Trip of a Lifetime

Underwater Pics and Australia Zoo

Hey mates, how ya goin'? Noosa has been treating me very well since I've arrived, and I'm still loving it here - the surf is good pretty much every day :) First off, I've got one more picture from Fraser Island that I didn't include in the last set cause my camera fritzed - I got this one from Vanessa. http://www.geocities.com/spiker43938/Ship.jpg Speaking of Vanessa, she's gone down to Byron Bay, but we'll meet up again in Sydney before I fly to New Zealand. Before she left she outlined her budget to me - she was planning on spending only 35 dollars a day for the next few weeks. That's about enough money for accommodation and food, if you budget well. I asked her why, and she told me "Well, then I have 500 dollars to go shopping with!". I will never understand the female mind. Before she left, though, we got our underwater camera developed, and I was absolutely ecstatic when I saw how the pictures turned out. Just look for yourselves. I'll start off with the manta ray I swam with in the Whitsunday islands - it looks almost fake it's so bright. http://www.geocities.com/spiker43937/F1000001.JPG Next we've got a picture of me petting the massive fish I told you about, on the great barrier reef. This thing was 2 meters long or so, and you get a good perspective from the size of my hand on it's back... http://www.geocities.com/spiker43937/F1000017.JPG Next, we've got the turtle we swam with http://www.geocities.com/spiker43937/F1000010.JPG And here's possibly my favorite picture I've taken in all of Australia. This one is definitely going on my desktop when I get home http://www.geocities.com/spiker43937/F1000004.JPG The person you can see swimming in the picture is one of the girls on our Whitsundays boat. I think her name's Lucy, but alcohol has weakened my mind and I'm not entirely sure :) here's a picture of some random fish and reef structures http://www.geocities.com/spiker43938/F1000021.JPG And finally here's a picture of little me swimming with the scuba divers, with my tiny snorkel and mask. I had so much fun down there! http://www.geocities.com/spiker43938/F1000027.JPG While Vanessa was here we made it out to the Australia Zoo, which happens to be the zoo that Steve Irwin built with his parents (having viewed numerous informative yet boring videos on Steve Irwin, I now know more about him than I ever wished I would). The place was pretty awesome, although I was disappointed that I didn't see anyone get maimed or dismembered by a crocodile. I mean really, that's what we all hope for whenever we see Steve Irwin on TV, isn't it? We got to see the croc feeding, as well as lots of other cute but very fast animals that I couldn't get good pictures of :) I did manage to get a couple pictures of one of the slowest animals ever... Here's a picture of Harriet, the 174 year old turtle, when we got to the zoo at about 11 in the morning. http://www.geocities.com/spiker43938/P4280003.JPG Here's a picture of Harriet the 174 year old turtle when we left the zoo at 3 pm. http://www.geocities.com/spiker43939/P4280005.JPG That's what I call relaxed locomotion. I guess when you're 174 you can do whatever the hell you want, as slowly as you please. Here's a slightly younger turtle who was closer to the fence - take a look at his wrinkly little head - does he remind you of any famous movie stars?... http://www.geocities.com/spiker43939/P4280007.JPG If you haven't gotten it yet, try thinking Steven Spielberg films. Still not seeing it? This turtle was the model for ET! Now you see it, I know I know... Here's a picture of the croc feeding - you all knew this was inevitable http://www.geocities.com/spiker43939/P4280022.JPG And lastly here's a cute picture I took of some random birds. I think they're Cookaburras?... http://www.geocities.com/spiker43939/P4280036.JPG I've settled into Noosa quite nicely now, and I'm saving a ton of money by working here and surfing for free. Life is good. I've met a ton of the locals here and I've actually been busking a couple of times with a guy named Rich - he's got a small djembe and he plays a lot of songs I know, so I just harmonize and play the wee drum. I let him keep all the cash we get, I just do it cause it's great fun! I've been eating way too many desserts at work... I think Sue is trying to make me fat. Sue is the cook in the kitchen at the hostel I work at, and she takes great pride and gratification from feeding all of the staff until their stomachs are about to burst. Who can say no to fresh baked home made strawberry cheesecake? Ah crap, I'm getting hungry again... Sue's basically a surrogate mom for most of the backpackers that come through the hostel - she reminds me of home, without actually reminding me of anyone I know. Strange but true! I'd love to tell you more but... Well, there's nothing more to tell :) My trip is going amazingly fast now - I cannot believe I've already been gone for almost 4 months - It seems ridiculous. Hell, I've been in Australia for a whole month! Anyone who's done this sort of traveling surely knows how I feel - even the days are going quickly now. And, on that note, I've got to get to the beach before the sun goes down - there's surfing to be done :) Spiker

posted by Spiker @ 9:44 pm