#5: THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
6.21.2018
WHERE DO I START?
Today, we went out to two reefs with Down Under Cruises on a beautiful catamaran on a sunny day with the temperature at a perfect 75 degrees! There were about 100 snorkelers for my mom to join and only 9 other certified divers in my group! While Mom got some great shots from the surface, I was able to dive down three times in the one day! I made a new friend in my buddy from England, along with some others in our group from just outside of Washington DC who actually have a timeshare in Cocoa Beach! What a small world! I saw a few stingrays hidden in the sand, two cute little white tip sharks, lots of gorgeous(!) coral, and even a few little clownfish hiding out in the anemones! I have to say, I was a bit disappointed I didn’t see any sea turtles, but I guess that just means I’ll have to go back!!
I had some self-reflection time on the ride back into the docks. I know that I am so lucky to have had this experience at all, especially before any more of the reef disappears. I am beyond lucky to even have the chance to come all the way out here. I hope that one day I can use the education I am lucky to be getting to really make a difference in the world.
p.s. I can't add videos without paying a bunch of money so check out my facebook or instagram to see a go pro video I made of my footage on the bottom!
Today, we went out to two reefs with Down Under Cruises on a beautiful catamaran on a sunny day with the temperature at a perfect 75 degrees! There were about 100 snorkelers for my mom to join and only 9 other certified divers in my group! While Mom got some great shots from the surface, I was able to dive down three times in the one day! I made a new friend in my buddy from England, along with some others in our group from just outside of Washington DC who actually have a timeshare in Cocoa Beach! What a small world! I saw a few stingrays hidden in the sand, two cute little white tip sharks, lots of gorgeous(!) coral, and even a few little clownfish hiding out in the anemones! I have to say, I was a bit disappointed I didn’t see any sea turtles, but I guess that just means I’ll have to go back!!
I had some self-reflection time on the ride back into the docks. I know that I am so lucky to have had this experience at all, especially before any more of the reef disappears. I am beyond lucky to even have the chance to come all the way out here. I hope that one day I can use the education I am lucky to be getting to really make a difference in the world.
p.s. I can't add videos without paying a bunch of money so check out my facebook or instagram to see a go pro video I made of my footage on the bottom!
Scary little guy that tried to attack Mom and bit another snorkeler's fingers on the surface!
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I found Nemo! Too cheesy...?
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Oh, hey! Didn't see you there!
Just kidding, I told my buddy to take this hehe |
#6: A day in Kuranda
6.22.2018
This beautiful started off with a ride on to Kuranda in the nearby mountains via the famous and historic Kuranda Scenic Railway. Along the way, we passed a beautiful waterfall, got incredible views, and went through 15 tunnels dug out completely by HAND- no machines- during the construction of the railway. It was a little over an hour to the village which was founded in the late 1800s. The Kuranda village was full of beautiful markets selling local food and jewelry, animal sanctuaries, and aboriginal history.
Now for the best part of the day...I held a koala!!! Most places will charge you outrageous amounts just to stand next to one in a picture but I actually got to hold it (cute little Yoshi, specifically) for a shot!! I wanted to cry and scream but I somehow managed to hold it in! My mom and I then got to pet and feed a few kangaroos and wallabies (for free!) for the first time!
On the way back down, we rode the SkyRail Cableway right over miles of lush forests and calm streams. We stopped off at one of the waterfall lookout points and got a nature tour from one of the local guides. The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest in the world- millions of years older than the Amazon and is full of wildlife only found in Australia!
Now for the best part of the day...I held a koala!!! Most places will charge you outrageous amounts just to stand next to one in a picture but I actually got to hold it (cute little Yoshi, specifically) for a shot!! I wanted to cry and scream but I somehow managed to hold it in! My mom and I then got to pet and feed a few kangaroos and wallabies (for free!) for the first time!
On the way back down, we rode the SkyRail Cableway right over miles of lush forests and calm streams. We stopped off at one of the waterfall lookout points and got a nature tour from one of the local guides. The Daintree Rainforest is the oldest in the world- millions of years older than the Amazon and is full of wildlife only found in Australia!
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#7: Falling for the waterfall
6.23.2018
Today, we took a tour of the local waterfalls through a company called Waterfall Wanderers. It was our first cold day in Cairns but our tour guide brought some really nice hot tea and biscuits for us to have while we got to know each other. Everyone else except for my mom and I was around my age doing a gap year from all over the world- Denmark, Germany, Argentina, Britain, and Norway.
Our first stop was Josephine Falls, a super beautiful waterfall with a natural rock slide at the base. First jumping in the water, it was so cold that I felt like my heart stopped! It was so shocking I couldn't even catch my breath until I had swam to the base of the rock slide and climbed out of the water! We carefully climbed up the extremely slippery rocks to the top of the slide and smoothly slid back into the freezing water. On the next climb up, things were not as fun! I started to lose my balance on the climb and knew I was going down! I landed right on my cheekbone, just below my eye! Probably fit for AFV, it was definitely one of those laugh after the pain moments! I ended up with a swollen cheek and bruised hand, knee, and shin but was determined to enjoy the day still!
After this, we headed to the famous curtain fig tree, which is centuries old and over 100 feet tall, and then traveled to a hidden river where we spotted a platypus in the wild! I didn't realize this was such a rare sighting until talking to an Aussie friend who said she has lived here for 60 years and never seen one in the wild! Our next stop was Millaa Millaa falls, the famous hair-flick falls where they filmed an Herbal Essence commercial. The water was bone-chillingly cold but I had to get in and take a slow-mo hair flip video!
Our first stop was Josephine Falls, a super beautiful waterfall with a natural rock slide at the base. First jumping in the water, it was so cold that I felt like my heart stopped! It was so shocking I couldn't even catch my breath until I had swam to the base of the rock slide and climbed out of the water! We carefully climbed up the extremely slippery rocks to the top of the slide and smoothly slid back into the freezing water. On the next climb up, things were not as fun! I started to lose my balance on the climb and knew I was going down! I landed right on my cheekbone, just below my eye! Probably fit for AFV, it was definitely one of those laugh after the pain moments! I ended up with a swollen cheek and bruised hand, knee, and shin but was determined to enjoy the day still!
After this, we headed to the famous curtain fig tree, which is centuries old and over 100 feet tall, and then traveled to a hidden river where we spotted a platypus in the wild! I didn't realize this was such a rare sighting until talking to an Aussie friend who said she has lived here for 60 years and never seen one in the wild! Our next stop was Millaa Millaa falls, the famous hair-flick falls where they filmed an Herbal Essence commercial. The water was bone-chillingly cold but I had to get in and take a slow-mo hair flip video!
Pre- face plant!
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Perry is that you? (if you're from my generation, you better get the reference)
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