Goodbye Sydney
During the final week studying in Sydney, Australia, we wrapped up classes and said goodbye to the place we called home for the past two months. At first, the idea of studying in Sydney was daunting, but now I never wanted to leave. Sydney had an amazing atmosphere that combined so many cultures; and mixed with the beach and the city, Sydney is easily one of my favorite cities in the world. On Saturday morning, we traveled to Cairns, a city in Queensland, for spring break. During the short two days we have been here, we have gone on a snorkeling excursion in the Great Barrier Reef and went on an Atherton Tablelands: waterfalls and rainforest tour.
The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef was about a one-and-a-half-hour boat ride out from Cairns. Having such a great reputation, I had high expectations for the Great Barrier Reef. And I can assuredly say that the reef blew my expectations out of the water. First of all, all of the sea life in the reef were incredible and being able to see such a large coral reef was something I had never seen before. My favorite fish that I saw was a parrotfish, which was a turquoise and pink color. During the tour, the guides taught us more about the reef. I was not aware that the Great Barrier Reef was made up of 3,000 individual reefs and was about the size of Japan and Italy. Being able to snorkel there was truly a once in a lifetime and unforgettable experience.
Atherton Tablelands: Waterfalls and Rainforests
On Monday, we took a guided tour of the Atherton Tablelands where we got to see rainforests and swim near waterfalls and lakes. The waterfalls were beautiful, and it was fun swimming out to them. The rainforests were unique, and we got to see a tree that the trees in Avatar were based off of. We also learned about an ancient River of Healing during our lunch stop. It was used by ancient settlers of the region because it was the only place with flowing water where people could clean their wounds.
