12th Dec, Fri (Singapore)
13th Dec, Sat (Brisbane - Cairns)
Cairns is a tourist place that is liken to be the best of north Queensland. It contains diverse pockets of reef, rainforest, coast and rural land. Being an 'aqua' person, I've opt to check out the reef rather than the forest as my main activity in my 1 1/2 day stay here.Managed to get a airport transfer right to the door step of my hostel, Aspect Central. Receptionists are two fierce looking old women but they turn up friendly. And the room is nice and cozy! Can take up to 3 people. Dunno why they give me such a big room. 65 per night only though. Except for the dirty kettle spout. Better not boil water in it. Asked the reception auntie for recommendation for diving trip for tomorrow and she gave me a good deal. Just 145 and I will get to snorkel and a intro dive with all gear provided. Breakfast, lunch and tea included. Picked up at the doorstep and send me back too. Plus 5% discount. Everything I wanted and needed included. Far below my budgeted 300 so deal. Asked for direction to the city area and was told walking is the only option. Gosh! It's far! Esp when you have to walked under such hot weather! At least 30 degree! Brought a pair of old slippers and the sole came of on the left side. Ripe of the right side too and can't wait to get a new pair!
Finally reached the mall after almost 20 min walk under the blazing sun but took a wrong way and walked one big round into the car park before I get to enter. Guess most of the people here drive coz there's no one walking on the street and I can't guess where is the entrance. Hence followed the cars and yap, one big big round. First thing I enter is to look for slippers before anyone laugh at me or me having to walk bare footed. Saw someone did so. Crocs' old design on 40% discount but not what I wanted. Many havanas and billabong and others but prices about same as in sing. Got a pair of brown billabong, couldn't find my size for gold one. Next head for lunch. Almost 3! Saw many nice dresses but they have to wait. Turkey patty and lots of rocket vege and butter head cabbage. My fav and it’s healthy too.
Stomach filled so time to attack! Many of those flora dresses that need no ironing! My fav! Valley Girl is still my fav. Saw them in NZ too. The place reminds me of Marina Square. Similar layout. After which I head down the rest of the streets of the city area. Just stretches of shop houses. Not many interesting shops. Quite disappointing. It's a sat but not much people walking around. Where are they? Is it because it's too hot? Only pass by a few souvenir shops and just like in NZ, mostly open by Koreans and Jap. Can someone tell me why? End of the street is the lagoon. So here's where everyone is! It's just open right next to the city street and it's free for all! Next to the sea and the water taste salty. But I wonder why the taste coz they only clean it once a week. Well who care, just dip in coz I can't stand the heat anymore. Luckily bought a set of swimwear along the way here. Deepest only 150 cm and it's crowded. Can't do much swimming. No goggles either. Bought a sarong to dry up instead so that I can use again in the rest of the trip. After an hour, I walked around the harbour area. Geez everyone is at the bar drinking. Nothing much to see or shop coz almost 6. Yap the shop here close early too. Walked over to the area that claim to have some night market but decided to have dinner first coz leg kidda tired. Walked into a restaurant I feel more comfortable with and had just what I wanted to try. Kangaroo, crocodile and ostrich combo. Wow! Ostrich meat is really tough though the slices were thin. Crocodile sausage tasted like some liver. Best is the kangaroo meat, tender and nice. Very much like beef. The cranberry sauce was good but the macadamia sauce just tasted weird. As I eat, I looked around and I understood why I walked into. Mostly Asian. Even the waitresses are Japanese. Some people tried the Moreton Bay bug which is the local cheaper version of lobster. But I think it's our Cray fish. Must try the next time. Nice filling dinner with some fabulous house wine. Never really like red wine but theirs taste quite good. Checked out the night market but its non other many basar malam stores open by Koreans, Japanese and Chinese selling the same few souvenir. The Chinese were even there to offer massage and they are only kneading! Call that massage? For 40 bucks? Another sign of Chinese invasion is the foodcourt at the night market. You can choose from plates of different sizes for different prices and you just fill it up for all you can on that plate. Sounds familiar? More than one store. Chinese food, thai food, jap food (but look more like Chinese imitation version). And the customers? Mostly Asians of course. Have we brought the ugly side of Chinese to Aust? Or should I say enterprising?
Ost meat , Croco sausage, Kanga meat, Croco sausage again, Ost meat again
14th Dec, Sun (Cairns, Great Barrier Reef)
Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 wonders of the natural world. Stretching 2000km from just south of tropic of Capricorn to just south of Papua New Guinea, it is the most extensive reef system in the world, and one made entirely by living organisms. It is estimated that most of the Reef is around 2 million years old, with 2900 separate fringing reefs and barrier reef. All these reefs exist because of one teeny tiny organism called polyp, which look like tiny cucumber with a mouth leading to its stomach. Polyps are soft and vulnerable so they create a outer skeleton to protect and support their body by excreting a small amount of hard limestone, forming the corals. The living corals are coloured while the dead ones are white. Different polyps form varying structures. Corals is dependent on sunlight and thus grow no deeper than 30m below water's surface. It also needs clear and salty water.
Hop on to the shutter bus at the door step. Less than 20 in the mini bus but there's many more on the cruise! The cruise boat is called Reef Expectation. Served bacon n egg burger for breakfast before they brief us on the safety precaution onboard. Up the deck for some suntanning. Gosh! Thank God for the sun. For I love suntanning! Always think of caucasians as fair but many of them there are darker than me! Had a introduction diving briefing before the session starts. Sounds simple but still a bit scared inside. But I must be brave and I must try! Can't missed the chance. So what is the best stabilizing pill? Prayers! God, please send a lot of angels with fins, not wings to accompany me to see your beautiful creation underwater. Went for snorkeling first at Michaelmas Cay since I'm the last group to dive. No life jacket for snorkeling? Was made to wear one for both my snorkeling trip at Kor Samui and Redang but not here? Gosh I'm not a very good swimmer le. They only provide the long tube float. Die die must try. Five minutes and I'm up. Don't feel too good in such a big ocean. Oh must be because I forgot to pray. Try again and yes I had great fun! Feel so different the second time. Well, it must be the angels. Forgot to ask them along the first time! Had to swim a distance before I get to see reef that's nearer to the surface. Those deeper look brownish and dull. Is that what I'm going to see later for diving? That will be awful. :( not much fishes but many colourful corals. More species than what I saw in Kor Samui and Redang. When it's my turn to dive, there's only two of us. Yes! Must be God's working. The other three pull out last minute. A third person tried to join us but she has too much problem that another instructor decided to take her alone. Well, there's no way for anyone to stop God's will I guess. For the benefit of that lady and for me too. God, I love you for that! While waiting in the sea and getting used to the water, surprisingly I keep floating up unlike the other lady who manage to stay still in there. Never feel lighter before ! Haha. Nonsense. Maybe my body is quite scared and keep moving upwards but my spirit can wait to see the world down there. Down in the ocean, not hell. Tried a few safety precautions and down we go with the instructor holding two of us on each side. First time hold an angmo's hand and some more so long! Like to "pah-tor" under the ocean. Handsome young chap le. Luckily come back to senses in time to give thanks to God for protecting me through the instructor. Guess God must be happy to know that I'm still His faithful girl and we got to dive more than the initial 20 min. Deeper and deeper. And it must be God's working to put me in the last group so that I get to enjoy such privilege. Thank you God once again. And the scene down there? Gosh it's like after you tasted Hagen Daaz you won't want King's ice cream anymore. It's even more beautiful down there! Many more colourful fishes and corals! Its like God has summoned all the colours of His vast palette and applied them in exquisite and liberal detail. Even saw a huge purple shell closing up as we get real close! Really feel like touching the reef but understand that that will only harm them. But I have a question, why do they appear turquoise from the sky, brown from the water surface but so colourful upfront? Like some hidden treasure! Amazing! Saw Clarks anemone fish, rainbow fish, dusky butterfly fish, neon damsels and many more. "Pah-tor" session lasted around 30 min and I'm sent back to the boat. Lunch, rest followed by another stop at Breaking Patches, known for appearance of turtles. Decided to snorkel since I don't wish to pay extra for second dive. Boy this is a nicer reef. Can see lots of fishes and corals even with snorkeling. Spotted a blue and purple shell, spotted and black sea cucumbers(there are many types of sea cucumber, not just those we eat), freckled hawkfish, sea-whips and many more I-dunno-their-names. Drank quite a few sip of sea water too because the waves was so big that it just covers me and water enters from the other end of the big straw. Probably God is telling me to start swimming back coz it will be against the current. It's like every three step you take the wave will move you back by two. No joke. Quite big wave. Sure, back to my suntanning then. Still feel quite fair. Fell asleep on the deck and when I'm up, I feel like a lobster, thou I have applied lots of sunblock many times. And those caucasians are still darker than me, darker than this morning. Ok not fighting with them or i might end up suffering the burn even more. Got back on shore around 4pm, earlier than the 6 that they claimed but I have enough. Feeling rather tired. Shower is already quite painful. Gosh I don't wish for tomorrow to come. Quick apply lots of lotion! Skin already start peeling at 7! No joke! Not so efficient please! Found out there's quite a few nice affordable eating café around my hotel. Attracted to the fish and chips but ended up trying the bugs and prawn combo. Okay, the bug is crayfish. Why must they give it such an unappetizing name? Likely it's called crayfish in Singapore. 2 crayfish with 6 big fresh prawns loaded with wedges and salad for 18 bucks. Not a bad deal but guess they could put more garlic. Or maybe they didn't want to cover the freshness of the seafood. Yummy.
15th Dec, Mon (Cairns - Townsville)
Caught a pic of this Transformer truck over at the lunch break stop at Cardwell, one of the oldest town in Queensland, founded in 1864. Had the worse fish and chips at the same place. Yucks. Shouldn't have go for craving.
Passed by Ingham Town and saw many sugar cane plantations against mountains in the backdrop. The main produce from this region.
Right, the Townsville Transit Centre Hostel is not at the Transit Centre; it's at the old one. Across the river. This is what happen when u got a older version of Lonely Planet. And nope it is not reasonable at all. Musty smell and mattress bigger than the frame. And I'm expected to lay my own bed sheet. Right, I'm going spend as much time as I can out there with minimum time in this room. Best way to waste time is to walk instead of taxi. That helps to put my mind off the hot sun actually not too bad as in Cairns. Only 15 min and I'm on Flinders Street. Told it will still be open at night so decided to check out the direction of the Reef HQ and the beach along the Strand.
Townsville is a hive for military activity due to it's strategic location for defence. There is also a handful of historical buildings. And you can feel that the people here take pride in their house. Every house that I walked pass is beautiful an well maintained. Walked along the beach at the Strand and the Torbuk Pool which is just our version of public pool, fenced up and u need to pay. Fun pool is a wonderful water playground for kids. Okay everything is more or less with 30 min walk, including the bus terminal. So maybe I will just hand around at the beach early in the morning rather than stay in that horrible room.
Back to the Flinders street and I am cheated. Yap the street is open (coz no walls or fence) but nope all the shops are closed. Great so how am I to spend the rest of the evening. Movie? Thought I saw a theatre on my way into the town on the bus. Orientate myself the map and yes it's just nearby. Hop into a supermarket and check out every single shelf to spend more time off. Got some muesli bars and apple juice before I head off to the cinema. And guess what? They have just what I wanna watch. Twilight! Wow, read the book and its like vampire version of Meteor Garden. Let's see if the movie is as good. $14 for one ticket and free seating is a huge theatre, much bigger than what we have in Singapore. And yes, the vampire Edward is really charming. Thought Bella can do better thou. Much shorter then the book and it definitely help when u have read the book. Probably can understand better. But overall, I love it. But it doesn't really help when I'm watching it in Aust. When I'm back on the street at night, its pitch dark, people walking around are all caucasians and your mind just cannot stop imagining. Haha. Ridiculous but still should play safe. Coz it's really quite quiet along the street. Everyone drives I guess. I'm probably it only one flip flopping on the street. Though unwilling to get back to that musty room, I guess I still should speed up to play safe. Once again. Bad choice to stay.
16th Dec, Tue (Townsville - Airlie Beach)
Gosh Reef HQ is a really good educational place to learn about underwater life. Workers there are all volunteers full of passion. Had a explanation tour on the corals and learn really a lot. Corals are not plants but animals. They start from polyps and they grow horizontally, branch out or on op of itself. Their colours are due to the microscopic algae growing in them. Without them, they are pretty much just white. I've also learnt that the corals nearer to the surface are more colourful since they receive more sunlight. As we get deeper in, red and yellow can't be reflected due to the salt water. That would explain why they look so dull from the surface. And there's male and female corals. About 3 to 5 nights after the full moon in late spring, the reef experiences the phenomenon of mass spawning of the corals whereby the corals release both eggs and sperms simultaneously into the water for mating to take place. Caught many pictures and videos of those beautiful creatures which I can't do so with my camera will snorkeling. Anyway don't think I'm capable of taking any nice shots in the sea when I'm more concern about my safety. Really enjoy this exhibition of the colourful underwater world and the lunch there was good too. Time to walk back to the terminal to head off for Airlie Beach. Whitsundays Islands... Hmmm wonder how beautiful the beaches will be. And will I be able to go sailing, my dear God?
Upon reaching Airlie Beach, I was praying very hard that the place will not be too far and hope it's nothing near what I had in Townsville. And thank God for answering my prayer. I just cross the street and there it is right in front of me. I've book a nice hotel room for myself! The really clean bath tub surely compensate for the last night. And I'm just in time to book a sailing adventure for myself tomorrow, 5 min to closing time. Well, when you have God with you, things just take place really smoothly. Dinner is my fav Mac Quarter Pounder, taste really different from what we have in Singapore. Most of the shop already close but just one shop left open, for me to buy more sunblock! God, you really take good care of me. Walked down to their swimming lagoon. Similar to the one in Cairns but I find this even more beautiful. Open to all without any fencing again beautiful. Pity can't catch the seaview as it's already pitch dark out there. Well, quick get back to the hotel to enjoy the gift from God!
17th Dec, Wed (Airlie Beach)
Whitsundays Islands... where i got to snorkel again!
View of the island from the yacht
... and the surrounding
They were my company as I ate my lunch onboard...
18th Dec, Thu (Airlie Beach - Rainbow Beach)
Rainbow Beach
Here's the beautiful Rainbow Beach
and the waves...
She drove me up the hill, telling me to remember the way down coz she won't be le to wait for me but she is driving so fast. Tried my place to get my direction right then. Dropped me off at a car park and asked me to follow the trek up the mountain. Just a quick 15 min trip up and mine! Is that a desert on front of me? Read more on the board and learnt that the wind from the sea has brown the sand up the hill, covering the vegetation. After a long time, the sand got deposit here and form this really rare landscape. Captain Cook saw this from the sea and named it after his chef, Carlos. That’s what I overheard a tour guide explaining. Haha. And imagine how long it takes to fill this up. It is really breezy up there and yes I can see how the wind brings the sand up. One side is facing the sea and the other the town and that is where the sun is setting. Gosh! I didn't get to read about this during my research and I really thank God for getting Debbie to bring me here! Another masterpiece of God in the nature! Sunset was beautiful but I guess I shouldn't wait for it to be completely set coz it can be quite dangerous for me to walk down hill in the dark. As I trek back to the car park, I notice that the trees are like those that I watched in Twilight. Ok too obsessed with it I guess. The trip down is another great testimony. I totally forget the way that Debbie told me and I'm glad that I can see the beach from the top view to guide me down. Half way down at a junction where I can no longer see the beach, there are chirpings of birds to lead me to the left. Now this is what it means by God communicating to us through our environment and nature. Don't think I can do it on my own coz I was too distracted by all the nice big houses. Thank God once again for leading me out.
Check out the interesting landscape!
Overview of the Sandblow
will I find my way out on my own?...
Not to worry, eagle guiding me...
19th Dec, Tue (Rainbow Beach - Surfer's Paradise)
We had to drive along the beach to reach the other end of the coast. It's really an experience! To enjoy the beautiful sight of the sea while enjoying the morning breeze as the cloud glide along in the sky. Things got more excited half way through. Apparently there was a sand slide last night, a very common sight here. But the beach was laid with many fallen trees, leaving only a small path away from the water for the truck to drive through. But we have to wait for the water to recede before we can drive through. Took quite some times before we could overcome all the obstacles. But indeed an experience. Well, it's just like the teaching that when it's time to receive God's blessing, we have to be prepared and alert to receive it or we will missed it. Similarly, we have to be alert on when the water will recede and quick drive round to the next waiting spot. No point rushing for the blessing or you might get adverse effect instead. If the truck had too much contact with the sea water, it will just spoil the engine. God is actually teaching us every minute in our life, through our environment, through nature and through the people around us. But it's just whether we make an effort to realize it.
Evidence of soil erosion
And in place of a greener pasture at the other end of the world, we have a clean white spread of sand waiting for us. We just dump the truck on the shore and out we go on the kayak! I paired up with this young lady named Anna Maria, from Switzerland. It's a rather different experience from canoeing in Singapore. We get to ride on the wave as we paddle out. Much more exciting! It's definitely more difficult to manage the direction as compared to the calm water in Singapore. Just as shared in the dawn message, God teach us to be humble at all time. There's two type of people with PHD, those who think they know more than others and those who realised that there's still a lot of more things out there to learn. Be humble. There are many other situations out there that you may not experience before though you might be expert back home. And there are many people who can be much better than you.
My kayak partner - Annamarie from Switzerland
We paddled for almost 20 min and we had yet to see anything. I started to pray very hard to God to please grant our wishes. Just as the guide was about to give up and guide us back, someone spotted two dolphins! We quickly but gently paddled towards them but the appear even further. They swim fast! But I saw my dolphins! Was told they are just baby dolphins but I still got to see my dolphins! Oh really thank God! Indeed God will answer our prayers as long as we are sincere and that our prayers do no harm to us! Oh I'm so happy! They appeared for only 5 to 10 mins and they are gone. Pity that I didn't get to paddle pass them or touch them but guess it's because I didn't pray for that, only prayed to see them. Haha. But I'm thankful.
View of the Sandblow from the sea
Caught a few scenic view of the surrounding before heading back. Spotted the sand blow from far too. Along the drive back, the driver stopped by a few stops to show us the different coloured sand. The colours are due to the different minerals content in them. There was this story whereby an angel called Rainbow was trying to save a girl from a demon. The demon killed Rainbow with a Boomerang and Rainbow was shattered at this area, forming the different coloured sand. My favourite is the pink coloured sand. There is also this patch of bright orange sand among the grey sand, making it really outstanding, like some campfire.
Coloured sand at Rainbow Beach
Back in time to clean up and get ready to catch my coach to Surfer’s. Debbie was really nice to drive me over though it’s just a 1 min drive. Highly recommended to all to stay at her place! The trip is a rather long one. Had to change into another coach along the way and then another one at Brisbane before I reach Surfer’s at evening time. Love the room at Vibe’s hotel. Just a short walk to from the bus terminal and at the boundary of the town area. Nice view from the balcony as well. Stepping into Surfer’s is so different from the previous town I’ve been to. It’s like back to the urban life. Make me miss my last few days of “country side” life. Shops are open later probably coz Christmas round the corner. Tried their Hungry Jacks and it’s probably “distance cousins” of our Burger King. Bought a few dresses. Hmmm start of my shopping spree!
20th Dec, Tue (Surfer's Paradise)
After breakfast, I ready to set off to Movie World! Took a local bus that will specially bring people to all the “worlds”. So not only tourist but the locals love these places as well!
Bought a combo ticket to Movie World and Sea World. Have yet to fulfill my craving for dolphins. Thought it’s a big place but not really. Mostly rides which I’m not into but still manage to spend a lot of time there – shopping! So many cute stuff there to buy and wish I can buy everything back! Also managed to catch some shows here and there. Shrek 4 D show is very much like our Sentosa’s4D show and the prelude at the dungeon was interesting.
21st Dec, Tue (Surfer's Paradise - Brisbane)
Went for another round of morning at the beach an snap some photos for memory. Tried Aussie breakfast at another café and I simply love it. Went back to wash away the sand and salt before heading off to Sea World. But things just didn’t flow as smoothly. Waited at the wrong bus stop for more than 5 min then missed the bus when I reached the right one. Check out the time and it seems like I might have less than 3 hours to spend at Sea World. With the timing for the Dolphin show, I might not have much time left to walk around. Hence decided to postpone it to the next day but that will mean I have to pay $35 to travel down from Brisbane. Then again I don’t think I have much thing to do in Brisbane for 2 days. Prayed and decided to follow the feel to stay put in Surfer’s instead. Walked round the shopping malls and realized that fashion is Singapore is really much better. I wanted to treat myself to 2 scoop of ice cream before lunch but each scoop turn out to be gigantic. No space left for lunch. Ha ha.
Almost 2 hour bus ride back to Brisbane. Weigh my luggage at the terminal. Ok exactly 20 kg. Throwing away the toiletries will be safe. But that will also mean no more shopping for me. Sad. Base hostel at Brisbane feels the same as those in NZ but the tour advisor there is definitely not as good. When checked in, was given a good news and a bad news. Bad news was that the lift was spoilt and my room is on the 4th floor, with the reception starting from the ground floor and not 1st. Good news was that at least I would have any chance of being stuck in there for more than 2 hours as that was what happened to those people inside when the life died. And check out the lift... retro man....
Took the map and check out the whole area. The Chinatown is just a street with some Asian restaurants, including Vietnam and Thai. That’s all. Walked round the area in Brisbane city. Rather big but luckily my legs feels strong that day. Roughly figure out the direction and head for dinner and movie, 007 but think not my type, fell asleep and wasted AU$15. Sigh. The city is very much like Auckland in New Zealand. It’s developed on a rather steep slope with neat streets cutting each other perpendicularly.
22nd Dec, Wed (Brisbane – Sea World)
Was told that Sea World is smaller than Movie World at one of the Information Centre but no it is much much bigger! First thing is to rush all the way to the end of the world for the Dolphin show starting in 15 minutes time! Many distractions such as baby dolphin and dolphin souvenirs along the way but just have to keep focus. Indeed it’s well paid off. I’ve got the best seat right in the centre in the first row. Nothing blocking me! Thank you God! Can feel that I’m really high inside as I see the dolphin swimming around to warm up. Gosh! This is the best moment in my life! To see my favourite dolphin right in front of me! The photos and videos that I took here took up more than 2GB, just on dolphin alone! Gosh! Now I know why there was so many obstacles to stop me from coming yesterday. Coz 2 hours is definitely not enough for me! There is also a program for kids to get to interact with the dolphin. Yes kids… so I’m too old, can only watched. But it’s more than enough. I’m far to thankful to ask for more! Oh Hananim! Thank you so much for this wonderful gift! Only disappointment was that there are not as many dolphin stuff to buy as I expected. One thing is I’m quite fussy about how the dolphin looks – not out of proportion please, and I can’t find more than 20 dolphin items. Yes that’s how much I love dolphin. Got one soft toy that will make sound of dolphin when pressed on certain spot and will move too! Cool!
Close up shots!
Learn more about Dolphins!
Videos!!!
There is also this Sesame Beach corner. Really cute. Loved the show too! Well Sesame Street is my favourite childhood show. Love Bert and Ernie. Comb almost every single corner of the world and still feeling rather high. Another round of dolphin show? Why not! Just that I had to rush to catch my bus after that. Well it’s worth it!
"Non-dolphin"
Do you know...
Sesame Beach
My dolphin collection from this trip!
Dinner at food court followed by last round of shopping. Decide to buy a nice dress to wear for Jesus’ birthday celebration. Thank God that the shops were still open for last minute Christmas shopping. Tried many places and almost wanted to give up. But decided to walk another round and found just the right dress! Thought I walked pass this spot before? Hmmm… must be not focus enough. Yap we should be focus in everything we do and out in out best. Then God will do the rest for us! Everything fitted nicely and there was even a discount. Yes this must be the one! And it’s specially for you Jesus!
Christmas Decor
in action!
23rd Dec, Thu (Brisbane – Singapore)
Coot-tha Lookout
Brisbane City Beach
Bougainvillea Walk and Ferry Wheel
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