Ladies and gents, I've been sitting on this one for a while. Not normally one to procrastinate from blogging, the months since I last wrote have simply disappeared into a whirlwind of oh-look-the-tradewinds-finally-kicked-in and wow-you've-been-here-three-months-and-haven't-actually-taken-any-pictures-to-share-with-anyone-except-of-baked-goods. Luckily, over the last couple of weeks a few things have happened to remedy this- Mona came to visit and took oodles of photos which she has authorised me to share at my leisure, and I took a solid week off work to enjoy her visit and then follow it with diving on the Great Barrier Reef for a few days.
With not too many stories to tell, this entry will be mostly photos- which, let's be honest, is what y'all are here for anyway. In an update-type vein, my time here in Cairns is coming to an end- my parents will be here in 4 sleeps (yes I'm counting down) and then I'll be back in Vic just two weeks after that- hopefully the weather is warming up down there in readiness. After a scant week at home manically packing and repacking and probably also sleeping a lot, I'm flying out to Nepal for 7 weeks- a well-needed foray into mountains before another summer in Melbtown. I've been indulging with much online gear shopping- assembling a birthday-like pile of packages to await me at home. Tis hard to shop for -10 degree sleeping bags while lolling about in a sundress- I think the Himalaya are going to be a massive shock to my I'll-keep-this-29-degree-winter-thanks-very-much body.
So, to the turtles! After a wonderful weekend of frolicking in salt water and sunbathing, slurping pad thai and swimming under waterfalls (and because it is Mona and I, non-stop talking), we ventured out to Fitzroy Island before Mona flew back to Melbourne. Fitzroy is a beautiful continental island, surrounded by reef and covered in rainforest. We snorkelled, wandered, flippered along behind a turtle and chased down a nemo or two.
With a taste for this whole holidaying-venture, immediately after Mona's departure I booked two days diving on the outer reef. Since I came back my students could be forgiven for thinking I run a dive company and not a kite school- as I'm urging everyone quite emphatically to get out there and see it for themselves. In two days I swam with sharks, hunted with giant trevally, oogled turtles and families of nemos, was suddenly surrounded by maori wrasse and made particular friends with one named Wally. Not only was there an abundance of amazing reef life, the boat I stayed on was well-stocked with great food and great company.
Lots of love and have-you-been-to-the-reef-yet-because-oh-wow-you-really-must-absolutely-go...
With not too many stories to tell, this entry will be mostly photos- which, let's be honest, is what y'all are here for anyway. In an update-type vein, my time here in Cairns is coming to an end- my parents will be here in 4 sleeps (yes I'm counting down) and then I'll be back in Vic just two weeks after that- hopefully the weather is warming up down there in readiness. After a scant week at home manically packing and repacking and probably also sleeping a lot, I'm flying out to Nepal for 7 weeks- a well-needed foray into mountains before another summer in Melbtown. I've been indulging with much online gear shopping- assembling a birthday-like pile of packages to await me at home. Tis hard to shop for -10 degree sleeping bags while lolling about in a sundress- I think the Himalaya are going to be a massive shock to my I'll-keep-this-29-degree-winter-thanks-very-much body.
So, to the turtles! After a wonderful weekend of frolicking in salt water and sunbathing, slurping pad thai and swimming under waterfalls (and because it is Mona and I, non-stop talking), we ventured out to Fitzroy Island before Mona flew back to Melbourne. Fitzroy is a beautiful continental island, surrounded by reef and covered in rainforest. We snorkelled, wandered, flippered along behind a turtle and chased down a nemo or two.
With a taste for this whole holidaying-venture, immediately after Mona's departure I booked two days diving on the outer reef. Since I came back my students could be forgiven for thinking I run a dive company and not a kite school- as I'm urging everyone quite emphatically to get out there and see it for themselves. In two days I swam with sharks, hunted with giant trevally, oogled turtles and families of nemos, was suddenly surrounded by maori wrasse and made particular friends with one named Wally. Not only was there an abundance of amazing reef life, the boat I stayed on was well-stocked with great food and great company.
Lots of love and have-you-been-to-the-reef-yet-because-oh-wow-you-really-must-absolutely-go...
