Completed and published on Saturday 30th August 2014
I've been out on two full day trips in two successive days, consecutively after my rainforest trip, balloon ride and quad biking. To say I've been shattered in between doesn't even come close and I'm so glad I had yesterday to chill out and recover before my flight today. Having said that, there's something satisfying about feeling physically exhausted, flopping into bed and thinking back on the day with a smile on your face. However, hobbling down the street the morning after, feeling the after effects of being flung about on a quad bike isn't so pleasurable! That's where my day began on Wednesday...
Wednesday 27th August 2014
The day of 'The Great Barrier Reef'! I was due at the Reef Fleet Terminal at 7:15 to check in but ever punctual I arrived early so had to wait a while (Ooh! That reminds me of a story for later!) before two lively girls gave us our boarding passes. I made my way down 'A' finger, which I still find a peculiar name for the jetty even though they do look like fingers splayed into the sea and was greeted by even more friendly faces of the crew. Met with pastries and fruit, I sat in the saloon before a briefing on the rear deck. In no time at all we were some distance from land and well into our hour's journey to our first spot on the Upolu Reef.
Donning my prescription mask (how cool is that?!?! AND they were free on this boat!), and testing my snorkel, I tried to get used to the sensation of only breathing through my mouth and not my nose. I was feeling apprehensive about not being able to touch the ocean floor so I also wore a floatation jacket which one staff member explained would take the hard part out of snorkelling - floating. I was relieved to see so many people putting these on so I wasn't the only one being cautious/lazy. Carefully making my way down the steps in my huge flippers I was soon fully in the water and it was time to put my trust in the mask, snorkel and jacket. I stayed near the back of the boat for a few minutes until I felt comfortable breathing and began to swim out towards the reef and the staff members with life rings.
Wow! What a sight awaited. The shapes of the coral were particularly fascinating. Yes, the colours were interesting but what really brought the colour was the fish. The colours in the photos don't do it justice, nor do they convey the scale. One minute the coral would be a few metres away and then suddenly it would drop to, I guess, tens of metres. Although there weren't hundreds of fish, you'd find a single rainbow flash past or a massive fish camouflaged in the coral. When a shoal did swim past it was stunning and the crew also threw approved food into the water so there ended up being loads of fish there too, including a barracuda.
While we ate we travelled 10 minutes to our next spot, Upolu Cay, where the glass bottomed boat took us to a teeny tiny sand island.
Wading into the water up to our waists we pulled our flippers back on for a guided drift snorkel back to the boat. I teamed up with the very enthusiastic Kelly who dived down and pointed out all sorts of creatures: stingrays skimming the sand, giant clams which used their light sensors and closed when her hand was near, a group of nemos hiding amongst the coral... She even brought a sea cucumber and a blue starfish up to the surface. The staff were on hand all day and you could tell that their prime reason for being there was to ensure that we had the best day possible. They really couldn't have made the day any better.
I was so amazed my everything I saw and keen to capture every creature that I managed to wear the fully charged camera battery out and took around 140 photos in a less than a couple of hours of snorkelling. Awesome reminders of an awesome day!
Checking my distance from the boat and the other snorkellers from time to time it felt like we quite a way from the boat but as you can see, we were actually fairly close.
After a few hours and a couple of times out snorkelling it was almost time for lunch and we had just enough time to take a trip on the glass bottom boat. Although the whirr of the engine scared away the fish, it was great to get a different perspective of the coral. The glass collected bubbles so I didn't take any photos. Back on board the boat we tucked into platters of meat, fish, prawns, salads and breads until we were stuffed. Looking over the side of the boat we admired the different tones of the sea, the dark patches showing us where there was reef.
While we ate we travelled 10 minutes to our next spot, Upolu Cay, where the glass bottomed boat took us to a teeny tiny sand island.
Wading into the water up to our waists we pulled our flippers back on for a guided drift snorkel back to the boat. I teamed up with the very enthusiastic Kelly who dived down and pointed out all sorts of creatures: stingrays skimming the sand, giant clams which used their light sensors and closed when her hand was near, a group of nemos hiding amongst the coral... She even brought a sea cucumber and a blue starfish up to the surface. The staff were on hand all day and you could tell that their prime reason for being there was to ensure that we had the best day possible. They really couldn't have made the day any better.
I was particularly taken by the boring clams which I initially had mistaken as snake like creatures. Their 'lips' are a stunning purple colour with neon blue stripes and they so-called because they bore downwards.
I was so amazed my everything I saw and keen to capture every creature that I managed to wear the fully charged camera battery out and took around 140 photos in a less than a couple of hours of snorkelling. Awesome reminders of an awesome day!
Thursday 28th August 2014
After our walk through the rainforest and view of the boulders we were able to swim in a pool. Feeling overcautious, I wasn't keen on swimming when I couldn't touch the bottom so watched from afar as the rest of the group basked in the sun and leapt from the rocks.
Next stop was Josephine Falls. On arrival, Amber continued to show her good sense of humour when we decided to stay in the sun rather than stand under the shade of a shelter where various maps and photographs were displayed. She launched into her commentary on where we'd been and where we were going, jesturing and following the route on an imaginary map on an imaginary board in front of us. She then went on to describe where we were on the imaginary photographs, exactly as if they were in front of us, explaining how we were going to leap off a large rock into a deep pool, swim against a strong current to the slippery rocks on the other side of the pool, slither up said slippery rocks, climb up the left had side of the rock face that was scrubbed with a metal bristled brush, walk along the ridge of the rock, shuffling on our bum where necessary before sliding back down the rock. All of this with a serious look on her face and refering to the imaginary information board. It was hilarious but painted a rather daunting journey ahead of us. Ever the scardy cat I was keen to watch the others before I took my turn and it turned out to seem quite straightforward.
Famous last words...! Perched on a huge rock with deep water ahead of me I really struggled to find the courage to jump in. I was so keen to join the fun but couldn't bring myself to take the leap of faith. Amber was awesome, giving me the steady hand to make it onto the rock in the first place, then words of advice on where to jump and finally the time and space to psyche myself up. In the end I told myself to stop being so stupid and flung myself in... a little too enthusiastically! I ended up really deep and was taken back to my first swimming lesson as a four year old when I thought I wasn't going to resurface. As my face broke the surface I gasped for breath. I'd made it! Now for the swim to the rocks. I managed that without too much trouble but when I got there I faced my next challenge. The rocks were really slippery! I couldn't haul myself out. Two of the other girls came to my rescue and took one hand each to pull me out. Phew! Surely the next part would be plain sailing! Oh no! I'd waited too long and the rocks had got wet and become slippery. I tried and I tried but I couldn't get to my feet. With 'I can't do this!' thoughts running through my head, I gave in. I wasn't going to make it, it was just too hard. But the group weren't accepting this. Seeing me struggle, one of the guys came back, took my hand and led me round a different, drier route. I'd made it! It was a real team effort and gives you faith in fellow human beings to help when you feel most scared. We created a train along the ridge and slid down. The swim against the current was nothing compared with the ordeal that had preceded it!
Walking back to Gus I was almost in tears, I think the fact that I had managed to overcome my fears to join the others sliding down had got me rather emotional!
Before lunch we stopped off at this stunning view and some obligatory group shots...
...remembering to include Gus too!
We were welcomed to a gorgeous buffet lunch on a veranda with stunning views.
'And in the morning, I'm making waffles!'
We left the lunch still stop with 'The Eye of the Tiger' full blast to raise the excitement and anticipation levels but suddenly stopped. 'Oh! I'm too excited!' Amber declared! And suddenly the theme from 2001: A Space Odessey starts playing! If you not sure what I'm talking about, look it up. In fact, even if you know it, look it up and imagine slowly pulling round a corner, down the track and coming face on to this beauty!
We tried to recreate the shampoo advert but it clearly works better with longer hair!
I think facing my fears at Josephine falls had got me ready for anything. I was one of the first in the pool and managed to swim from one pontoon to another which was quite a distance and and at no point could I touch the bottom. Climbing out I felt quite stupid for not joining the group at the first swimming hole but I guess it's hard to control uneasiness and caution.
Before it was time to head back to Cairns we made one final stop off to look for Platypuses and we were lucky enough to see 2!
On the return journey we had lots of singing along to music as well as enforced actions which past the time and kept Amber awake on the twisting road. It was also our chance to enjoy the sunset particularly arty against the landscape I'd drawn earlier in the day.
During the past few days I've come to realise that I believe there are different sorts of confidence - perhaps three. Social confidence, academic confidence and physical confidence. Social confidence is being put amongst people and having the confidence to make friends, or standing in front a class of kids and teaching them as a whole. It's standing on a stage and giving a performance. I think I'm ok on the social confidence front. Academic confidence is being faced with a mathematical question to solve, a 5,000 word essay to write, a theory to prove and tackling them positively and methodically head on. Again, I think I'm ok here. Then there's physical confidence. This covers climbing mountains, jumping in pools, standing on a hockey pitch and planning to score the winning goal. This is where confidence fails me, where I begin to think I can't do it. Not that I won't do it - I can be annoyingly determined when I want to be - but these physical challenges are the ones that take me a little more time to complete and need help from those around me.
Another day, another pickup, today at 8am and a warm welcome from 'cousin Amber' (and this time I was the last pickup, not the first!). Amber was yet another enthusiastic guide, full of amusing stories which are clearly part of the 'Uncle Brian's' tour ethos.
Heading out of Cairns she made it clear that Angus (aka Gus the Bus) was as much part of the tour as the rest of us and to be sure to include him in our trip. And yes, he danced out of one car park and cried on the way home!
Our first sighting of wildlife was interestingly on the industrial estate on the outskirts of town. Really? I hear you cry! Yes, it was mating season and these orange or yellow chested creatures were looking for girlfriends. Some travelled round in large shells but most could be found eating or smoking. (Yes, we were looking at workmen, some in there shell like trucks and the day was filled with many an innuendo around these primitive creatures!)
After a drive out of town we started with a walk in the rainforest. Now, remember earlier got excited when I said I had to wait a while at the boat terminal? That's because we were shown a Waitawhile in the rainforest. I'd been shown them up in Daintree rainforest but couldn't remember their clever name. They are long vines which, when they are young, are covered in sharp hooks. These hooks attach themselves like Velcro to clothing or skin and you you're not careful, rip them apart. That's why you have to stay calm, wait a while (see what I did there!) and pull the vines in the opposite direction to the hooks, releasing their grip. As the vines get older they grow fatter and finally loose the hooks (in a midlife crisis as Amber described it) and Aborigines once used these strong vines to help them climb up the trees. They can also provide 6 litres of water should you get stuck in the rainforest!
We then had chance to admire 'The Boulders'. Aboriginal legend goes that there were a couple of young lovers who weren't supposed to be together so they fled. The earth tells the aborigines everything so by nightfall they had been tracked down and the girl was dragged back to he tribe. She was so upset that she threw herself into the river, the earth shook and forced the boulders to the surface. Since that time many people have died in this area. The pothole shapes reminded me of a trip in South Aftica recently which also have their own historical stories.
After our walk through the rainforest and view of the boulders we were able to swim in a pool. Feeling overcautious, I wasn't keen on swimming when I couldn't touch the bottom so watched from afar as the rest of the group basked in the sun and leapt from the rocks.
Next stop was Josephine Falls. On arrival, Amber continued to show her good sense of humour when we decided to stay in the sun rather than stand under the shade of a shelter where various maps and photographs were displayed. She launched into her commentary on where we'd been and where we were going, jesturing and following the route on an imaginary map on an imaginary board in front of us. She then went on to describe where we were on the imaginary photographs, exactly as if they were in front of us, explaining how we were going to leap off a large rock into a deep pool, swim against a strong current to the slippery rocks on the other side of the pool, slither up said slippery rocks, climb up the left had side of the rock face that was scrubbed with a metal bristled brush, walk along the ridge of the rock, shuffling on our bum where necessary before sliding back down the rock. All of this with a serious look on her face and refering to the imaginary information board. It was hilarious but painted a rather daunting journey ahead of us. Ever the scardy cat I was keen to watch the others before I took my turn and it turned out to seem quite straightforward.
Famous last words...! Perched on a huge rock with deep water ahead of me I really struggled to find the courage to jump in. I was so keen to join the fun but couldn't bring myself to take the leap of faith. Amber was awesome, giving me the steady hand to make it onto the rock in the first place, then words of advice on where to jump and finally the time and space to psyche myself up. In the end I told myself to stop being so stupid and flung myself in... a little too enthusiastically! I ended up really deep and was taken back to my first swimming lesson as a four year old when I thought I wasn't going to resurface. As my face broke the surface I gasped for breath. I'd made it! Now for the swim to the rocks. I managed that without too much trouble but when I got there I faced my next challenge. The rocks were really slippery! I couldn't haul myself out. Two of the other girls came to my rescue and took one hand each to pull me out. Phew! Surely the next part would be plain sailing! Oh no! I'd waited too long and the rocks had got wet and become slippery. I tried and I tried but I couldn't get to my feet. With 'I can't do this!' thoughts running through my head, I gave in. I wasn't going to make it, it was just too hard. But the group weren't accepting this. Seeing me struggle, one of the guys came back, took my hand and led me round a different, drier route. I'd made it! It was a real team effort and gives you faith in fellow human beings to help when you feel most scared. We created a train along the ridge and slid down. The swim against the current was nothing compared with the ordeal that had preceded it!
Walking back to Gus I was almost in tears, I think the fact that I had managed to overcome my fears to join the others sliding down had got me rather emotional!
Next on the itinery was a trip to Mr Lunch's house but we were faced with an hour long drive to get there. To fill the time, Amber had various games up her sleeve (or should that be in her bikini? She admitted herself that she has one of the few jobs that allows her to drive a bus load of people around half naked!). The first game involved 19 matchsticks, a polo and a host of awkward positions between strangers!
After we'd got to know each other a little better we were given a box full of puzzles to solve as well as marker pens to decorate the windows and each other (including Amber!).
Before lunch we stopped off at this stunning view and some obligatory group shots...
...remembering to include Gus too!
We were welcomed to a gorgeous buffet lunch on a veranda with stunning views.
We left the lunch still stop with 'The Eye of the Tiger' full blast to raise the excitement and anticipation levels but suddenly stopped. 'Oh! I'm too excited!' Amber declared! And suddenly the theme from 2001: A Space Odessey starts playing! If you not sure what I'm talking about, look it up. In fact, even if you know it, look it up and imagine slowly pulling round a corner, down the track and coming face on to this beauty!
We had arrived at Millaa Millaa Falls! Famous for Peter Andre's Mysterious Girl video and Herbal Essence commercial.
We tried to recreate the shampoo advert but it clearly works better with longer hair!
Our final swimming spot was Lake Eacham which was created from a volcano! This is where we spotted cute little turtles, I saw 6 in total.
I think facing my fears at Josephine falls had got me ready for anything. I was one of the first in the pool and managed to swim from one pontoon to another which was quite a distance and and at no point could I touch the bottom. Climbing out I felt quite stupid for not joining the group at the first swimming hole but I guess it's hard to control uneasiness and caution.
Before it was time to head back to Cairns we made one final stop off to look for Platypuses and we were lucky enough to see 2!
On the return journey we had lots of singing along to music as well as enforced actions which past the time and kept Amber awake on the twisting road. It was also our chance to enjoy the sunset particularly arty against the landscape I'd drawn earlier in the day.
During the past few days I've come to realise that I believe there are different sorts of confidence - perhaps three. Social confidence, academic confidence and physical confidence. Social confidence is being put amongst people and having the confidence to make friends, or standing in front a class of kids and teaching them as a whole. It's standing on a stage and giving a performance. I think I'm ok on the social confidence front. Academic confidence is being faced with a mathematical question to solve, a 5,000 word essay to write, a theory to prove and tackling them positively and methodically head on. Again, I think I'm ok here. Then there's physical confidence. This covers climbing mountains, jumping in pools, standing on a hockey pitch and planning to score the winning goal. This is where confidence fails me, where I begin to think I can't do it. Not that I won't do it - I can be annoyingly determined when I want to be - but these physical challenges are the ones that take me a little more time to complete and need help from those around me.
Having yesterday to chill out and relax also gave me time to reflect on what I'd achieved this week. I've danced with Aborigines, catapulted over the rainforest, been taken round the bend on a train, floated over the Tablelands, been pulled over by a balloon, splatted mud, skidded on sugar cane, found Nemo, discovered new species, explored the rainforest, jumped into a deep pool, climbed a slippery slope and slid back down again, found a turtle, swum across a lake and found a platypus. I've also conquered a hell of a lot of fear. It's been quite a week and it's hard to believe some lucky people get do this day after day, continuously making dreams come true and watching people grow.
At lunchtime today (Saturday 30th Aug) I took a flight from Cairns over the red centre...
And now I find myself in Alice Springs, the place synonymous with the great Aussie icon. Yes, you've guessed it, the destination of Priscilla Queen of the Desert! No, in all seriousness, tomorrow I get to see Uluru, at sunset, on my birthday! Eeeeek!
Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure. - George Edward Woodberry
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