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.