted by the weather.
The birthday ninja.
Staff also hosted a Family Dinner on Friday night. Guests were treated to heaps of tacos, salsa and veggie rice and had the opportunity to sit down with other guests and the Scott family for a meal that was sure to cure any traces of homesickness.
Family Dinner on Thursday night.
Friday, our lovely laundry princess prepared to bid us farewell as she heads northward to start a new part of her adventure. Friday also happens to be the night of a big, all-you-can-eat barbeque at the Bali Hai Skydive Resort, so guests and staff alike poured out for good food, a volleyball competition and a nightcap at the Mission Beach Resort.
We get to play witness to some pretty interesting things at Scotty’s.
Backpackers can say and do things that surprise us, even after 22 years in the business! This week was no exception, with not one, but two rather unique displays of creativity.
First up, we don’t know how he managed to carry a set of bagpipes while most backpackers struggle to fit a few weeks of clothes in their rocksacks, but we’re sure glad he did. Before hopping on a bus headed up to Cairns, we were treated to a mid-morning show:
Next up, our very own bus driver, Dave, demonstrated what you can do with some wood, a few empty bottles, string and determination:
