Sandy's World Travels: Cairns - Part 1

Day 13 - September 28

Jeane and Jay met me with a cab and we were off to the airport. Our flight to Cairns (pronounced cans) was late, but no problem

In Cairns a car unexpectedly picked us up at the airport and took us to the luxury Shangri-la Hotel. Our hotel rooms were next to each other - not planned. We looked over Cairns harbour.

Time for lunch. The town was small and we found a nice cafe for a light lunch. The clouds decided to open up and we got drenched.

Back at the hotel we relaxed and had cocktails and snacks in the evening. The food was so good, it became our dinner for the next four nights.

Later I sat on the enormous balcony and watched the activity at the marina.

Day 14 - September 29

We're all excited to be visiting the Great Barrier Reef. Backpacks and towels in hand, we walked the few hundred years to the Reef Experience - our boat for the day.
It was a little over an hour to our first stop. It was amazing how colorful everything was as soon as we entered the water. Fish, coral, anemones, and of course Nemo. Jay pointed out this huge clam on the ocean floor. It must have been five feet across. We snorkeled over an hour before Jay and I were called for our scuba dive.

We geared up and were reminded to always breath. I was shaking, but not as bas as when I chickened out of zip lining the first time in Costa Rica. The dive master took us in the water and waited until we were used to being under. Then he took our hands and down we went. I guess I kept breathing, since I'm here writing this blog.

We swam and got a closer look at the coral and marine life. Luckily no great whites approached. My only problem was stabilizing the pressure in my ears. We dove for 15-20 minutes before resurfacing. A truly amazing experience.
After lunch we had our second stop and snorkeled another hour and a half. My underwater camera with 27 shots was not nearly enough. I will post those photos in Cairns - Part 2, when I return to Orlando.

We rode back to Cairns on very calm seas, drinking wine and eating cheese and crackers. It was an adventure to always remember.

As we did last night, dinner was in the lounge. We then retired after a long adventurous day.

Okay - see you can tell what this is. Of course Jeane and Jay cannot enter, nor can they give any hints.

Day 15 - September 30

Today we went to Kuranda, high above the rain forest.

Our 52 seat bus picked us up in the morning. The whole bus was for the three of us. We rode through the sugar cane fields to the Skyrail.

The hour cable ride to Kuranda had two stops to view the rain forest and waterfall. It was a beautiful day and we took our time.

Here's Jeane and Jay on a train track bench.

Kuranda was a local village/tourist trap. We had lunch and walked around the local markets. There were some different and interesting products, but nothing we needed. The admission to the butterfly sanctuary was $17 so we passed.