Finding Nemo

I have just returned from five exhilirating, adventurous, slightly dangerous and tiring days in Cairns, in tropical North Queensland. I arrived on Monday morning, and was at the hostel by about ten a.m. After grabbing a delicious lunch in town, I went off to the Flecker Botanic Gardens, which had been on all the Cairns "must-see" lists I had looked at. The gardens were very pretty and compromised of mostly rainforest plants. After this, I began to walk around the boardwalk, which went through the rainforest, swamps, and mangroves. Throughout this walk, I really began to learn way more than expected about myself. It was a very strange experience walking through the rainforest alone, where you are the only person around, and the sounds of the various animals and insects are all around you. Since it was a new place, and I had no map, it was also a little nerve racking. It was amazing the comfort I felt when I saw any random person walking by, and as we would share a smile and a hello, I could tell that most of them were feeling the same way as me. After I made it to the other end, I was soaked with sweat. The one thing about the rainforest, is it is extremely hot. It was 100+ humidity. Later that day I went back to teh hostel, exhausted, but very pleased with my day. The next morning I woke early to go on a hike that had been recommended by a tour coordinator at the hostel. Once I found it, and got started, it was another completely new experience. After walking for about 1.5 hours uphill, I finally reached the top. It was absolutely beautiful, and looked out over Cairns, across to other mountains, and the water. I don't think I've ever been more excited to begin a descent down the mountain, but when I got to what I thought might be the bottom, it all of a sudden went up again. At this point, I was drenched, tired, but I knew I had to keep going. After a while, I realized something terrible. I was at the top again. I had gone in one big, sweaty loop. With the help of a local, I finally found my way off the mountain, and felt a great sense of accomplishment. It was one of the most physically demanding things I've done, if only for the heat, but it felt great to have done it after. Then with little time to spare, I was back at the hostel to get picked up for a horse ride through the rainforest, and outback.
I ended up being the only rider that day, which was excellent, so I didn't have to worry about others slowing me down, and the guide was very excited as well. As we wove through rainforest areas, swam on the horses through muddy streams, and passed giant termite mounds, I was having a great time. I rode for about 2.5 hours, and I am very glad I splurged and did it. I fell asleep early once again, after a very physically demanding day.
Wednesday was the day I had waited for...The Great Barrier Reef. I pre-booked a scuba dive, and once on board went to the training (since there is no need for certification there, as long as you are paying) When I went down on my first dive, it was a very strange sensation. The fact that I was staying under water and breathing, was quite eerie. Once you were under water, you had no idea you were in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, with nothing around you, and no experience. As I began to get comfortable, we swam around, seeing very big fish, see turtles, and of course, Nemo! Eventually, the air was coming to an end, so we went back up, and they asked if I wanted to buy a second dive--of course I said yes! The second dive was even better, I was much more comfortable, and we saw even more great things, including GIANT clams, and big string rays. I was hoping to see some of the "friendly sharks" but they were not around that day...Which I guess is a good thing.
The rest of the vacation was pretty relaxing, with another hike, a power hour at the favored local bar, and an afternoon by the towns large public lagoon. This afternoon, on the flight back to Sydney, it was interesting because I felt like I was coming home. Perhaps because I knew that I would be much more comfortable here, but it was a cool feeling to have Sydney be my current home.
This is the last weekend before classes start, and I am frantically trying to figure out everything, and get into classes I am not in yet. I hope to surf this weekend, and see some more things on my "Sydney's Top 25" which I am trying to complete as soon as possible, so I don't run out of time!

Until next time...Stay where you are Nemo!