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| Giant Clam on Normans Reef |
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Reef Encounter served as our floating hotel on the Great Barrier Reef for two nights. Both Joanne & I tried introductory dives. I had a lot of trouble with clearing my ears as expected but I did get close up encounters with a gaint clam and huge wrasse fish. Check out this picture of the Giant Clam! I didn't bring my camera while diving so no photos from real deep down. Joanne couldn't clear her ears so her dive lasted only a few minutes.
We snorkeled on three reefs, saw lots of topical fish and coral but no sharks! Divers, especially at night encountered large fish and nondangerous sharks. On the first snorkel, the current carried Joanne away. After climbing aboard, she realized she was on the wrong boat! She managed to swim back to our boat as the crew were anxiously looking for her. No Worries (as they say in Australia!)
We met lots of interesting young people from many parts of the world. Hendrick and his friend were two young guys from Denmark who were working as dive instructors on the boat. I related that my Dad's ancestors had come to the U.S. from Denmark in the late 1800's to avoid forced conscription into the German Army. They knew about this part of Denmark's history and filled me in about it. They said that in the rural Danish farm area known as Jutland, that bordered Germany, many Danish people left to avoid this fate.
We also met a wonderful Japanese girl who was traveling around Australia. She said that she loved the casual Western ways and wanted to see as much as the world as she could before she had to return to Japan and work in Tokyo.
Another interesting fellow was a passenger from Spain named Pablo. He is a physicist who is working in Geneva, Switzerland. He spoke flawless English and told us how his country has changed after Franco's rule (when Richard last visited in the 1970's) into a much freer society.
All of the young people commented upon the U.S.'s strict Immigration and Visa Laws. They have a difficult time getting into the U.S. even for a visit after 9/11. Hendrick is hoping to visit the US Virgin Islands and if he likes it, may try for a green card.
We had a wonderful time snorkeling and interacting with all the crew and passengers. Today, we travel to the south of the country to Melbourne to meet up with our Friendship Force Charlotte North Carolina Group. We'll be going to a rural place between Melbourne and Adelaide called Casterton.
We snorkeled on three reefs, saw lots of topical fish and coral but no sharks! Divers, especially at night encountered large fish and nondangerous sharks. On the first snorkel, the current carried Joanne away. After climbing aboard, she realized she was on the wrong boat! She managed to swim back to our boat as the crew were anxiously looking for her. No Worries (as they say in Australia!)
We met lots of interesting young people from many parts of the world. Hendrick and his friend were two young guys from Denmark who were working as dive instructors on the boat. I related that my Dad's ancestors had come to the U.S. from Denmark in the late 1800's to avoid forced conscription into the German Army. They knew about this part of Denmark's history and filled me in about it. They said that in the rural Danish farm area known as Jutland, that bordered Germany, many Danish people left to avoid this fate.
We also met a wonderful Japanese girl who was traveling around Australia. She said that she loved the casual Western ways and wanted to see as much as the world as she could before she had to return to Japan and work in Tokyo.
Another interesting fellow was a passenger from Spain named Pablo. He is a physicist who is working in Geneva, Switzerland. He spoke flawless English and told us how his country has changed after Franco's rule (when Richard last visited in the 1970's) into a much freer society.
All of the young people commented upon the U.S.'s strict Immigration and Visa Laws. They have a difficult time getting into the U.S. even for a visit after 9/11. Hendrick is hoping to visit the US Virgin Islands and if he likes it, may try for a green card.
We had a wonderful time snorkeling and interacting with all the crew and passengers. Today, we travel to the south of the country to Melbourne to meet up with our Friendship Force Charlotte North Carolina Group. We'll be going to a rural place between Melbourne and Adelaide called Casterton.
Check these out - - Giant Clam Giant Clam Video
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