The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms and is composed and built by billions of coral polyps and can be seen from outer space. Although it can be seen from out of space it is best viewed from underwater. It is composed of over 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching over 2600km and covering over 344000 square km off the coast of north east Australia. We visited Moor Reef today which is a tiny part of the Barrier Reef but we have also visited the Whitsunday Islands and Fraser Island which is also part of the entire structure.

I will start by finishing of yesterdays blog as it came over really dark in part of the sky and the winds got up like we were expecting a storm. I only felt one drop of rain as the wind seemed to push the clouds away from Cairns. I saw the odd giant bat, which I guess were fruit bats landing into a tree on the other side of our road. Once the storm seemed to pass, I couldn’t believe my eyes as tens of thousands of bats took to the skies and flew back the way that they had come from when it got dusk; it was a real spectacle. I have never seen so many of them at the same time and all over a large town. I don’t think I saw so many of them when I visited Carlsbad Caverns. There must be lots of fruit around here to support so many of them. I took dozens of photo’s and even a video but as it was dusk I couldn’t capture anything sensible to put on the blog. I could only get a shot in focus by having the lens in wide angle so you can’t see them properly; I need a better camera. The guide books didn’t say anything about this; spectacular. Claire didn’t like them because she thought they might land in her hair.

Anyway, we did go out and discovered that there are some night markets right next to our apartment block which leads through to a food hall with mainly oriental food like you find all over the world. Claire was starving but I made her wait until we had booked a trip to the Reef for today, but it was worth it, you can’t come here without going to the Great Barrier Reef. We ended up booking up a full day out with Sunlover Reef Cruises that normally costs $180 but if you book through The Bellview on the Esplanade (85-87) you can get it at back-packers rate of $130. Having successfully booked the trip I promised Claire that we would eat at the Ozzy chain of steak houses called ‘Outback Jack’s’. I have never eaten there before but I remember seeing them around the USA and I think I have seen them in London as well. I don’t usually like these chain places but have wanted to try this one for years anyway. The steaks were all right but we were both a little disappointed, they are quite expensive but I don’t think such good value for money, you might be better off with a family restaurant in Australia. Never mind, the meals were nice but not as good as we expected; for example Claire had a baked potato with hers and it was one of those ones that have been kept hot for ages and has that old baked taste and texture to it.

When we got back to the hotel to try and extend our room, we couldn’t because the reception was closed. We struggled to get in but one of the doors opened with our room key. We weren’t long to bed because we had to be up early for the trip and we had to put the blog on and book an extra night in the hotel. We got to sleep fine but unfortunately we had, what looked and acted like a couple of West Indians next door who were very noisy. I already knew at around 10pm when they came in, that we were in for trouble with all the door banging and shouting; no attempt to consider anyone else. We were both awoke at 1.30am after they had been out and arrived home again with shouting, swearing, door slamming etc. I even heard a yahoo, a woof whistle and more doors slamming. I couldn’t work out why they were going back out their front door and letting it slam at 2.30am unless they were looking for something to steal. They came back and went out again at 3am where more shouting and door slamming followed. It was like a nightmare; in fact I had a real time nightmare about them but in my dream they were coming in and out of our apartment by climbing over the balcony. I even got up to have a look at our balcony once. It’s a shame that 99% of West Indians give all the rest a bad name! Luckily we still woke up by about 7.30am to quiet but I didn’t have time to write the evening or morning happenings, we barely had time to add an extra night in the apartment.

We arrived at the Reef Terminal at our schedule time of 9.15am but somehow didn’t leave port until 10.30am because the pilots were late. I guess that you should arrive normally at around 9.45am for a 10am start so don’t listen to the advice you are given. Once we were off, it was half speed ahead until we were out of the port area then the Captain put his foot down and we were really off, trying to make up for lost time. We cruised past a couple of islands before reaching the outer Reef where there is a Pontoon that was full of sea birds, a helipad, a seaplane, a glass bottom boat and a semi-submerged vestal waiting for punters. You have another wait while the crew tie about 15 ropes to the Pontoon and then hose and scrub down the entire deck of bird poop before allowing anyone off; man it was hot, but at least they have air conditioning inside. But of course we were outside catching some rays.

Lunch was at 12.30pm and we couldn’t get onto the Pontoon until around 12 noon so Claire and I opted for a beer and lunch before we ventured onto the Platoon. Lunch is included and was quite good with ample salad, fresh prawns and meats, rice, Chinese beef curry, hot mixed Chinese/Indian veggies and lots of fresh fruit. I guess that they were mainly catering for the 85% Chinese people that were on the trip. We have seen lots of Aborigine people in the Cairns area and none of them have been drinking, they all seem like normal people so that makes me happy. They really seem much more integrated than elsewhere but there were none on the trip except for the odd staff member. Tea, coffee and water was included in the price but beer, wine and soft drinks were extra. All the snorkelling kit, the glass bottom boat and the semi-submersible were also in the price but the seaplane and helicopter rides were extra like you would expect. It’s really quite good, you could go on the glass bottom boat and submersible as many times as you like and most people seemed to be snorkelling most of the time.

Man it was hot if you were outside, even in the shade so Claire and I tried a nice ice cream which really hit the spot. We both enjoyed the trip but for us it was about 2 hours too long so take a good book with you. We arrived back at about 5.30pm and I could feel my face burning again, even though I had spread sun block when we first got there and I’m quite used to it so beware! I really enjoyed the journey back looking at the Islands and mainland, trying to imagine how they were formed and what it was like for the indigenous people who first arrived here. A really successful day and I’m glad we made the effort to stay an extra day.

Geoff and Denise emailed me this morning but I have not had time to respond yet as I have to go to reception to get the wi-fi connection, but they have left our house today to spend the last 4 days in London; a good idea as it gives them a sensible time to explore and makes it easier for their return journey from Heathrow. It sounds like they have had a good time and crammed even more into their stay than we have, visiting Shrewsbury, Edinburgh, Stratford upon Avon, York and Bath amongst others; good job the snow had gone else you might have had some fun driving guys. Geoff said that they were disappointed with Stratford but were blown away by York; well, even though Stratford is close to us we have never been there but I used to go to York quite often when I shared a flat with Steve as it’s his home town. It’s a great British town, as it Bath, but one that doesn’t seem to hit the guide books is Chester, well worth a visit if you get time. It, like York, has a Roman wall that you can walk around but in Chester it goes full circle and has really good shops. Have a good last few days guys and a good flight home back into the north Queensland sunshine. We had better get back to your house and clear our devastation and get the hell out before your return next week, fair dinkum. Only joking, thanks so much, we have loved it in your house, truly, madly & deeply. Cheers mate!!