Paradise Lost: An Island and a Cyclone

Well, I have been to Paradise and back. We were scheduled to spend this entire week on Heron Island at the Research Station, which is on the Great Barrier Reef. However, at the beginning of the week, the looming threats of Cyclones Ului and Tomas threatened our departure for Heron Island. Nonetheless, we made the call on Monday to go forward with plans and left late that night for Gladstone, where we would take a ferry out to Heron Island. The ferry ride there was rather choppy (numerous people got sick), but the weather was still gorgeous when we got there. It is such a beautiful place. The island is rather small, consisting solely of the research station, a resort, and a small tract of bush where there are numerous birds (the island is like a rookery). It is surrounded by reef, and the water is of an incredibly blue hue. I will attach some pictures next time. We spent Tuesday walking around the island, getting our snorkeling orientation, and enjoying the delicious food (the caterer who was making food for us was excellent. Best food that we've had all trip!). Unfortunately, late on Tuesday we found out that we would be evacuating the next day before 14m swells made the waters impassable. We were all bummed out, but class got cancelled for the next day, so we enjoyed it as best as we could. I went snorkeling for the first time, and it was fun, but the conditions were not great (low visibility, strong current). After lunch, we took the evacuation ferry back to mainland. It was a beautiful ride, making us long to stay on the reef longer. On the bus trip, we watched movies and worked on our essays due the next morning. I am glad that we got to go for at least 24 hours, for it was a true paradise. I should also mention that we did get to see a lot of nice coral, some turtles, rays, sharks and fish, and that was all really nice. The turtles are in hatching season, so they are especially active.
Now, we are back in Brisbane with no plans for the weekend, so hopefully I can catch up on some sleep and recover further from this illness that has been plaguing me for a while.

Leaving Sydney!

I am about to board a plane to head to Brisbane, leaving Sydney behind with only the memories to sustain me. Sydney was good to me, rather large and cosmopolitan, but still intimate and friendly at times. This morning, I walked from Bondi Beach down to Coogee Beach and got some magnificent views of the coastline. Yesterday, we took a trip up to the Blue Mountains, seeing the Three Sisters (a famous rock formation) and hiking down into the valley. We saw some splendid waterfalls and a lyrebird! On Wednesday, Tiffany, Christina, and I did the BridgeClimb of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It was expensive, but such a great experience! I will post pictures next time to show some of the views. We did it at nighttime, so that was a real treat. My slight fear of heights did not inhibit my climbing success at all either!
On Tuesday, we went to the Powerhouse Museum and saw some good exhibits on women's housework in Australia, nuclear energy, and the 80s (a potpourri of subject matter). Later that night, I saw Avatar in IMAX 3D! It was a gorgeously made movie, and I enjoyed the metaphors contained within superbly. On Monday, we went to the Quarantine Station up by Manly, and that was a very fun and informative trip.
Sydney, you were good to me. Will I ever see you again? I do not know.

Roos!

Today was a very good day. As was yesterday. Yesterday, I went deep sea fishing for the first time in my life. We had to get up at 5 since we were leaving at 6. We (there were 14 of us on the Kingfisher, our boat) got to witness an excellent sunrise, and the ride out to the ocean was pleasant. Once we got out to the ocean, we were met by 4 to 6 foot swells. Needless to say, many got sick, and had I not taken Dramamine equivalent that morning, I would have, too (I still didn't feel too hot). We were catching them like crazy out sea. In total that day, I caught 7 fish: a scorpionfish (it was gorgeous), a couple of "sargeant bakers," some snappers, and a flathead. After a number of seasick cases, we moved back into Sydney Harbor to keep fishing. While the fishing was not as prolific, it was still good. About one o'clock, we headed back to shore. I then met up with Gianluca, an Italian work friend of my dad's, and we walked around the campus of the University of Sydney. It was a splendid time. Later that night, we watched the Prestige, and I don't remember much of else of what happened other than going to bed early.
Today, Charity, Steven, Katherine, Allison, and I drove up to the Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains. It was a beautiful drive and a nice respite from Sydney's cityness. The four of them went abseiling while I just explored the River Cave. I saw some phenomenal crystal formations and other cavey stuff. Then, we went exploring a little bit, and found some echidnas and kangaroos in the wild. They were breathtaking and I was feeling very much in my element. We then caught some dinner (1/2 BBQ chicken for me, fresh and local) at Friar's Tucker before going to Wentworth to see the waterfall and the sunset. It was simply gorgeous with great vistas. Unfortunately, I rolled my ankle, but that is no big deal. I am ready for a nice Sunday and a good last week in Sydney.

Shades and Hues

Time is flying by. I cannot believe that it is March already. Sydney is a very interesting city, full of interesting experiences. To recount some of my adventures, I will start with today and move backwards:

Today, we went on a field trip to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Later, I went with some of my friends and met up with my friend Haylie (who lives in Sydney) to Bondi Beach, where we chilled, took pictures, and had a delicious dinner that included mussels and calamari.

Yesterday, I went to the Apple store to try to get my computer fixed (I have an appointment now... for next week). I redeemed my lottery ticket (won $10!) and then went to this phenomenal exhibit at the Museum for Contemporary Art done by Olafur Eliasson. It focused around the theme of light largely and incorporated natural elements. It was brilliantly done and a true joy to experience.

Monday, we went on a field trip to a medical museum for class. It was super rainy, so I got a lot of work done and chilled.

Sunday, I went to Hillsong Church with my friend Nathan. Also took care of some errands with TIffany and got work done.

Before that, it gets fuzzy. But I did win a lottery to get front row tickets to Wicked (which is in Aussie) for only $30! It was incredible to experience the show from the front row. Also, went to Manly Beach one day for surfing and bushwalking in Sydney Harbor National Park.

A lot going on. Time flying. Loving. Yes.