House Guest

Today I found this wandering around our living room:

This is what happens when you accidentally leave your balcony doors open when you go to the bathroom. . .  You think I would have learned my lesson after the Kookaburras.  

Sleeping in the Rain

They’re so cute when they’re quiet. . . 

When The News Makes The News

There’s nothing more juicy to a network news producer than something funny happening on a rival network.  And it turns out the recent occurrence on Channel 9 News in Melbourne was not only reported on other networks, but even their sister station in Perth got in on the action:

Birds are just awesome!

I Love My Kitty!

Julian would claw my eyes out if he knew Blair’s pic had been posted first. . .

Scott & the birds

More leftovers from Port Douglas. . . 

We’re Off Again. . .

Fresh summer peaches, heirloom tomatoes, bbq ribs, hot chicken, sweet tea and MY KITTIES!!  Yes, next Friday we’re heading to the States for a few weeks, and while there will be no burger eating contests this time around (sorry Scott), we do have a food road trip planned!

We are unfortunately traveling through LAX again, and while that has more minuses than pluses, at least the Delta Crown Room in Terminal 5 has a putting green, something to keep Scott entertained during our six hour layover.  Expect photos. 

The Leftovers

Random shots from our trip. . .A great time was had by all. 

Snorkeling The Reef

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I was very excited about our trip out to the Low Isles on Saturday.  Excited and nervous.  And if I may jump straight to the conclusion – it was one of the most fantastic experiences of my life.

It was a lovely clear blue sunny day as we boarded Wavedancer, our catamaran for the day.  We settled into a comfy spot on the deck and enjoyed the pleasantly smooth cruise out of Port Douglas to our destination.

There are a number of ways in which you can do the day – between guided walks, lunch, the glass bottomed boat – but we were keen to get in the water and see the reef.  So we gathered up our snorkeling equipment and wetsuits (though it’s not stinger season these provide invaluable protection from the sun) and headed over to the island.

I have to say that I was getting a little anxious the closer the time came to get in the water.  Snorkeling was completely new to me, and I had no idea what it would be like.  So, as we first started out my heart was racing, and my breathing was decidedly quick and shallow.  However, it did not take long to be totally distracted by the reef.

Pictures really don’t do it justice.  Moving slowly through the water brings about the most fantastic combination of curiosity, tranquility, bliss and excitement.  The fish are so varied in colour, shape and size, and they are everywhere you look.  The reef is stunningly beautiful, all different kinds of coral and lifeforms doing their own thing as you waft by – waving, breathing, pulsing … living!  And the giant sea turtle with the obligatory shell cleaning fish was just the icing on the cake.

It’s really hard for me to do the experience justice here.  It was a simply incredible thing to do, and we would both do it again in a heartbeat.  We enjoyed it so much that we were far and away the last people out of the water and only just made the last five minutes of lunch (the lameness of which could in no way ruin the day).  Of course, it was only later that night that we realised just how much over 90 minutes of continuous snorkeling will do to your body – oh god the aches and stiffness that was to follow, though still nothing to take away from the day.

After lunch, as we realised our bodies could do no more, we took a walk round the island and just relaxed in the shade of one of the huts before heading back to the boat.

As we returned to Port Douglas, one of the crew whipped out his guitar and started playing.  He got out a few Australian standards, and a few tunes for the kids, but the exclamation point on the day was sailing back from such a fantastic experience to the music of Jimmy Buffett.

I think with our wedding at number 1, this may just have been the second best experience of my life.

Breakfast with the Birds

We had a highly enjoyable morning with all of the happy, friendly animals at the Rainforest Habitat in Port Douglas (including Bobo the Magpie Goose who stood in my plate and tried to eat Scott’s toes, the napkins, the salt & pepper shakers, etc. . .).    It should be noted that many of the animals here love to have their pictures taken and have set poses and prefered angles.  Here are some highlights:

Magpie Goose

Bush Stone Curlew

Southern Cassowary

Eclectus Parrot

Australian Pelican

Papuan Frogmouth

Black-necked Stork

Koala

Crocodile

Whiptail Wallabies

Swamp Wallabies

Eastern Grey Kangaroos

We’re Home

Exhausted and a little out of it, but home nonetheless.  We had an amazing holiday (29/85 and sunny the entire time), and I took four gigs of pictures, so it might take me some time to sort them all out.  As I unpack on this cold and windy morning, I’ll leave you with two snap shots from our trip: one a very friendly wallaby from the Habitat and the other Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas.