We have arrived at the tropical Cairns. It is hot and muggy, but torrential downpours abound as it is the tail end of their rainy season. This is where we will visit the rainforests and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. Our hostel is fairly nice and we have had a chance to speak to some interesting people.
We were able to swim in what the locals call the "lagoon" which is a public pool right next to the ocean. In Cairns, even though it is tropical, there are no beaches here and the water is infested with salt water crocodiles and stingers. Great place, which begs the question, why would we come here?? It is the launching point to see the Reef, and who would come all this distance and not experience the Great Barrier Reef? So, we are making the most of our time here rain and all. The rain has not kept us from walking, swimming and sightseeing...though our clothes will never dry in this climate?!
We snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef today!! Super exciting! The 90-minute boat ride with white caps and waves of 6+ feet made it a precarious ride for me. I have been known not to have a strong stomach on boats, even having lived in Florida and being on boats for years. So, I am comfortable chumming the waters and Shelley was there to hold my hair out of my face...just kidding, the drugs given (purchased, of course) helped and I made it to the Reef without giving up my breakfast. We witnessed from the back of the boat all the puck bags making it to the trash can, so Shelley gave me a gold star for not giving it up. She was sooo proud.
Shelley and I jumped into the unknown and experienced tons of fish, squid and coral. Since the weather was so crazy (torrential rain and wind--like a hurricane almost), we were not able to hop on some of the smaller boats for additional Reef activites, so we snorkeled for about four hours. We took a picture with this huge parrot fish (four feet long) that was curious and a school of even bigger bump head fish which Shelley was not afraid of at all especially when they were checking us out. Water logged and exhausted we took the crazy wavy ride back, no nausea this time around.
On the Great Barrier Reef, ready to jump in
Excited about swimming with the fisheeees
Do I have to get in??
Going back to the gold star, Shelley allowed me to buy us ice cream bars as a treat (yes-she ate two of the four pack as well). We ended the night with all you can eat Aussie pizza, what a treat (not quite Chicago pizza--but good nonetheless) and oh so healthy. No exercise anytime soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment