July 26 Illa Grande, blackouts and crappy weather

Illa Grande could possibly be paradise, if it wasn´t raining, overcast and cold during winter. Illa Grande (Big Island) is the 3rd largest island of Brazil and is located about 150 Km south west of Rio de Janeiro. The transfer to the Island was arranged by Dodgy Brothers Inc. It included a 2 hour Combi ride, during which the driver over took 3 cars at a time (exceeding speeds I thought impossible in a Ferrari let alone a Combi) whilst forcing oncoming traffic to swerve off the road. When we arrived at the beach, we found we were to recieve a 10R discount as the speed boat we had been promised was out of commission, as was the pier (it was due for completion in September. Instead we were hearded 4 a time on to a tiny 2 man rubber dingy (that was already half filled with water) and joined by an additional 2 staff who proceeded to row the dingy, Pochahontas style, from the beach to the awaiting fishing boat.
The water around the Island changed colour as we drew closer, it went a dark sort of turqouise under the overcast sky, you could imagine it would be crystal blue under clear skies. The Island itself looked like something out of Jurassic Park, huge jungle covered peaks rising out of the ocean and into the clouds.
I met a few other aussie blokes on the boat, all from Melbourne. Turns out they knew my cousin Nick Owen through Melbourne Uni.
On arrival at the Island, I threw my pack into my tiny room and started to explore the island. I got as far as the town, then saw the aussie blokes I met on the boat and sat down for a beer. A couple of other aussie blokes rocked up and joined us. Turns out one of them is Mat McCutchin, a guy who I went to primary school with. Small world huh?
Anyway, later that night I attended an all you can eat BBQ and what was promised by the hostel owner (a shady character, who looked kinda like Jeff Goldbloom in aviators) to be the biggest party of the millenium. We all suspected he might have been talking it up, except for the two 18 year old pommy guys, who got were hanging on his every word.
For me, it turns out he was exaggerating a little, I went to bed before 12.
The weather was still miserable in the morning and I headed out to do some hiking, I joined forces with my room mates, a girl from ireland and a girl from scotland, and we headed out to explore the island.
The jungle walk was good, got to see some tiny monkeys, an aqueduct and an old abandoned prison.
That night there was a black out over the whole island, so I decided to catch up on some rest and went to bed early.
I´m back in Copacabana now (the weather still looks crap), after the same dodgy transfer.