The Life Aquatic with Casey Hudetz

Hello!

Back to dry land! Let me recap:

Funny Story: After my last entry, while in Mission Beach, I decided that I wanted to go on a "bush walk" and check out the local flora and fauna. My company, Leonie and Emma, didn't feel up to it, so I decided to go it alone. The daylight was fading quickly, so I had to hurry. I was dropped off at the beginning of a 10k path, that according to the hostel workers, I could traverse in a little under 2 hours. I had roughly about an hour and half of sun left, so that meant that if I moved quickly, I could be back in time to watch the stars come out.

As I was getting out of the drop-off van, I noticed some other figures a little ways down the rainforest path so I thought to myself, "Well, if other people are out tonight, then I surely can handle it." The door slammed and the van sped off and I headed into "the jungle."

A few paces in, I realized that it hadn't been people I spotted on the path, but rather a Cassowary (ostrich-type bird) and her two chicks! We had been told the day before how rare it is to see a mother and her children in the wild together, so I was awestruck. I followed them for a little while, trying not to make too much noise, until they darted off into the woods. The bird moved how I imagine a velociraptor would have. I managed to snap one photo, from a distance, which probably won't turn out.

Well I looked up from the bird, and realized how dark it was on the path, and how quickly the daylight was fading. I then started panicking (I'm in the middle of a rain forest, miles (kilometers) from anything familiar, by myself, the sun's going down, and I don't know what sorts of dangers lie ahead of me). That panic moved from my mind down into my legs and started carrying me at a very quick pace. I was sprinting past large palm trees, splashing through puddles, imagining all of the horrible things that would probably happen to me (human poachers fixing me in their sights as I approach their booby trapped bridges and ravenous hounds).

The jurassic park theme begins playing through my head as I pick up the pace and as I ignore signs warning against unsafe bridges. With a few well placed leaps, I made it across rickety wooden structures which provided scant passage over deep valleys and steep drop-offs. The fear in me wouldn't let me slow down or consider how stupid that had been.

I eventually made it out of the jungle without first having encountered a few intersesting plants and animals. My walk back to the hostel was a sweaty and tired one, but when I arrived to the front desk, I bumped into the same hostel worker that had skeptically dropped me off at the beginning of the path. I told him about how I saw the Cassowary and the chicks and he went on to tell me how dangerous Cassowaries are, especially when protecting their young, and with a few well placed kicks, they are known to tear people's chests open with their "large talons"!!

HA! Isn't that hilarious?! (Mom, I'm safe now. Relax)

Fun Fact! Did you know that until 1976, it was legal for Australian hunters to shoot and kill the Aboriginals because they were still considered part of the natural Flora and Fauna of the land? 1976!!

After Mission Beach, I took an 8-hour bus south to Airlie beach (parting ways with the British birds), and began my Whitsundays Sailing Trip. Over the 2 days, 2 nights, the weather was pretty wet and rainy, but that didn't prevent our group from doing some really colorful snorkeling, a great amount of sailing, and some hiking on the islands themselves.

We stopped at one place in particular, Whitehaven beach, which has been called the "Most Beautiful Beach in Australia." It definetley lived up to its reputation. The sand there was so fine, that when you walked in it, it felt like baking flour between your toes. Not only was it the same consistency, but also the color. Surprisingly, with having as many tourists as it did, it still seemed quite untouched and secluded. Really incredible. Good pictures as well.

Fun Fact The Whitehaven beach is so highly protected, that if you are caught taking even a jar of sand off of the island, it could cost you up to $5,000! That's, like, 50 cents a grain!

Interesting Observation: When we finally made it back to Airlie beach, I separated from my group, and began walking around the pier. Having been on a boat for 2 days and 2 nights, I was all disoriented (I still am). When I sit still, I am still rocking back and forth and have to balance myself every once in a while. Also, the sensory depravation from being on the sea for so long has resulted in heightened senses while on land. Colors are brighter, smells are stronger. I promise I haven't been drinking.

All right, I've written enough. Hopefully you even made it this far. Keep posting comments (they are nice to read) and keep on sending your emails and good wishes! Now, to the south!

Casey