Cairns
City Library (my collection)
Soaking up the sun
Day 2 - Diving low with Ocean Spirit
I signed up for a diving/snorkel experience in hope to get a taste of the Great Barrier Reef. At first, I planned on snorkeling only (more confident in that area) at the Oyster and Upolu reef but quickly 'settled' for experiencing the reef from up close and personal. Not diving at the largest reef in the world would be missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime experience, BIG TIME (Belize is second to the GBR)!!!! So I said: One beginner dive please ! Most of the diving companies were fully booked the day I arrived so I was lucky to book with Ocean Spirit at this time.
On the day of my tour, extremely excited, I got up 2h before the cat sailed out. With some solid McD's egg-McMuffin in my tummy and my camera fully loaded I was ready to dive dive dive !
Hold up, not so fast ! (being singled out yet again)
Sailor: Renata Mares?!
Renata: Yes?
Sailor: I believe you are on this cat. You will be upgraded today to another trip. Are you ok with this arrangement ?
Renata: Where am I going today instead of Oyster and Upolu?
Sailor: Michaelmas Cay !!!
Renata: (thinking) As if I know the difference. Reef is a reef ....right? (WRONG! Once back on shore, I took some time and compared the difference between the two trips. I then found out that I got upgraded to a much more lavish tour with a much larger and fancier feast included. Along with great food, the staff was extremely nice to me: received free pictures, extra diving time, and received a tour around Michaelmas Cay (on the house) where I got to see sharkrays and blacktip reef sharks).
Saaaaaweeeeeet deal !!!!
Renata: Sure thing. Thanks ! (enjoy the images)
Michaelmas Cay from a distance
Finally, it's diving time, along with some photo shoot (tehehe!)
The fancy feast I mentioned earlier.
Soaking up the sun and snorkeling at the Cay.
Day 3 - Choo choo, up to the tropical rain forest we gooooo!
First stop: village of Kuranda
Village of Kuranda
This might be a tourist destination but it's definitely worth the trip. Here I met a lovely man selling all kinds of yummy nuts and home made snacks. He also introduced me some new languages. The gentleman started the conversation by asking about where I was from. Turns out his daughter and I have switched countries for the year. She's loving Canada, and as always I am loving the opposite side of the world. People are funny like that.
Then he told me a little bit about traveling during his younger years. He had the opportunity to work and make friends in Japan, PNG, Philippines and Fiji. He spoke fluent Philippine and Pidgin from PNG. He was a lovely and wise man. The only thing I purchased from him was a bag of delicious wasabi macadamian nuts but received some wonderful stories on the side.
Once I had the oppurtunity to see all three markets I made my way down the hill back to the train station. There I got on the skyrail and ...
...Over the trees and shrubs we go !
December 1, 2010: Enjoying my last day with the French mademoiselles
Such beautiful places and people. Nothing less was expected but much more was gained which was out of the ordinary ! Was it just my luck or my nature ? The trip was a total awesomeness ....
XO
R :-)
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