Yes, the Great Barrier Reef is that cool and yes, you should see it. We flew into the city of Cairnes on a long weekend to swim with the fishes. The city itself isn't that great but it's setting is really incredible. Cairnes is a bay surrounded by jungle that touches the water at the farthest points. The city is old and quaint but filled with backpacker accommodations and tourist watering holes. It has a great cafe culture and a huge infinity edge pool with ocean views right in the center of the park in the CBD. Our hotel was quirky with it's round shower that looked into the kitchen and living room but we had a fantastic deck with bat shows at dusk.
We chartered the Passions of Paradise snorkeling boat early in the morning and embarked with the greeting of a killer playlist and kind smiles. The catamaran was newer than most in the marina and even opened up the sails on the way home. We went to two snorkel spots, the first was a random booie we tied too and offered deeper waters to explore. Our equipment was some of the best I have used and they offered Stinger suits for protection to the lingering season of Stingray. We didn't see any, but the added layer was nice in the cooler waters and sun our our backs - plus the entire boat looked ridiculous. Underwater sites here were pretty mind-blowing. The variety of coral was infinite. I can't even describe it, I don't think it is even possible. The whole scene down there is like the best trip you have ever had or want to have. Sarah told me a fish swam right up to her goggles, smiled showing it's teeth and then swam away. It was like that one scene in The Beatles Yellow Submarine. I find myself scattered trying to find words because it was just too much to handle.
After an incredible lunch that was way to good to belong on a boat, we went to our second location which was a white sand island in the middle of nowhere. This place was a bird refuge and national park, among a snorkeling hub. There must have been millions of birds here nesting while us tourists setup on the white sanded shores. After the passenger boat dropped us off on the island, we got to walk into the water from land and snorkel very shallow waters. You would find yourself hovering inches over ancient coral doing everything you could to get by without damage. This site was a shallow dense world of coral varieties and glowing fish. The shadows from the clear water and sun underwater dancing on waving coral had a very nightclub feel to it. You loose yourself underwater looking at this foreign world and time flies by instantly. I can see the obsession people develop for this and we were only at one tiny area of the Great Barrier Reef.
That night we had Turkish food for the first time and will be seeking it in Seattle when we return, yum! In the morning we took a vintage train into the mountains that were were gazing at from the boat. It was a really scenic ride climb with waterfalls and high views of Cairnes. It stopped at this touristy shopping village which we didn't have any interest in but we did find a butterfly sanctuary. Yeah, Sarah is into these little guys but I will tell you this - what a fucking cool thing to see! A huge variety of species fly all around you and sometimes will land in your hand or onto your head. It is incredible, you feel like a guest in their world. The way down from the mountain was handled by a gondola that took you over the jungle trees and down the side of the mountain. Our expectations were low when we booked, but it turned to be a highlight of the trip. We got to see birds and butterflies fly into trees from way above them, a very strange perspective. The trip was about 45 minutes and once we got to the crest of the jungle and started descending down the hill - the views of Cairnes and the ocean was magical. We could see the island we snorkeled at!
Yup, one of the coolest things we have done.
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