This week, we wrapped up our final week in Sydney. Since arriving here, we have all experienced so many new and amazing things that I would never have thought possible at such an early point in my life. First of all, I would like to reflect on some of my favorite memories from the past eight weeks. The first is the wildlife park, which happened the first week we were there. Being up so close to the Kangaroos was incredible. Second, generally speaking experiencing all the beaches in Sydney was amazing. It it truly a unique concept that a city could be as populated and big as Sydney and still have so many beaches in such a close proximity. Additionally, I wanted to reflect on how great Bondi Junction was for us. Despite the fact that most of the suburb was a mall, there were so many great food options in a five minute or less walk from our apartment. Also, there was easy access to everything, including classes and beaches. The public transportation was amazing, allowing us to access everything that Sydney has to offer.
Beginning of Spring Break in Cairns
Moving forward to the first couple of days of Spring Break, we arrived in Cairns on Saturday afternoon after an early morning flight. Upon arrival, we checked in and got to explore the resort and see the various pools and restaurants on the property. The highlight from the first day was when John and I found a banana cart that is located about a block from the resort, and it was selling bananas for only two dollars a kilogram. They were some of the freshest and delicious bananas I had ever tasted, and was something I was not expecting to find in such a close proximity to the accommodation.
Great Barrier Reef
On Sunday, I was able to experience the Great Barrier Reef for the first time. The amount of fish that I saw while snorkeling was incredible, and the reef and coral that I saw was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Additionally, when I was snorkeling at the third site that we visited, I saw a reef shark swimming below me. I had never seen a shark in the wild before, and it was super cool to see in person for the first time. During the boat tour, they served us a very good lunch that included curry and shrimp, both of which were great. On the way back into Cairns, we were able to relax on the sun deck of the boat and watch as we passed the mountains on the coastline.
Cairns Rainforest
Lastly, on Monday we were able to travel around the Cairns rainforest. We had the opportunity to swim in various spots, one of which was an incredible waterfall. There was a smaller swimming spot we started at, and that had a cool rope swing as well. We finished the day by attempting to see a Kangaroo and a Platypus, but unfortunately did not find either. All in all, this was a great week and can not wait to spend the next few days in Cairns.
