SYDNEY PT 1

Good Morning- we've arrived in Sydney! We woke up early to enjoy the drive into the harbor, one of the most spectacular in the whole wide world! So much history here in Australia. As you know, it started as a penal colony (get your minds out of the gutter-we're talking prisons).
The British were trying to get people to come here willingly, but pretty much ended up getting people here whether they wanted to or not. After a bit more than two hundred years, this country has really made something of itself, thanks to the tenacity of the people and the resources that they had to work with. Let's talk about the harbor first.
Interestingly enough, when Capt. Cook was on his voyage of discovery, sailing up the east coast of 'New Holland'-the original name of Australia, he didn't explore 'Port Jackson' (the name he gave it). He spent a number of days at 'Botany Bay', just south, but didn't venture into the awesome natural harbor that eventually became Sydney. The harbor is kind of hidden, the way it zigs and zags and has numerous 'fingers' jutting here and there, along with a few islands.
Here are some pictures with details about the drive in.
I have been able to say that I have visited Sydney before, and only had fond feelings for it, and I know I've exclaimed at least once or twice, that I think it's the best city in the world!
The ferry took about ten minutes or so to get across the harbor. After getting off the boat, I walked up some stairs and got on the sky ride that took me up the hill and over the zoo. Awesome views and it was so cool gliding over some of the animal exhibits. As I noticed the steepness of the hill, I decided I would start at the top where I got off the sky ride and wind my way down the hill, looking at all the animals, then just get back on the ferry.
Best laid plans... There were so many hills, it's really amazing how they made this whole piece of land work out for a zoo. (It was the original quarantine station for the area.) I decided, after walking back and forth, going up steps and steep inclines, that I was going to get my workout today after all! At this point, I will let the pictures tell the story.


As we turn the corner coming into the harbor, the awesome sights of Sydney start to unfold.


The clouds looked beautiful early in the morning.

Iconic Sydney, with it's opera house and bridge (which I will be scaling in a couple of days!).

Awesome view from my perch on the ninth deck of the Amsterdam!

Early morning sun casts a beautiful shadow as we are sliding up to our berth.

We are parked at 'Circular Quay', the busy, busy hub of activity - including Aboriginal artists.

From the deck of the ferry. There are many ferries since there's so much water around.

The bridge from my point of view on the top deck of the ferry.

This is a fort, built way back in the 1800's (I think...)

I'm heading to the zoo...what do you think I'm gonna see

I took the sky ride tram up to the top of the zoo and we glided right over the elephants!

How cool is THAT?!

CRIKEY! I think he was about fifteen feet long! And those teeth! Yikes.

Penguins of every size. TK likes the little ones, and guess where they come from - you guessed it, right here in Australia.

There he goes! So dang cute and only about a foot tall.

Aw, look at the baby! Check out the sky tram gliding by.

This gorilla thinks TK is just as cute as it's own baby.

It's a kangaroo! TK wanted to climb in the pouch.

One word. EMU

Pygmie Hippo.

Here's your koala!

It just couldn't be any cuter!!

Tiny Kona found a willing Kangaroo pouch to climb into!









Here is where I start having difficulties getting my photos off my camera - dang it! I will post this piece for now and add more later.

We spent about three days in Sydney, so this is just the beginning!

TINY KONA'S TRUSIM of the Day...A pouch is one sweet place to hang out

CAIRNS

These aborigines did some entertaining with their dancing and didgeridoo.

Tiny Kona hanging with her outback friends. Reminds me of a scene from E.T.

A pirate ship in Cairns? Aaaargh!

This is a great port town. And why not? It's the perfect place to head out to the G.B.R.

This was taken in late afternoon, just as we are coming into Cairns. We are in the Great Barrier Reef right here.

Relaxing on our way back from snorkeling (and eating).

Divers getting ready to GO.

Doesn't it look absolutely inviting?

Right before boarding the 'SilverSwift'. I just love all the boats.

I liked this tree. I had to run by it on my way back to the ship after the snorkeling. This was taken in the morning when I wasn't rushing.

Sunset from the back of the ship, as we're in the G.B.R. after departing Cairns. Smooth sailing.

Bye Cairns, we LOVED it here!

My new Aussie friends, Kermit, LuLu, Taffy, Squiggey, Sheila and Spike. (these are not their REAL names, of course, so here's hoping they leave a comment on this post giving their real names! teehee!)

Everyone loves TK.




Sorry the pictures are out of order. I just haven't quite figured this blog thing out!

G'Day Mate - from the land down under!We arrived in Australia - the beginning of our eight day exploration of the eastern and southern shores. We traveled through the Coral Sea and into the Great Barrier Reef before arriving in Cairns at 5 p.m.

Going through the G.B.R. can be a bit tricky since it a has so many coral formations. We had to pick up a pilot to navigate our way through the maze. The air felt nice and warm as we zigged and zagged our way toward shore.

Once the ship was cleared by customs, we were able to go ashore. I had dinner first, then went ashore to see if I could find an internet cafe (which I had no trouble finding), but mostly I wanted to find a snorkel trip for the next day.

The ship had a shore excursion available for $260.00, which I thought was a bit pricey - and it was sold out anyway. I found a tour booth and the girl checked to find me a boat that would get back before the ship departed at 5 p.m. the next day. I actually needed to be on the ship by 4:30 p.m., but most tours didn't get back till five-ish.

She called one, that got back at 4:15, but it was sold out. Then she tried another - also sold out. Then she called one named the 'SilverSwift", and lucky me - one spot left! It was $160.00, left at 8 a.m. (within walking distance of the ship), served breakfast and lunch, took us to three different spots, and got us back at 4:15. PERFECT!

I got up early, put on my swimsuit, grabbed my stuff and a couple of towels and walked down the boardwalk to the harbor area. The boat had a great crew and there were lots of people from all over (although I think there were only three Americans).

As we headed out toward the far edge of the reef, we ate muffins and fruit and heard some info about the reef. We were told to look for rays and (reef) sharks, giant clams and sea cucumbers, turtles and fish.

The main fish I wanted to see was a clown fish - or better known to many of you as 'Nemo'. Since these reefs have an abundance of anenome, I am sure to find him!I'm really sorry I didn't get a chance to pick up an underwater camera. I would have loved to share some photos of the beauty of the reef.

Here's my advice- google some pictures of the G.B.R. and picture TK swimming by in a tiny mask and snorkel...Our first stop was an area called Pellowe Reef. We got to snorkel there for an hour or so (there were also divers on the vessel), and we saw lots of varied sea life, but try as I might, I just couldn't find Nemo.

The second area we went to was called Milln Reef, also lots of good stuff to see. The fish ranged from clearish to black - and every color in between. My favorite would have to be this little neon blue guy. He was ELECTRIC! Not really electric, but his color was like nothing I've ever seen before! Australia also has their own version of the humuhumunukunukuapua'a, but the colors are different. Much more neon-y, and bigger than their Hawaiian cousins.

We had lunch while at this reef, which was pretty good since we had worked up an appetite. I saw beautiful coral formations - of colors so vivid it's amazing they are so bright under the water. But still - the elusive Nemo was not to be found.

The third area we stopped was Thetford Reef. I had seen so many fish and coral at the other two reefs, at this point I was just concentrating on finding Nemo. But, wow, this place was absolutely amazing! They really could have just taken us to this site, because it was so colorful and abundant with coral types of every size and variety, with fish galore (and I even spotted a couple of rays!).

And the giant clams! When they say giant, they mean GIANT! There was one that I could have fit it - it was ginormous! They were some of the coolest things I saw. I would also see anenome here and there, and study them closely to see if Nemo was hiding, but still not having any luck. I had been out there for maybe 45 minutes, but was starting to get cold. I figured I might have to name my post '(not) Finding Nemo', when all of a sudden, I see this cute little orange and white fish peek out from some anenome! It was so cute how he would drift out, maybe six inches or so, then quickly wiggle back into his safety net of the anenome. I watched him for a few minutes, and content that I finally saw him, I swam back to the boat to warm up.

It was almost time to go anyway, so I put away my gear and took a warm shower. I sat in the sun to dry off as we headed back to Cairns (it took about and hour and twenty minutes). I was a little worried about the time by then, since it was after three, and I needed to be back on the ship by 4:30, (but I told the captain, and he said we would be there about 4:20 (teehee)).

I was taking a few pictures of TK around the boat, and a guy asks me if I am holding her for ransom. I explain the whole Tiny Kona thing, my blog, and tell them about the cruise. It ended up where these six friends were from Adelaide, there on holiday. We found out we were all the same age, and they told me they had been friends since they were teenagers! I took a photo of them with TK, and when they found out that I had to rush back to the ship, they made sure I was going to be the first one off the boat so I could hurry back. (They also told me if I missed the ship, that I could stay with them at their hotel and they would put me on a plane to Brisbane (our next stop). They were so nice and a lot of fun.

The boat slips up to the dock at 4:25, but of course they have to get everything ready for us to get off. I'm beginning to panic a bit, and They finally let us off. I'm the first one down the plank, and I take off running. Squiggey (I think) is yelling 'run Allison, run!' (in the manner of 'run Forrest, run!'), which makes me laugh and turn and give a quick wave.

I am going down the dock as fast as I can, winding along the sidewalk that connects the harbor to the cruise ship pier (it's about one-fourth to one-third of a mile away). I know I'm going to make it when I run up to the building we have to go through when I see two busses of shore excursion people arriving (these were passengers returning from a ship organized shore excursion), and I know I won't be the last one on the ship and get reprimaded for being late!

WOOHOO! What a day I had!I didn't have time to go to the cabin and drop off my stuff, I just went up to one of the higher decks to take pictures of our departure from Cairns. So much fun here - I wish we could stay another day...

TINY KONA'S TRUISM of the Day...one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish.