Goodbye possums!!!
Trip Start
Sep 08, 2005
1
35
36
Trip End
Nov 29, 2005
Cairns,
Australia
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Got up a 6am - nearly missed the bus (the last one). Got into Cairns at 2pm. We couldn't get the YHA (booked out) so we checked into the Calypso Inn - shit (there was a cat sitting on the worktop in the kitchen - eeuugghh).
Had a look about town - cool place. Also checked ourselves into the YHA for the following 2 nights. Shopped around for a bit and had dinner. Booked to go diving on the Great Barrier Reef on Monday - woo hoo!
Had to take Piriton 'coz our bites were so bad and that knocked us out.
Next day we moved hostels and went out for a bit. Spent the rest of the day doing nothing! Relaxed by the pool. Went out that evening - nothing much to report.
The next day we caught the boat at 8.00 - Ocean Free. It was a tiny sailing boat but really cute. It was sat next to 400 seater catamarans and it just looked like a kids toy in the bath!
Met the crew - Skipper - Robbie, Jim, Becs and Gordon. Really nice guys. Had morning tea, coffee & bikkies. Took us about 2 hours to get across to Green Island. On the way we had our briefings about snorkeling and diving apparatus. When we arrived at Green Island (anchored about 300 metres off shore) Jay was the first to do his dive. Had an absolute ball. Saw giant clams, nemo and even a reef shark. He was down for about 30 minutes and loved every one of them.
Tracy was a bit scared about snorkeling so Becs took her in with a life jacket and ring and gave her a guided tour of the reef - bit scary to start with but absolutely amazing.
Green Island
Apparently twice a year the reef gives out sperm and eggs which fertilize and make the reef bigger! The night before we came this happened so when we were in the water we could see all the sperm everywhere - bit gross. This didn't help with the visibility but it was still amazing to see the fish and the reef. Took about 27 underwater pics and hope they come out. Had lunch (class big spread) and went over to the island. Took a walk around the place - great spot. Then headed back to the boat for more snorkeling - amazing day. Definitely the best way to end Australia. Everyone who dived got a certificate and Becs wrote one out for Tracy for snorkeling - she was lovely.
Got back into Cairns at about 6.00 and had to do boring stuff before we flew out the next day. On our way through town we bumped into a guy called Ian who we have met loads of times at bus stops etc. He's travelling with his sister Gillian (we thought they were a couple) and they're both from Dromore. They invited us out for a drink so we met up with them at PJ O'Briens (yes ANOTHER IRISH BAR but it's no relation to you Paul). Met up with another two girls Eimear and Esther. Had brilliant craic ended up blocked. When we were getting chucked out of the bar the bar man saw us looking at the map of Ireland. He said that the best comedian in the world came from Ireland - he thought it was Dublin. He said he came from the docks and we told him it would probably be Belfast. He was trying to get us to guess his name and when we didn't he told us it was Billy Connolly - cue the slagging. Great night.
Next day we went out for breakfast and then got the bus to the airport.
