Lizard Island trip reverse order

Thursday, July 9, 2009
Day 7
Well today is my final day on this remarkable tropical island. Tomorrow we have to get up clean up and fly out by 11am. It has been an amazing trip all round and I would love very much to come back one day. Last night instead of studying I walked down to the staff bar at the resort with the others and had a lovely time. We met some of the resort staff and admired the beach view. It was an impressive trip with me arriving back home a 3:15am.
Today we went for one last dive at a site called the Bomie which is an isolated reef structure somewhat like a tower which had some amazing sights including some big groper looking fish. I also finally got brave enough to touch one of the creatures which has most fascinated me and that was a giant clam. Amazingly it felt kind of how it looks which is some where between velvet and silk.
Tonight I baked up some apple crumble for dessert which was a big hit. I also spent the afternoon just relaxing having got my head around the statistics over breakfast.
Well tomorrow we fly out to cairns and then back to the backpackers; Saturday we take a trip to the Daintree which should be awesome. Then Sunday afternoon I will get on a plane and fly back to my freezing hometown of Melbourne. I suspect there will be some amount of withdrawal from the pristine blue waters, the sandy roads, the warm temperature, the constant bare feet and bathers as well as the amazing night sky. It is such a peaceful place to be and so very tranquil and unique. I could spend many, many more weeks here at the very least.

A note more for my self than anything being here with the people in my group has been an awesome experience and has me feeling like I can definitely get through the final semester of my degree with commitment, intent and grace. That is how I intend to take that on.
Posted by Ann at 3:29 AM 0 comments


Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Day 6
Well today was the big day. We conducted the survey over at the calm gardens. It is reasonably easy to tell why it is called the clam gardens given the amount of clams there. As well as the massive size and number of giant clams. There was also a very lovely anemone fish which would totally take you on if you came near it. The survey went well though the transects were a little hard to place. After the survey was complete I striped of my wet suit and went for a bit of a skin dive which was lovely. I also did a couple of dives off the boat which is just the best fun.
Before the dive we had a lecture on how we would conduct the survey, we then went out for the dive which was about 2 hours in length. We then came back to the house for lunch which was followed by 2 lectures with a break in between for afternoon tea. Making this the biggest day with regards lectures.
We then had a BBQ for dinner and the majority of the group headed off to the staff bar at the resort. I am however inclined to go for a short walk and then use the resources here to get a start on my assignment. I think it is important to point out quickly that I could never get bored of being here it is absolutely beautiful.
Tomorrow will be the last day we can go for a dive on the island as we leave at noon on Friday. I am actually going to be very sad to leave. I am also contemplating whether to buy a t-shirt or not.

Just as a note for Ngi unfortunately as we are snorkelling not SCUBA diving we will not be going to the cod hole.
Posted by Ann at 9:21 PM 0 comments


Day 5
Well today was the day where we get to do captain cook’s epic hike which is basically an up-hill trek in the middle of the day. So while I did make it to the top I had no real sense of achievement until I was cooled off and on my way back down again, mostly due to my exhaustion level. It was rather fantastic to get to the bottom of the mountain as there was a lovely beach where we went for a swim. We then walked back along the beach at the blue lagoon, on the way back we found these really beautiful sea stars though initially I thought it was just an imprint of a sea star it was demonstrated however that these sea stars actually burrow themselves into the sand which is rather amazing. On the return trip we were chatting to one of the lecturers who is a new Aussie who has come from America and we were discussing unfamiliar terms that he was not used to and I was shocked to realise how often and in many different ways we use the word piss. Examples include to be pissed, to take the piss, to get pissed, to get pissed off etc.
After we returned from the walk I took a well deserved shower and preparations began for our Texan lecturer’s Mexican meal. The meal was delicious however there was also a lot of food and I feel I want need to eat for days given the amount we ate. Dessert was not even tempting to me I was that full.
Tomorrow is the day that we actually conduct our survey which should be really good. So far I have managed not to get burnt which I am very proud of myself for I have also so far avoided injury (touch wood).
At the Mexican dinner Anne and Lyle who run the research station came to join us and Anne told us some lovely stories about the animals they have had here including a Dugong and an Octopus. I would love to see a Dugong but they are very rare over this side unfortunately.
I can’t remember if I mentioned this but the group I am here with all seem really lovely and are a rather inspiring group I am really ready to get stuck into my final semester of the final year of my degree. I have also discovered that I am the second youngest person on this trip which is pretty cool. Any way what with the 14km trek and the massive meal I am feeling rather tired so I am going to head to bed. Goodnight.
Posted by Ann at 4:29 AM 0 comments
Monday, July 6, 2009


Day 4
Well today was a good day I spent a bit less time in the water today as the reefs were very shallow so I spent a bit more time on land. That is not to say I didn’t see anything new. I saw a ray and a box fish as well as some other rather beautifully coloured fish. Oh and there was a rather dangerous looking sea urchin which had disguised itself as a coral.
In my terrestrial adventures I found some beautiful shells and at the second dive site I found a leaf skeleton, some amazingly soft sensual sand and some really light rocks as in like pumice but smoother which had me intrigued and wishing I were able to consult with mum on there origin. I also found some beautiful round seed pods. I went for a bit of a walk and a rock climb which was nice. A bit of bare foot bouldering for a change of pace. On my climb I found myself a green builders hat which I am totally taking home as a souveniour.
We were on dinner duty tonight and I made Apricot and Custard Danishes with some scavenged ingredients for dessert people seem to have enjoyed them which is really good, I have always wanted to make them. We are about to go for a moonlight stroll. Oh and I finally got onto my best friend and her show is going well.
Posted by Ann at 4:15 AM 0 comments
Sunday, July 5, 2009


Day 3
Well today was pretty cool also but we will start with last night. Last night we had a BBQ on the beach and played some beach volleyball. Today we did another 2 dives which were both an hour and a half each. I saw a reef shark and got close enough to it to be able to tell that it was a white tipped reef shark. We also saw a Diadema which is a very spiny poisonous sea urchin. I also saw a parrot fish having its gills cleaned out by a cleaner fish. I have seen quite a few Terebillid warms, giant clams burrowing clams and Blue Linckia starfish so far. I also saw quite a few clownfish today. Unfortunately I wasn’t feeling too well so had to get out of the water early at the second dive.
Today I also got a look inside one of the giant clams inside the siphon. It was a really vibrant orange colour that shimmered with the light it looked almost like there was a fire inside the clam. So despite having felt sick at Lunch time I was very glad I went out and dived. One of the lecturers here, Brian, has this habit of always being very loud which can really only partially be contributed to his being deaf this morning he found a piece of PVC pipe and used it as a trumpet to wake us all up. He also sings loudly in order to alert us that dinner is ready including a not so terrible rendition of Food Glorious Food from Oliver. It does however make me wish I could see Portia performing in Westside. I made it through a whole 2 pages of my novel today which means that by the time I am ninety I might make it to the end. I really do need to work on my German it is so bad.
Unfortunately today I also found out that they do no have any under water cameras for sale here which is unfortunate. I will just have to rely on my memory instead.

A quick Update

Well when we left the Island the plane was one seat short so we had to leave one of the lecturers behind though a plane did stop by and get him about an hour later. I went and visited the daintree rainforest and the Cairns botanic gardens. The gardens was great to sit and chat however there was also a lot of mozzies so i am now feeling rather itchy. Since getting back i have done a lot of washing and none of my assignment. So I best get to work on that tomorrow. Today I went and played soccer briefly and fell spectacurlarly on my arse after a nice save.