See you later Oz, I’ll be back!

Alas my fairytale New Zealand and Australia trip was finally forced to an end, as the 12-week Georgia Tech Pacific study abroad program wrapped up its final days in Brisbane, Australia. Sadly, I had to say goodbye to Australia, but not yet to the South Pacific! After departing Brisbane, I took off for Rarotonga in the Cook Islands for an entire week!!

“Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." Dr. Seuss

*Pix: A wrap up of Australia (primarily Sydney)
*Love all these emails so much, and want to reread them? Chasing Jessie
*All Pix: Picture compilation

Saving the Best (Weekend) for Last

Leaving audacious, foolish, dazzling Sydney for gentle Brisbane (‘brizz-ben’) after 3 weeks was my closest version of inter-country culture shock. Instead of basking in that awkwardness, I quickly caught a flight up to Cairns (‘cans,’ no ‘r’) for a launching point to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Landed Thursday afternoon, and stupidly booked Thursday night at Gilligan’s, seemingly the biggest backpacker’s hostel in the world. Well, maybe not the biggest, but potentially the loudest sleeping over 500 bodies per night, and dishing up raucous fun on a nightly basis in the throbbing bar, which conveniently amplifies music to nearly every room in the house. Thursday night was “Ladies Champagne” night, but even after 3 glasses served by half-dressed buff men, the noise in my top bunk could not be blocked out even after earplugs supplementation. Oh the life of cheap accommodations! Honestly though, who cares?! I was leaving bright and early Friday morning on a catamaran for the GBR!!!

Two days and one night of miraculousness followed on a live-aboard 120’ catamaran with 8 dives / day on the GBR. Words cannot accurately describe the colors and sights that I saw…

Jessie’s Animal Adventures

Considering Australia has 7 of the 10 deadliest animals in the world, it was only fitting that I visited loads of animal parks, sanctuaries, zoos and reserves! Next stop, RIP Steve Irwin’s home zoo and grounds, the Australia Zoo just outside of Brisbane, and Sydney Wildlife World in the middle of bustling Sydney!

Let’s talk about animals… a quick and fun science lesson! (After all, I am in the Pacific for the purpose of teaching Biology lab and class!!)

Snakes – everywhere!
Australia is home to the most highly venomous snakes in the world. It is also the only continent on which the venomous varieties outnumber the harmless ones. Although less than one third of the world’s snake species are venomous, they make up 65% of Australia’s snakes! Many are beneficial in that they eat small rodents which destroy crops and property. ALL snakes, venomous and nontoxic, are protected by law in Australia.

Indian Taipan - world's most venomous snake

What is a “Monotreme”?
The platypus and echidnas (2 species of echidnas)… Platypus are covered in fur, have the ability to suckle their young, as well as the ability to regulate their body temperature --- ALL characteristics of Mammasls! Platypus also lay eggs and have a single opening for the purposes of reproduction and excretion, which are typical characteristics of bats and reptiles. Platypus and echidnas are the only monotremes in the world, and are unique to Australia and Papua New Guinea (small island just north of AUS).

Platypus

Croc versus Gator?
The most reliable way of identifying a crocodile versus an alligator is to look at their teeth: In crocodiles, the teeth of the lower jaw fit into grooves on the outside of the upper jaw, so when the mouth is closed BOTH upper and lower teeth are visible. In alligators, the teeth of the lower jaw fit into sockets in the upper jaw, so when the mouth is closed ONLY the upper teeth are visible. (PS- There are no alligators native to Australia.) Snout shape is not a reliable way of telling the difference, as snout shape can vary within each species.

Saltwater crocodile

That’s all I’ve got! Enjoy the animal adventures!

Pix Australia Zoo
Pix Sydney Wildlife World & Aquarium

Furry, cuddly, scaly, scary!

New Zealand has its nearly endangered living fossil, the tuatara; its namesake, the nocturnally elusive kiwi, and 35 million sheep. All impressive, no question, but let’s just face it… How many people oooh and ahhhh over scaly dinosaur ancestors, spotted little birds that are never seen, or mutton on the dinner plate? Move over New Zealand, Australia is putting up some power in the “cute” department! Cuddly koalas, boxing kangaroos and rainbowed lorikeets, oh my!

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary plays wonderful home to over 130 koalas, as the name suggests, but also a host of other creatures from kangaroos galore, wallabies, tasmanian devils, and even a few saltwater crocodiles! I stayed away from the dingos, devils and crocs, but I did get up close (and cuddly) with the other furries. I just cannot express how enchanted I was / have become with these creatures of Down Under, particularly the kangaroo. I took pictures of them at every angle, lied down with them, hopped along… I have had the opportunity to get to know some remarkable animals, and hope you can appreciate them too!

Pix Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Rock wallaby

Cassowary - world's most dangerous bird

Grey kangaroo

Gimme the blue stuff

Well folks, I have found the true meaning of procrastination, and I have 200% embraced it. According to this email "blog," I am still in Australia. Based on those details, it is only March 2009 too... whoa. In truth, at least geographically, this email is not too much of a stretch! I departed the South Pacific on April 15th, went back to Georgia Tech for Summer and Fall semesters (to graduate!!), and on January 2, 2010, I departed again for the South Pacific! As mentioned, geographically Australia is not that far away, considering this email is being typed in New Zealand.
--> I have made a pact with myself: Finish this "2009" email trip to each of you (i.e. share pictures and stories), and if I can keep up with my 2010 tirp in a --timely-- manner, restart it all! I've been here a week; you'll know the outcome soon enough ! :)
Hugs, Jessie

In the mean time, let's talk Australia!
Add one part mie scattering by UV radiation, add millions of parts curious travelers, explorers, and aborigines, and finally add sheer beauty. Voila, I present to you The beautiful Blue Mountains, which border metropolitan Sydney, Australia!

It started with sand

One tiny sand particle started it all, and Fraser Island, a World Heritage is considered the largest sand island in the world.

My camping abilities have been in a dormant state for several years now. By ‘several years,’ I mean at least 7 or 8 years of suppressed hardcore overnight roughing it. However, somehow, some way, I was persuaded to resurrect my bathe-in-a-lake skills.
A 5:30am departure on Friday morning had 15 of us piled into three 4-wheel drive LandCruisers on our way to Fraser Island off the coast of Australia.

Fraser Island is one of 2 islands off the Northeastern coast of Australia, and is only accessible by 4wd vehicles ferried across the sea for a small price. The island is World Heritage listed, and is the largest sand island in the world. The place has a huge population – 360, 11 of which are Aboriginal. We’re talking major social events!
http://www.fraserisland.net/

We traversed the ferry and landed on “The 75 mile beach,” which doubles as the main highway on the island, as well an airport landing strip. “All vehicles must yield to any landing aircraft.” Whoa! After a beach picnic everyone was in the Cruisers ready to roll, while I was standing at one driver door with map to help determine our route. I hear, “Dingo! Wow, there’s a dingo!” Huh? What? There’s a dingo??!! Mind you, I am the ONLY person NOT securely in a vehicle. I nearly jumped onto the hood in fright, and scampered into the truck, of course searching for my camera (first) and my safety (second). Let’s put it this way, dingoes are the equivalent of wolves… nice to look at from afar, but you don’t want to encounter a wild one face-to-face. They are ancestral of domestic dogs, but have reverted back to the wild.
The weekend passed through large freshwater perched lakes (i.e. lake sitting on top of compact sand and vegetable matter, above sea level), lots of bush-driving and a beached shipwreck exploration. Oh, and being waken up every morning by a kookaburra laughing loudly. Thanks to the lack of inhabitants and no light pollution, the night sky afforded visibility of every star, dot, poke, sattellite, constellation, and the entire Milky Way! Could have been the wine though too. I couldn’t have imagined a better back-to-camping expedition.

Pictures Fraser Island

Going Native

I forgot to tell you all about my experience post-busting my butt on Mount Taranaki! (From blog post: The Big One)

Remember my 3 hour hike down Mount Taranaki, and my butt-busting experience on the rock? After I got down off the volcano, I drove 2 hours south to Wanganui to stay in a great YHA hostel there for the night, and have a Sunday on the Whanganui River (“wh” is pronounced “f” like “ph”). First person I see? The same gal that I shared a room with the previous night outside Taranaki, and we are sharing a room again! (love this small country!) Turns out she is a transplanted doctor from Pakistan that has been in England and Ireland for the past 6 years, and now practicing in NZ. We are also sharing a room with another woman, whom we’ll call “Sue”. Sue is a very tall New Zealand native with a curious nighttime ritual.
The night winds down as the three of us chat on about our weekend adventures and other NZ plans. During this, Sue has prepped us for her middle of the night ritual, and has placed a banana and box of raisins next to her bed.

Sue:           “I used to eat chuppies and biccies, but now I try to eat something healthier…”
Jessie:        HUH? (trying to stiffle language confusion)
                   Um, what are “chuppies and biccies”?? Wait, What? What are you eating?
Sue:           Ohhh… It must be my accent. Chippies and biccies…
                  (Translation = chips and cookies)
Jessie:       When?
Sue:           Ohhh, sometime during the night.
Jessie:       Whaaaaaat?