2/8/2006 7:37:18 PM by abender
As we prepare to leave our little island and the intriguing land of Australia, I'm not sure whether I've been here for months or a week. Looking back on specific moments in the mangroves or the rainforest of northeastern Australia, it seems like forever ago that they took place, but during each Australian experience (spotlighting animals along dark roads, swinging from vines, snorkeling alongside a shark, snorkeling at night, learning the secrets of the rainforest with aboriginies, watching baby sea turtles dash to the ocean at dawn or dusk) hours have seemed like moments as I've tried to take in all that surrounded me.
The night snorkel two evenings ago was incredible. I swam withing feet of a giant green sea turtle, searched a shipwreck for octopi, got clung to by an abalone, and got chills up and down my spine when I realized that the wobbegong shark about two meters away from me had camouflage abilitis and was actually three times the size that I initially believed him to be. When swimming near sharks it's always good for your psyche if you know a)where it's head is and b) the size of the animal. Not knowing a or b, I think my fear was adequately justified despite the fact that the specific shark species I encountered generally dislikes the taste of humans. :)
Jessi and I just took our final walk along the white beach encircling this island and found it impossible to not feel lucky to be here. One of the seven natural wonders of the world down (the Great Barrier Reef); six more to go. I'm up for the challenge! See you all soon! Miss you!
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2/8/2006 7:23:12 PM by jbond
The end is almost here. Today we board a ferry that will take us away from our little island paradise. No more sunburns, no more noddy tern poo, and no more failed projects. I must say I'm a little sad to leave all my fishy friends I have made here on the Great Barrier Reef. I hope that I will once again be able to see the yellow box fish, the cuddley cuttle fish, and the always loveable epaulette shark. The southern sky is also one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen sitting the shores of Heron Island. But no matter how sad I am to leave the wonderful country of Australia, I can't wait to get back home to Idaho. Only three more days.
2/8/2006 7:21:18 PM by pokumura
Heron Island has been the best part of this trip. The professors tried to keep us busy with our projects and brown bag lunches, but we all had plenty of time to take in the sights around the island.
2/8/2006 7:19:56 PM by acoonts
If Amy Truksa is reading this blog, we would just like to thank you again for showing us some of the stars of the Southern Hemisphere. They have been incredible and so bright! So we have correctly identified the Southern Cross every night but down here they don't call it the Southern Cross, it represents a shovel nosed ray pulling two fishermen across the sky. The fishermen are beta and alpha Centauri. Very cool and we tried to take pictures but didn't turn very well. Sigh, back to Caldwell...
2/8/2006 7:07:49 PM by acoonts
After studying these organisms for the past week, I have decided that sea cucumbers, although seemly boring and odd, are pretty cool little creatures. Kendra and I mostly wanted to work on this project because they're really funny looking. If you can imagine this: sea cucumbers are not one of the hotspots in ecology right now. I'm pretty livid about this fact. Anyways, the project is done, results umm... found... and paper turned in. All that's left is to soak up a few more of the sun's 30 degree Celsius rays and wander around on the beach for one last time. It's been amazing and if I could life in the ocean, I'd swim out and join the dolphins.
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