Posts filed under 'Lizard Island'
Live music. Anonymity. Chocolate on demand. Broadband internet. Espressos. Newspapers. Cinemas. Juice bars. Any bars. Mobile phone service. New music. New movies. New clothes. World news (i.e. anything other than island gossip). Flush toilets. Fresh fruit choices galore!!!!! ..ahhhh… I could go on and on and on but I think you get the point that I am enjoying being off the island and back in the real world!
I had the pleasure of leaving Lizard Island via the Reef Endeavor - a cruise ship that takes 2 days to get back to Cairns. It was a luxurious and leisurely way to leave the island and an appropriate end to 15 months there. I’ve never been on a cruise ship before so I had no idea what to expect, but it turned out to be good fun. I just threw myself into the experience and before I knew it I was getting pissed and playing bingo with the oldies! Luckily though I managed to avoid the limbo and karaoke.
I’m in Cairns now for about a week before I head down south for the Blues and Roots Festival. That is when the real traveling kick-off begins.
Meanwhile, we recently had a Category 5 cyclone come through the area, about 2 weeks ago. It actually hit the mainland about 350 km south of Lizard Island, so we were well and truly away from the action and had nothing more than wind and waves. Thanks for the emails from around the world asking how I was - it amazed us all to see that it made news all over the globe.
I found a few interesting blurbs from the Cairns Post (when we finally got a newspaper about a week later) that really typify the Aussies in this part of Far North Queensland. The first article asked random people if they prepared adequately for Cyclone Larry. One man replied, ‘Absolutely. I had 3 bottles of Jim Beam and 16 cans of Jim Beam and Coke. And I think I had a candle in there too.’
The other article was entitle, ‘Pub loses roof but regulars stand firm.’ The article continues, ‘Guests at the Innisfail Hotel were not fazed when the pub’s roof blew off - because the beer kept flowing. Licensee Nick Bohm was stoic in the face of disaster. ‘I have lost three-quarters of the roof, that’s $300,000 to $400,000,’ Mr. Bohm said. But he said the regulars had not left the bar. ‘We have no phone but plenty of cold grog,’ he said.’
Only in Australia!
So much to see underwater?
First recipient of the Curtis Bentley Volunteer of the Year Award
Thomas, my island coffee buddy
April 2nd, 2006
What the hell have I been doing on this island for over a year now??? I have no idea. Sometimes time is so linear. It doesn’t feel like that long, and yet it does when I think about all the places I still haven’t been. I guess I needed some rest and relaxation from the traveling gig. It really has been nice to be able to accumulate a few things and have the same bed for months on end. I’ve also really, really enjoyed being able to cook for myself. And of course, most importantly, I love this little island paradise on the Great Barrier Reef, living so close to nature and away from the hustle and bustle of the present day so-called modern world. The sunsets here are amazing; the reef life is inspiring and exciting; and the sound of the rain during the wet season (i.e. now) is electrifying. I will miss is dearly. But soon, it will be time to move on.
My position at the Research Station is due to end at the end of March, in just over one month’s time. Then it will be ‘on the road again’ as they say. And yes, I just can’t wait. 13 months in one place is a hell of a long time for an itchy-footed soul-searching world wandering hippie chick like myself. And I mean that in a good way, because I am a real hippie chick, not a dress-like-a-hippie-but-too-scared-to-act-like-a-hippie hippie, if you know what I mean. Time to get back in the swing of things, wherever that swing may be swaying. Of course if you know my traveling style by now, to the angst of my family and friends. I have no idea where I am headed or what I intend to do. That is all subject to change given the impermanence of life, so why bother planning?
You will just have to stay tuned. All I know for sure is that I will hopefully be making up for one year of live music starvation by attending the Blues and Roots festival at Byron Bay over Easter Weekend. Five days of solid blues and jamming and man, do I need it like nobody else! With a little luck, I will be meeting some Aussie and Kiwi friends that I made while working at the resort there, so it should be a great time! After that, well it may be more traveling in Australia, or back to Asia, or somewhere new again…but there will definitely be a holiday in there sooner than later, because even my mom said, Jennifer you need to have some fun!
Taking a day off at nearby Nymph Island
A camping adventure at North Direction Island
Diving with Sponge Bob
February 17th, 2006
I can’t believe that I have been on this island for over a year now! I would have never guessed it one year ago. Living in such remoteness has it’s ups and downs, but I’d say it’s mostly ups, which is good. I can’t say that I ever miss my old 1.5-hour commute to work in standstill traffic…nope, sorry, doesn’t happen here. I now walk barefoot in the sand for about 45 seconds to arrive to my destination. Imagine that next time you hear the traffic report.
As for what I miss, well it’s mostly just being able to have a cappucino when you want one, or making a spontaneous purchase at the supermarket as opposed to filling out a food order every 2 weeks to arrive on the barge. Those such things though are small sacrifices really when you consider how beautiful and magical this place can be. Every snorkel, dive, swim, paddle, sunrise, and sunset are different and unique and awe-inspiring in their own way. It’s a pleasure to be away from the rest of the world here. Where else can you have entire beaches or reefs to yourself to explore? Yes, I am trying to enjoy each and every day that I have here on Lizard Island, and not to take any moment of it for granted.
By the way, my website is a bit funky at present, so I apologize for any gremlins you may find. I can’t upload any new photos either, but I have some great ones to add, so please be patient and Thanks!
Christmas Eve at LIRS
Christmas Day Wallowing
LIRS girls on the summit of Cook’s Look
January 7th, 2006
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! Wow. Time has flown by this year. I have no great excuse for why I haven’t updated the site in months and months, and I apologize to anyone who has actually bothered to check in. I am STILL on Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, coming up on one year here actually. I don’t work at the resort anymore though. Lucky for me I was offered a temporary position (for 3-4 months) at the Research Station on the island, and I have been working on the ‘other side’ for just over a month now. My position here is called ‘Maintenance Assistant,’and encompasses everything from general light housekeeping to driving the tractor to picking up researchers from the airport. The people here are really nice and the job is a million times better than my old job at the resort. I’ll be sure to update the site a bit more regularly now and will have a chance to get more into the job later.
As for what else had been happening, well we all have our ups and downs in life and for some reason unbeknownst to me it was my turn for a low, slow, and depressing year. The bad news is that I had to go through it. The good news is that I think the worst is over. Most of my misery involved the ending of a 2.5 year relationship that I really thought was going somewhere, and yeah, in the end it didn’t. I don’t tend to get into much detail about these things on the website because for one, you’ve gotta keep some things private, and two, there is another person involved who may not want their dirty laundry aired. Really that is the main reason why I haven’t updated the site in months. I just didn’t have anything to say.
In addition to that, I was working a job that I really didn’t mind, but my bosses were completely dysfunctional power-hungry control freak ‘corporate psychopaths.’ And so no matter which way I turned, I just couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. Oh how I longed for those carefree days in Thailand!!
In the end, I found survival by just turning off my brain and going through the motions, waiting for a sign or a hand to lead me to another path. I guess I got it in a way when I was offered the position to work at the Research Station. If nothing else it serves as a sort of transitional phase until I get myself to the next place. Figuratively speaking that is. I still love the reef and the island although at times I do admit feeling a bit restless from the remoteness of the place. It would be the perfect job for a couple, but as a newly single chick it’s a bit barren. And not because we haven’t had rain in 3 months! Anyway I am meeting a lot of good and interesting people at the station, and the social scene here is quite busy in between movie night, barbeque night, dinner parties, and game nights, so I think it will be a very positive experience. I am looking forward to a new year in 2006. And I wish everyone all the best for a very happy, healthy, and safe year for the future.
Here’s to healthy colons for all!!
The beach at Lizard Island Research Station
Snorkling with dolphins, my first day off at LIRS
Beautiful underwater images of the GBR
December 19th, 2005
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