March 2,
We arrived at our last stop in the great country of Australia, the city of Cairns (pronounced Cannes, go figure). We arrived on time at 7am and we were off the ship at 7:45 with enough time to find the Big Cat Green Island Cruise Terminal. After checking in, I realized I left my wallet containing credit cards, ship boarding card and driver’s license at the counter. Luckily when I went back it was still there. It was just another senior moment. We boarded the Big Cat Reef Rocket and left at 9:00 arriving on Green Island at 9:45.
On our way to the island, the skies were threatening, it rained off and on to the west. Once we arrived the skies cleared, we were lucky as this is the rainy season. The only problem this rain caused was when it rains the fresh water makes the salt water turn green and cloudy. We had an hour to walk around the island, through the National Park and on the beach prior to getting on the semi-submersible boat. We were seated below the water level so we could get a diver’s view of the coral reef. The whole area is pretty shallow. Once out in the water, fish were everywhere. The coral was unbelievable, the giant clams were huge, the sea cucumbers were disgusting. Cucumbers serve a purpose, they are the vacuum cleaners of the sea floor. (Sea Cucumbers are a delicacy in Japan, yum!) Once we got to a area where they fed the fish the number of fish doubled. It was totally amazing, a real Wow factor. The Great Barrier Reef should be on everyone's bucket list. Scuba diving or snorkeling out in the ocean off a boat or platform would be amazing, but then you have to deal with the bad fish or snakes or the Marine Stinger and Jelly Fish.
I took a movie picture of part of the tour. As seen in the pictures the Green water really shows up. This doesn’t do it justice as the fish were very brightly colored. We also couldn’t catch the many varieties of fish that were swimming by, from the very small to the very large.
Once we returned to the dock we transferred to a glass bottom boat which wasn’t as good, not quite as exciting as the submersible. We only booked a half day on the island, which was enough since it was hot and the sun was out in full force. The ride back on the Reef Rocket was cool and relaxing, maybe the XXXX Gold beer helped. It was only $4.50 and as soon as the word got out they sold a lot of it.
Once back in the city of Cairns we walked along the The Esplanade through the the marina and along the lagoon, the tide was out so the lagoon was a mud field. We headed into town looking for the Rattle and Hum Bar. I found it on the internet and they offered $5.00 pizza’s. We stumbled upon it but saw no indication of the $5.00 pizza’s so we ordered a large pepperoni pizza for $17.00. I had to go to the bar to buy our drinks, I ordered a Fat Yak beer and Betty had a peach ice tea. I was talking to the bar tender about which beers were good, and about Foster’s. He said you might find Fosters in Sydney but not in Cairns as Australians don’t drink it. They sell it in the USA and England but they think it is crap beer. I asked him how he afforded drinking at the prices they charge, he said drinking is what they do. The beer and ice tea cost $11.50 Australian dollars which is close to $13.00 US. He came over to the table and asked if I wanted Fat Yak beer mat and of course I said yes, it will go nice in the bar I am supposed to build. When I finished my pint, I went to the bar and the bar tender was pouring me a Beez-Neez and said it was on the house. I made a friend for life, I told him if he comes to Cleveland to look me up and the beer was on me. It is amazing what a 50 cent tip will get you here! Apparently tipping is not expected, their wages make up for it.
We left the bar with $30 Australian so we looked for something to spend it on. After walking for a couple hours through some heavy rain showers we never found anything, so we gave up and turned in the money and got $25.00 back.
Both of us needed showers badly as it was a very hot and humid day. I sat on the balcony first, had another beer and smoked a cigar as no one in their right mind was sitting outside. Today was one of the highlights of our trip, Betty really wanted to see the reef. We both love Australia and New Zealand.
We departed here at 6pm and retraced our way through Trinity Outlet before setting a north easterly course across the Coral Sea. We are now headed to Guam. Thankfully this is our last 5 days at sea stretch.
