Travel Week/Goodbye Australia

Hello Everyone. I’m glad to be back in Melbourne, even if it is just for one night. The day before we left for our travel break; Alec, Michelle and I visited the Eureka Tower, which is the tallest building in the entire southern region of Australia. It was crazy high up but entirely amazing to see. I got some really cool photos. The next morning we left for Brisbane. We being, Michelle, Ella, Hannah, Katherine, and me. We arrived in Brisbane, and discovered that because of a cyclone and terrible flooding, the majority of the trains were down, so we had to book a bus to the Australia Zoo for the next day, instead of just going when we arrived. Brisbane was hot, muggy and almost unbearable. It was hard to be there because it was so hot. Because we weren’t going to the zoo, we wandered around Brisbane a little, just to see the city and what it held. It was pretty cool to see but the best part of Brisbane was going to the Australia Zoo. We were kind of worried about what to do with our bags while we were at the zoo and how we were going to get to the airport afterwards; our bus driver heard we were having issues and let us store our bags on board and offered to drive us to the airport. Which was such an awesome act of kindness and he saved us from having to catch a cab.

The Australia Zoo stands higher than any other zoo that I’ve ever been too. I was so excited to get to be going there. Steve Irwin has been my idol since I was five years old and to be standing where he worked, where he lived and where he’s passion and dreams came to life was just so amazing. I was so overcome with emotion and happiness, I could barely contain myself. We timed it pretty well and ended up getting to see the main snake/bird/croc show as well as hold koalas and crocs. Ella and I got a deal where we both got to hold the croc/koala and be in the picture together for a discounted price. So we were very happy about that. I’ll try to take a picture of the pictures of us holding them when we get to Auckland, for now the pictures are packed away in my luggage. Anyway, the zoo was spectacular. And is not something that I will forget any time soon.

We arrived in Cairns late Wednesday night and immediately got up the next morning and got on a boat for our two day live aboard. The Great Barrier Reef was probably the best snorkeling that I have ever done, it’s beautiful. The colors are outstanding and there isn’t a single thing that can compare to the clarity of the water and the amount and diverse number of fish. There were bright royal blue starfish and coral, dark purple coral and florescent fish of so many colors. Alec and I saw a huge moray eel on the first day, it nearly gave us both a heart attack. We had thought that we had seen a really large fish (because there are some humongous fish out there) and were waiting above some rocks for it to poke it’s head out, when out popped this eel head and barred it’s teeth. We also saw sharks, I personally only saw one dart by me but Hannah and Alec saw a few. They, I believe, were white tip reef sharks, about seven feet long. We also saw lots of puffer fish; a turtle and I saw little black squid, about the size of my thumb. The whole thing was amazing. The boat was way to hot to sleep in our beds, so we all slept out under the stars, which was another amazing site. The sky and the ocean were so vast and beautiful, it really made me realize how small I am compared to the world, and it was very humbling. I woke up when the sun started to rise, and watched this beautiful display of colors play out before me. So amazing.

We spent most of the other days in Cairns, swimming in the man made lagoon (it’s kind of like a pool, going swimming off of beaches is banned right now due to huge jelly fish problems), shopping, we went to the movies to escape the heat, partying in the evenings and going on tours. A lot of the group spent every day on a tour. Hannah went skydiving and zip lining and said it was all amazing. Ella and I however opted to relax and enjoy the area, though it was muggy and hot. We went on a crocodile adventure on Monday and had a lot of fun seeing prehistoric creatures. We got to see a death roll, headshake and other live performances of how crocodiles attack, and went on a boat tour while they fed.

I was picked to participate in the snake show while we were on this tour, mostly I think because Ella and I were the first to arrive and we chatted with the guy about home and working and snakes. At first he demonstrated first aid, which I was the victim for and then hold me to hold my arms out like a tree. Wait until you see the picture. Because I swear, I’d been expecting a joke, a rubber snake or a tiny lizard or something and was completely not prepared for when the audiences’ faces all went ashen white and a huge python was wrapped around me. She was very heavy, but very friendly. Everyone on the tour, from then on called me “snake girl”.

Cairns and Brisbane and Sydney were all wonderful, but I have to admit that I’m very much a Melbourne girl, if I ever decide to move here, it will be to Melbourne. I love it. I’m excited to be leaving for Auckland in the morning, but I’m sad too. Australia has been my biggest and wildest dream since I was five and now that it’s come true, I never want it to end. The wonderful thing about dreams though, is that when one comes true, you make a new one and work to make that one come true. Not sure what it’ll be yet but I hope it’s just as wonderful and amazing as Australia has been.