Cairns The Great Barrier Reef

Once in Cairns it was time to realize one of my dreams, to learn to dive and to see the Great Barrier Reef!

Because it was raining non stop the first days and the weatherforecast was predicting the same for the next week I was unsure if it was a good idea to book the course. I talked to a backpacker who works for one of the many diving tours companies in Cairns and Rafa the guy at the hostel's reception and they told me the weather could be completely different once on the Ocean and that it didn't really matter when it comes to diving.

After comparing the deals that are on offer I chose the 5 day one from: http://www.downunderdive.com.au

Conveniatly the company was just across the street from the hostel.

The first two days we had class in the mornings and practice in the pool in the afternoon, the last two days we spent on The Great Barrier Reef. 

There were 6 other students, all of them great people! We had a good 4 days! 

I really loved the experience, will have to exercise working with the diving table and I have serious problems with my ears. So will have to descent really slowly in future.

Because it is the wet season the visibility under water is 15m tops so next year I will come back during the dry season and will go to the Whitsundays with my friends Brenda and Cydie.

The 5 day open water course ( 4 day course with two days and in total 4 dives in the Great Barrier Reef, fifth day three fun dives) costs $640 but with the 10% discount from booking via the hostel I paid $582. It was really worth every penny!

We got a great lunch on the boat and crackers, cheese and wine on the way back with great entertainment provided by Elvis!

After we all received our diving license we celebrated by having some beers in The Pier and O' Briens. I am lucky to have met so many amazing beautiful people!

Our boat.

Hey dude! 

Our guide JC a top bloke! He helped me by descending real slow after I told him about my ears.i asked him if it was a possibility for someone with so much ear probs to become an instructor and he said that would not be a problem. 

The amazing shell that closes when you stroke it.

A stingray!

Some unidentifiable creature..

Nemo and his dad in an anemenomene...

Where we suit up.

Elvis the hilarious entertainer!

Nice view...

There was always a crew member keeping an eye on the snorkelers, telling them to not stand on the reef or to stay within the perimeters that were created.

The awesome view on the way back to the mainland.

Other than the reef Cairns doesn't really have much to offer. It is city that lives from tourism. So lots of hostels, pubs, diving clubs, souvenir shops, etc...

The weekend fruit market. 

Cairns by night!

The hostel I stayed at was the http://cairnscitybackpackers.com one of the cheapest places in Cairns, $14 a night and stay 7 nights, pay 6. The hostel is not on the Esplanade but it only takes about 25 mins to walk to the Esplanade. It is however a not so clean place. The rooms don't get cleaned..the first days the fridges were disgusting and the wifi doesn't always work, the airco in my room is next to the top of a bunk bed and is very noisy! But I guess for this price it was ok.

One of the four kittens staying at the hostel. Very cute and gave the place a homy feeling.

The last thing I really wanted was to get a tattoo. My niece and nephew and I have a very special bond and to symbolise that my niece had made a design of a Taurus (horoscope Sanne) and a Sagitarius (horoscope Seppe). I took the design to http://trademarkink.com. A South Korean artist who is visiting Australia (it was ment to be, Seppe and Sanne are half South Korean) named Il Soo Jang aka Dark Maru took the design and started working on it.

The result blew me away!

The Boulders

In a town called Babinda, about 90kms from Cairns there is a place called The Boulders. I arrived there while it was pouring rain, stayed in my tent for a day and a night and decided to leave, but not before getting a look at The Boulders!

The Aboriginal legend of the Boulders:

"There was a tribe that lived here. In this tribe was an elder, and his name was called Waroonoo and Waroonoo was promised to a girl called Oolana. When they got married, they had a big dance. As they went dancing a wandering tribe passed through and they welcomed them. In this tribe was a handsome young warrior and his name was Dyga. Oolana fell in love with him, and he fell in love with Oolana. While they were dancing, they decided to run further up the creek and camp there overnight. And at the morning, the wandering tribe and our tribe saw that they were missing. So they went in search of them and they said to Oolana, "You've got to come with us." And his tribe took him away. And when she saw that, she just came and she threw herself into the creek. She loved him that much. And there was a mighty upheaval, and rocks were strewn everywhere and where she lay is now called the Devil's Pool. And every now and again she might call a wandering man to her, thinking that it's Dyga."

Carmila beach - Sarina and great new friends!

After having gotten caught in a storm in my tent at a rest area near Rockhampton I got on my way to Carmila Beach, hoping I would be able to leave the storm behind me. I did in large part but still had to stay two days and a night in my tent waiting for the rain to stop. Only leaving the tent to go to the toilet and get the water out of the tent.

The third day the sun was back and I could start drying my iPhone who spent the night in the rain at Rockhampton. With the sun also came the heat. And at first the Ocean was a great place to cool down in. 

There are different places to camp at Carmila Beach and the one I chose I shared with a couple with their grandson.

The fourth morning I was boiling water for my coffee when the lady came over and asked me if I wanted to join them for breakkie. They were going to leave in a couple of days and still had plenty of food. The idea of bacon and eggs made on a campfire sounded wonderful to me and I didn't have to think twice to accept the kind invitation.

Cydie and Brenda were camping with their grandson Roly and their two pups Jeda and Jake. After breakfast I was invited for tea and when I left for my tent that evening I was already invited for breakkie the next day. The next morning Brenda told me she and Cydie wanted to invite me to spend some time at their home. Offering me a comfy bed in an air conditioned room, a nice shower, good healthy meals AND they offered to show me around! The next two days I spent time with them and Roly. Their family came over to visit and all of them were really kind and friendly to me. 

On Australia Day the water was so hot we all wanted to get out of there, so in the afternoon I followed my new friends to their beautiful home in Serena.

The following week was one I will remember for the rest of my life. If I hadn't broken down and hadn't had the accident I would probly never have met them so it kinda all makes sense now. 

These people are the salt of the earth. Their kindness knows no limits. On our trip to the Finch Hatton Gorge we had such a great time, I almost pmsl.

After a week of being pampered and meeting their family it was time for me to get back on the road. Before leaving Brenda had prepared three bags full of food and drinks to last me a week. 

With a heavy heart I said see you later, not goodbye, cya laters! The friendship they gave me will stay with me forever and I will be back!

Carmila Beach

I can understand the Chinese or Japanese translation..but German??? Seen this on many roadsigns all around Australia!

My friend Cydie actually spotted one when we were there. Still went in the water though :)!

Yep me smiling! @ Eungella National Park.

My friend Cydie a remarkable, gentle, intelligent, funny man!

A natural spa! 

Amazing views of the Clark Range!

Amazing wood sculptures at the Eungella Chalet. Also for sale online on eungellachalet.com.au.

And for those grazy enough a ramp to jump of, preferably with your wind glider...

Cydie and me and the Chinese wizard and his dragon.

Brenda my great friend with a heart of gold! 

Okay first time I screamed like a kid...

Not a very elegant landing...

Life's hard when traveling across Australia...

A young Kookaburra. Finch Hatton Gorge.

Port of Hay Point. One of the worlds largest coal export ports. They export coal received by rail from mines in Central Queensland, up to 300 kms inland.

Over 900 ships use the port each year and bulk carriers of up to 230 000 tonnes can be accommodated.

The most amazing beaches all in Sarina!

A green ant. Hurts like a mtf if you get bitten.

Looking for coconuts...

Friends for life! 

A huge thank you to Brenda and Cydie for the great pictures!!!