Just Keep Swimming

8-25-14
In the words of Ice Cube, "Today was a good day."  Last night, I fell asleep shortly after getting in bed.  I set my alarm and also asked for a wake-up call so I would have enough time to dress and eat prior to heading out for the day.  I woke up and saw light coming through the window.  I laid in bed for about 30 minutes waiting on the alarm to go off so I could start my day.  After no alarm or call, I got out of bed to look at the time on my phone, which was on the desk across from me.  It turns out that it was only 1:15am.  I thought I'd slept all night.This same scenario happened a couple of times during the night until I finally just got out of bed.  During those restless periods, I watched part of Happy Days, a couple of episodes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and several infomercials.

My day started with continental breakfast at the hotel.  I tried Vegemite on my toast, which is a popular Australian/British spread, and I hated it.  At least I gave it a try.  I went downstairs to wait on the tour bus that would take me to Port Douglas for my tour of the Low Isles on the Great Barrier Reef.  The bus ride was approximately and hour, and I enjoyed riding through the countryside.  We passed a couple of fields of wallabies as well as breathtaking views along the sometimes steep rocky coast.  When we finally arrived at the Port Douglas Marina, I saw many shops and restaurants catering to the many tourists who were arriving for their various excursions.  I quickly picked up my ticket and walked over to the Quicksilver Low Isles boat.  We were welcomed on the boat by the crew and invited to the main cabin for tea/coffee and biscuits (cookies), as well as ginger tablets for sea sickness.  They also sold other snacks and drinks and souvenirs.  There was an overview of the day's schedule and a safety talk prior to us leaving the dock.  There was great emphasis on how to handle and prevent sea sickness.      It was very windy and the water was the roughest I had ever experienced on a boat.  I sat on the main deck looking ahead at all of the magnificent blue water and smiling in amazement that I was in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Australia.  My wonderment was quickly tamed when I was splashed by the water crashing against the boat.  It was sunny, and only my feet got wet, so I didn't mind so much.  However, after being splashed several more times, almost completely soaked in the high wind, I decided to move to higher (drier) ground before I froze.  I wore my swimsuit underneath my shorts and t-shirt, and I also brought a sarong for the beach that I used to cover my shoulders on the boat.  Next time, I'll wear pants and a jacket, because I was chilly most of the day due to the wind.

We finally arrived and anchored near the islands. Two small boats shuttled passengers over to the beach.  I decided to wait before going to the island, so I took the glass bottom boat tour.  This trip has left me amazed at so many natural wonders.  We saw different types of coral just underneath us at various depths.  Some just inches under our feet.  Coral is a living organism that is similar to jellyfish, but in reverse and stationary.  Most of the coral was yellow or brown due to photosynthesis in the water, and it came in various shapes, like mushroom, spaghetti, brain, spiral, and more.  There are about 400 different types of coral.  Some parts of the coral reef are dying due to global warming and pollution.  We were instructed not to touch it while in the water so as not to disturb the growth.  After the glass-bottom boat tour, we returned to the pontoon boat and our small group was the first to partake in the buffet lunch.  The food was delicious.  They served salads and seafood as well as chicken and beef.  There was also fruit and  warm creamy pumpkin soup to help knock off the chill.

After lunch, I took the shuttle boat to the island with my snorkelling gear and life jacket.  I missed the guided snorkel tour of the coral that was done at the same time as the glass-bottom boat tour.  I told the lifeguard I wasn't very comfortable swimming, so he gave me a few pointers to help me ease into the water.  He also gave me a refresher on how to use the gear.  At first, I floated on my belly in a foot of water too scared to venture out, but he encouraged me to keep moving.  I'm not a bad swimmer, but my fear of being overpowered by the water drowns out my confidence.  When I saw other people walking out into the water and it was only waist deep, I decided it was okay for me to move away from the shore.  The lifeguard pointed out the areas with coral, which were darker than the rest of the water, and I swam in that direction.  There was an older couple from New Zealand who encouraged me to swim over to them to see the coral, and I did.  The man used to be a scuba diver.  They were quite interesting and fun to talk to.  Seeing the coral right next to me was beyond what I ever imagined.  I also saw fish swimming underneath me, including a clear fish.  I saw something stick out of the sand that looked like a snake head.  I panicked and raced back near the lifeguard to tell him what I saw.  He said it might have been an eel, but it definitely wasn't a snake.  (Sidenote: If you're looking for the world's deadliest snakes, crocodiles, spiders, whatever, you will find them in Australia.) I swam for a little while longer and then got out of the water as the beach walk was about to start.  I along with the NZ couple and a few others walked around the island with the marine biologist as our tour guide.  The island was home to a lighthouse that had been there for more than 130 years.  Families used to live on the island as caretakers of the lighthouse.  Now, its solar powered and no longer requires caretakers.  There are 2 rotating island caretakers though.  They are native men who are in charge of keeping the island in good condition and making sure that tourists don't ruin the habitat.  The local guardians also perform traditional ceremonies sometimes as part of their care.  This is a partnership with the government and the preservation society to maintain the natural beauty of the island that seems to be working well based on what I saw.  We were constantly reminded to "Take nothing but photos, and leave nothing but footprints."  The marine biologist did say that I could take a couple of pumice stones that had washed ashore from New Zealand's latest volcanic eruptions.

Every little thing is gonna be alright...

8-24-14
After dreaming about it for over a decade, I finally arrived in Australia.  I landed in Brisbane on the east coast.  As I walked off the plane at 5:20am, the chill hit me like autumn in NY.  It was still dark outside, but I could see the airport was coming to life with people heading off to their various destinations.  After going through customs, I had to check-in for my domestic flight to Cairns.  It turned out that my carry-on suitcase was too heavy at 13kg to be considered a carry-on for domestic flights, so I had to check it.  The max allowed was 9kg.  Note to self: brush up on conversion formulas for weight and distance.

There was a shuttle bus from the international terminal to domestic.  I stood outside with what seemed like everyone from my previous flight.  The sun was slowly starting to rise.  It was dark and chilly with a light rain falling.  After arriving at the domestic terminal, which seemed to be in another city it was so far, I experienced something that hasn't happened in a very long time.  I went through security without taking off my shoes or putting all of my toiletries on display.  I wasn't subjected to a full body x-ray scan either.  It reminded me of flying in America pre-911.  No one even asked for my ID or ticket when I walked through the security checkpoint.  If I had loved ones who wanted to see me off, they could have walked to the gate with me.  I was a little confused at first, so I asked the guy next to me if I needed to remove my shoes.  Apparently, I wasn't the only shocked American, because I saw a couple of pairs of shoes on the conveyor belt in front of me.  I walked through the metal detector, collected my things, and I walked to my gate. The flight from Brisbane to Cairns was pretty uneventful.  I sat next to the window for that flight after being crammed in the middle of a 4-person row from Dallas to Brisbane.  I arrived in Cairns a couple of hours later to the bright sunshine and warm breezy weather.  It reminded me of California or Hawaii.  A shuttle driver picked me up and delivered me to my hotel.  I arrived a couple of hours prior to the normal check-in time, and my room wasn't ready.  I was allowed to secure my bags at the hotel, and then I explored my surroundings.

It seemed like every other business purported to be a coffee shop.  They were everywhere.  There were also lots of Asian restaurants, including Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, and fusions of them all.  Even though Australia closely aligns with Europe culturally due to colonization, it is still geographically akin to Asia Pacific, and is a reflection of that influence too.  I stopped and ordered a seafood basket at a restaurant, and my body told me later that it was not a good decision.  The whole meal was fried - fish, shrimp, crab, scallops, and chips (fries).  I rarely ever eat fried food.  It tasted good, but I felt a little queasy later.  There were lots of shops around the hotel too,  I went to Woolworths (grocery) across the street, and bought  a large bottle of water for $.80.  I also saw an interesting sign for "Peter Pan Internet".  My phone doesn't work here, and I wanted to check in with my family.  My hotel and other little shops offer internet at a cost, and I wanted to compare them before making a final decision.  I walked up the stairs to Peter Pan & found a large bright room with young people (like fresh out of high school) on computers, some playing video games on flat screen in the middle of the room, and a small group playing Jenga.  There was also loud music playing to attract the kids too.  I asked about the internet, and I was told that it cost $2.  "Per hour?"  No.  If I bought a $2 membership card, I would have unlimited internet access at any of the 22 locations around Australia.  JACKPOT!  The lady handed me a card, and all I had to do was write my name on it and give her $2.  After sending a few emails, I went back to the hotel to finally check in.  The desk clerk told me that I received an upgrade.  My room was clean and bright and near the stairs, just as I like it.  I also explored the restaurant area where they serve continental breakfast.  I found a huge veranda just outside the dining room, which made me smile inside.  The weather is perfect for outdoor dining and lounging.  In fact, I'm sitting on the veranda now writing these words.

During my exploration prior to turning in for the night, I walked over to the esplanade and lagoon where it seemed like locals and tourists alike could find enjoyment.  There was a concert in the park that seemed to have lots of patrons too.  As I walked back from the water, I heard a 1-man band playing 3 Little Birds, and I couldn't help but sing and smile as I walked by.  I picked up dinner and purchased a bottle of wine from the store next to Woolworths and had my first dinner in Australia in the cool night air with voices wafting up to the porch from the sidewalks below and the breeze blowing in off the water.  There are no worries tonight.

Ease on down, ease on down the road...

"When did you fall in love with Hip Hop?"  That was the tag line over a decade ago from the movie, Brown Sugar.  A couple years before that movie came out, I fell in love, but it wasn't with Hip Hop.  It was like a blind date.  A few people told me we would be good together, but I was skeptical.  Then, I saw some pictures, and I was hooked.  It all began in "the year 2000", back when people said "the year 2000" in common conversation because we were astonished by the futuristic sounding 2000s.  I was a college student who was excited about the new semester and the many amazing things to come.  I remember sitting with my eyes glued to the TV one night watching the opening ceremony of the Games of the Olympiad, or the Summer Olympic Games.  That was the night I fell in love... with Sydney.  I knew from that moment that one day we would be together.  Fourteen years later, we will finally meet in person.

I am off to the land of Oz better known as Australia.  I'm so excited about finally realizing my dream.  While I'm in Australia, I will visit Cairns and Uluru (Ayers Rock), in addition to Sydney.  I packed my luggage (no checked bags), and I'm ready to go.  How did I fit 10 days worth of clothing and toiletries into a carry-on bag?  I used a packing list and tips that I found at  http://herpackinglist.com/ to customize my list of necessities for the trip.  I rolled my clothes into a compression bag, and I am also taking an extra bag that I can fill with my travel finds.  The biggest challenge for me so far has been packing for different areas of the country with a variety of climates.  This is the end of winter for the southern hemisphere, so the temperatures are chilly compared to the 90 degrees plus that I'm accustomed to this Houston summer.  I am preparing for temperatures ranging from 50 degrees to the mid 80s, so I have long-sleeved shirts, tank tops, shorts and pants that I can layer depending on the climate.  See my packing list below.

My trip will include stops at the Great Barrier Reef and Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, as well as a tour of the Sydney Harbor, and a view of the sunrise and sunset at Uluru.  I plan to take lots of pictures without losing my camera this time around.  I can't wait to experience the land down under and share my perspective with my friends and family.

Packing List

o   3 Basic Tank Tops

o   3 Basic T-Shirts

o   2 Nice Shirts/blouses

o   3 Dresses - 1 black

o   2 Pairs of jeans

o   1 Shorts

o   1 water proof jacket/poncho

o   1 Medium/lightweight jacket/cardi – autumn, spring & summer

o   2 Sweaters/jumpers – winter, autumn & spring

o   5 Socks – for winter, autumn & spring

o   10 Pairs of underwear

o   2 Yoga/sweat pants – sleeping & sports

o   2 Swimsuits -summer, spring, autumn

o   1 Scarf

o   1 Sarong

o   1 Flip flops

o   1 Walking shoes/sneakers

o   1 Nice/going out sandals/heels/flats

o   Sunglasses

o   sunscreen

o   Sun protection hat

o   Mosquito repellent

o   toothpaste

o   peppermint soap

o   body oil

o   Smooth Move

o   First Aid kit

o   back cream

o   camera & flash drive

o   travel pillow

o   power adaptor

o   body wipes

o   cleaning wipes

o   snacks

o   collapsible water bottle

o   reusable bags

o   toiletry bag

o   phone charger

o   rolling duffel bag

o   watch

o   goggles