Friday morning we set out for another day of scubaing and snorkeling out on the Great Barrier Reef. I was so excited for another trip back, especially since it was giving me a bit of a before and after kind of feeling. I saw the reef 2 weeks into the trip to Australia, and I returned 2 weeks before I leave. And after all my classes this semester, the reef really became that much better. Knowing more about the reef let me appreciate it even more.Although I still didn't see a sea turtle, a couple of sting rays and baby squids made it pretty exciting.
Our boat to the reef was also pretty sweet. It was bigger than the one last time (less sea sickness by all) and it came with a really nice lunch, and some complimentary sparkling wine. Very classy! This is one of the Arcadia leaders, Cam and I on the boat.
We also had some really fabulous sushi for dinner.
We got up early on Saturday and headed off for an animal sanctuary in the area. They ran a morning special called Breakfast with the Birds, and it was fabulous. The breakfast buffet was filled with so many different types of fresh fruit- all the usual grapes, strawberries, oranges and then some more aussie flavors like passion fruit, star fruit, jackfruit, blood oranges, kiwifruit, and so much more. It was delicious. And there were sooo many beautiful tropical birds flying around and hanging out trying to get some breakfast too. This little guy stole some cheese off my friends plate...
We walked around some more, fed some cute wallabies and saw a giant pelican and played with the ducks. I love the fauna here, and will probably miss it more than anything else. I've gotten so used to all the birds and marsupials that I sometime forget America lacks them. I really want to being home a wallaby.
We ventured further north into the Mossman Gorge area of the Daintree Rainforest. The Daintree itself is the worlds oldest rainforst, and it's really remarkable. We had another aboriginal cultural tour and it might just have been my favorite yet. Our guide is a healer for his family group, and was so incredibly wise about everything. I wish I could have spent more time there, especially since he offered to fix my knees. Ugh that would have been nice.
Anyway, saw some giant stranger fig trees
And some cave paintings
And the Gorge itself, among soo many other things. It's really just too much to try and even word. The shelters, and types of food, the cassowaries and the snakes. It was truly an amazing place. This place was right up my alley.
Oh, and of course the beautiful swimming it offered. The water was chilly, but really refreshing. If you climbed up river, you were able to slide down the currents pretty much the entire way. It was so much fun. Not a bad Halloween, if you ask me.
Sunday we woke up and went on a jungle surfing ziplining adventure. I loved it. We zipped right through the Daintree with an award winning eco-tourism organization. We all donned a new name, as chosen by the guides that we wore on our helmets. I was now Xena, the Warrior Princess. I was okay with that. We learned a lot about the area as we went from platform to platform, and heard some great birds. There was a bird of paradise that was calling for a while- I really wish we could have spotted him. Still fun though!
Later that day we headed off down the Daintree River, in search for some wild salt water Crocs. We got lucky, and spotted "Lizzy" sunning herself on the banks. Our guide was hoping to spot "Big Al", but something about seeing a 5 meter long wild male salt water crocodile kinda spooked me... Maybe Captain James Hook really was swallowed whole.
And then there was Cape Tribulation- where the rainforest comes right to the reef edge. The only spot where two World Heritage Areas meet each other. Quite beautiful, once you get over the thought that the wild crocs in the area can kill you, and the box jellyfish swarming in the water will also kill you.
Easily one of the best trips that I had here. This is the part of Australia that I absolutely love, and I know I'll miss it! I already took my first final, and I'll be home in just two weeks! Time has flown!
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