Tandem cycling in Australia, Backpacking in Tasmania and New Zealand, Kayaking in the Whitsundays, Eating Sushi (and going to Onsens) in Japan, Weddings back in Cali, Hiking in Nepal, Rock Climbing in Thailand, Scootering around Lao!!!
Yup, not only can you have a heated seat, you can control the temp of the water of the bidet, the strength, and the amplitude.... but they do cost a few hundred dollars.
When we visited my dad's friend up in Karuizawa (The only city to have hosted events in the Winter and the Summer olympics)... he had a toilet that automatically flushed after you stood up, and even had a button or you could use the remote (the Japanese love remotes) to raise the seat for when males had to pee.
Yup, my country of origin is always shocking. Especially coming from 5 months in Australia and New Zealand.
I think we saw more people in the 20 min. sitting at the starbucks with Tsuji than we had in the last 5 months combined. I had to refocus my attention to all the lights, people, signs, and strange characters everywhere... quite the transition from the coral, giant clams, fish, and turtles. Tokyo is mentally taxing... our minds felt like we just got thrown into a Hanna Montana concert... no violence, but overwhelming.
After a short drive from Mission Beach, we made it to Cairns... the so-called backpacker capital of OZ... and there are plenty of backpacker options here...This one is named after a nice van we left in NZ.
Oh, and Kate put up a shopping mall... (she was bored)
We soon found a live-aboard diving operation we liked and went over to the office to book. The fluffy, lazy cat likes the printer there...
We went with Reef Experience... they have a boat that goes out to the reef every morning and back in the afternoon, while Reef Encounter stayed out at the reef, only moving from reef to reef.
Here we are about to be transferred boats...
Here's Reef Encounter... our home for the next 3 days... unfortunately they wouldn't let us jump off the top.
During the course of the next 3 days, we lived in the ocean... I did 12 dives (2 night dives) and snorkeled 4 times... and to be honest... it was great. I hadn't dove for a while, so it was a great feeling to be under again. However, I'd say half the sites were better for snorkeling. There were some great dives, don't get me wrong, but there were many sites that you probably saw more snorkeling... and I was diving just to dive.
Off to do my first dive in like 8 years...
It was a great thing that we went snorkeling in the Whitsundays before coming here... as we saw a LOT more fishies, turtles, coral, etc...
I think we saw 6? or more... no matter how many you see, they're still amazing.
A coral with bite marks from parrotfish.
Freddy... he's a Maori Wrasse that hangs out whenever the Reef Encounter is anchored at the Fraser Reef, and loves to be petted.
Saw lots of sharks, but they are difficult to take pics of as they usually take off... that is unless the cook is feeding them.
... this morning made waking up early for the 6 am snorkel/dive session well worth it.
A pufferfish getting cleaned by a cleaner wrasse... these guys are great... some of them start pecking at your body if you go to one of their "cleaning stations."
Giant Clam... they close up when you touch them..
And my favorite reef... in the shape of a fish
Here's Kate diving for the first time...
Turtle!
Giant Clam...
After getting off the boat we had our last dinner with Katie, and went to bed still rocking. The next day, we headed off to Japan.
In Mission Beach, north of Townesville, we ran across another one of Australia's amazing animals. The Southern Cassowary.
The Southern Cassowary is the second heaviest bird in the world... growing up to 190 lbs. They have disappeared from their rain forest habitat in many areas due to hunting, but still thrive in the Mission Beach area.
Like most animals in Australia it is potentially dangerous (OK, maybe not, but it sure seems that way...) The 2007 Guiness Book notes it as the "world's most dangerous bird." Many internet entries about cassowaries state that they can disembowel a man or dog with one kick, with the long second toe claw cutting the gut open... but I'm sure these are all exaggerations...
This is the "immature" male. He's still 7 or 8 years old... cassowaries are sexually monomorphic, so they all appear the same except in size (the female... more dominant... are larger).
... but we didn't know all these facts at the time...
After the Whitsundays, we rented a car in Airlie Beach to head up to Cairnes.
Getting my mop chopped right after the 5 month mark... by the backpacker camped next to us.
Ha, check out this out... best of both worlds? A basket with wheels? Not really, it's more like a heavy basket or a tiny cart...
This area is Sugar Cane and Mango territory...
We got some frozen mangoes... mmm
And made it up to Townesville the first day... where we saw the first of many fig? trees. These are amazing.
Townesville has a huge hill (Castle Hill) in the middle of town. A very popular running route, I made it up there 5 times during my 24 hour stay. My legs were happy to get out of the kayak I think... Oh, I did see one climbing route up it... the rock looks pretty choss however...
On the way back to the campground, this dog nearly got run over on the highway. He just sat in the middle of the highway, so I had to run out and carry him out of the street. Turns out he was a pretty good dog, as he could sit, stay, and heel. No tag, no collar... so after carrying him a few blocks away from the highway, I knocked on the door of the friendliest looking house and asked the lady what I should do. Turns out he's her boyfriend's dog... anyway, so I was late from my run.
I love these trees.
I'm guessing earthquakes are uncommon in Townesville...
One of the many reasons Kim insists on sleeping inside a tent in OZ.
We spotted our first cane toad... it was pretty exciting. Kate thought it was dead as it froze in her headlight.
If you don't know about Cane Toads... these kinds of actions are why Australia and NZ are so worried about introduced species. The toads were introduced to Aussie to control the cane beetle, which were eating the sugar cane (grand idea?)... but with not many predators to control the cane toads, their numbers increased to 200 million...
Check it... from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_toads_in_Australia
There's also a great documentary on the subject. (go to 3:00...) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8p7Y4CE6uE
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