As noted, this trip moves quickly…. a new destination every two days; a deep dive into perhaps a single one of its interesting aspects, and then on to the next.
Mother Earth, however, is a constant companion – and rarely fails to impress as we go along.
There is a huge sensitivity to environmental matters as we move from one place to the next, and our plane is regularly fumigated……
Upon arrival in Cairns, Australia – no welcoming leis, no ukuleles strummed at the airport, NO DANCE TROOP after dinner!!!!! A nice change, actually. And this lovely creature (not dressed in a sarong!) waiting to greet us.
I swear she looks exactly like some one I used to work with…… anybody recognize the face?
It’s very humid and hot here. The area that has been plagued by wild fires is much further south, and the good news is that substantial rains have fallen there, helping to relieve the immediate danger.
Our day on the Great Barrier Reef included a fish feeding…
A semi-submersible ride along the reef (which was quite disappointing except for the fly-by of a single turtle)….
And a snorkeling session, which absolutely did not disappoint… We are dressed in Lycra skins, protection against potentially fatal stings from the box jellyfish, one of dozens of venomous creatures in Australia that are capable of doin’ ya’ in! (Got to love these skin suits – not only do they shield us from the sun, they hide unsightly jiggly bits and pale, sagging flesh, a blessing for which we were all profoundly grateful. Few, if any, of those of us on the trip are unafflicted….)
The abundant marine life on the reef was dazzling, and (having snorkeled in many wonderful places before), we were reminded how delicate is the existence of these marvelous structures. We should never take them for granted.
Onward from here to Siem Reap, Cambodia……
Emerald Isle to the Norse Lands 