Murder in the library

WARNING: Content of post may be disturbing to people who are eating, vegetarians, ornithologists, or cat-owners. Keep scrolling down if you think you can handle it.


Much to the housekeeper's alarm, this scene greeted her in the morning when she heard strange musical thuds coming from the library.


A photograph of the scene of murder. On the right there is evidence of a struggle. It is unknown if the killer merely toyed with the victim's body or intended to eat him.


A close-up photograph of the victim. Its neck looks broken, but the cause of death is not confirmed. There was no trace of blood on the body.


The killer stands in the defendant's box at the trial. He is preening himself prior to appearing before the court to be judged for his crime. He has never looked better than before.


It is understood by this reporter that the defendant will plead "Not guilty" and say he was acting in self-defence. He shows no remorse at his wrongdoing, ironically, he seems proud of his kill. I suspect that the court will not acquit him based on the severity of the crime...

Stripey tees by Hamb

Ok, I am officially in LOVE -- with these stripey tees from Hamb. Hamb is a Melbourne label, and I found out about it today at the Magnolia Square boutique market at the Tea Room, Randwick Racecourse.


Look at the face of that cat!! It's SO cute!! The high-quality knit is super soft and comfy.


The lovely man at the stall -- I didn't even get his name! -- picked out another one for me when he saw me looking for another tee to buy. I love this black-and-white one too, I love how there's a narrative behind the image -- I might write something based on this.


The brown paper bag is handprinted, I think, with a simple illustration called the "classic dog". Maybe you could wear a t-shirt with this print to yoga class.


The illustrations are just wonderful in their deconstructed simplicity.


I love the story behind the illustrations -- that would explain why they don't come across as being contrived -- much like how a child's handwriting is just that, while a graphic designer's effort at mimicking a child's handwriting usually looks too uniform, too perfect.


I couldn't resist one last snap of the kitty-cat... Meow!

Thanks so much for being so sweet to me, too, the man at the Hamb stall, if you read this! I really appreciate how easy you made it for me to fall in love with and buy the t-shirts!

Hamb stocks sizes 8 to 16, and a variety of clothing for men, women and children. I particularly love the women's wool skirt, and wish I saw the "black-eyed girl" canvas bag today!! I WANT IT!!

Disclaimer: At the point of purchase the stallholder didn't even know I had a blog, much less that I was going to blog about it! So this is not a paid ad at all.

Sweet Dream Cakes!

This morning, my girlfriend S and I went to the pop-up market run by Magnolia Square at the Tea Room, Randwick Racecourse. I didn't take many photos of the market itself because there wasn't much room, and many people about, which would have made for very uninteresting photos of people's backs...


...but I did manage to get some great photos of a wonderful cake stall -- Sweet Dreams Cakes!

There were samples of cookies -- pistachio cranberry shortbread, and a vanilla shortbread. They were both amazingly good.


But, look at what they can do... That, my dears, is a cake. Looks like a baby shower cake -- wish I could take it back to Singapore for my pregnant girlfriends.


And this pirate cake!


They also do cookie lollipop cakes! Here is AHOY!


And here are the most beautiful little cookies. I would have liked to buy them, seal them with resin, and frame them for my library, or a baby's room. They are too beautiful to eat.


A baby shower cookie cake.


Gingerbread men with heart!


Here is the lady behind these creations -- Yogi Johnstone. I didn't get a photo of her very charming husband/driver, and her adorable children -- they must be the luckiest children in the world! They probably get to eat all the rejects!!


Here are Yogi's contact details, but you could also hop over to her website -- she takes custom orders and delivers! (They are based on the North Shore beaches, I would assume she delivers in and around Sydney.)

Disclaimer: I did not receive any compensation or payment for this post -- it was purely written based on my own delight!

Sydney Good Food and Wine Show 2009

The boy and I put aside our Friday evening to hit the Sydney Good Food and Wine Show!


I wore a jumpsuit -- my very first! It's got a cowl neck and drapey sleeves, which makes it really easy to slip out of the suit , which can be very pressing in the event of a need to go to the bathroom. I also got a haircut (on Wednesday!). It's a relief to have my hair short again!

Jumpsuit: Sussan, shoes: Wittner


It's still winter, much to my disappointment... Looks like everyone was right when they say there's two more months of the cold :/

Trenchcoat: Burberry


My beloved photo bag gets to go out, too.

Bag: Anya Hindmarch


A big reason why I haven't been posting -- I got my new iPhone, FINALLY! Remember how I was to get one for Christmas last year?? I'm so glad I waited, because now I have the new iPhone!! I've put about a MILLION applications on it. I have never had a 'latest model' phone in my life before, much less a smartphone, but have been a lifelong Mac user... and this product just blows me away. Completely.

iPhone 3GS seen with mirror screen protector, which has proven to be mighty useful, especially for secretly checking your teeth post-meal, or when you're at a market and there's no mirror for you to check out the earrings/scarf/hat/etc you want to buy.


Here are our tickets to the Show... plus the Gordon Ramsay cooking segment!


When we were wandering the stalls, tasting delectable food samples and drinking wine, who should we come across but Manu Fiedel?? I have a HUGE crush on Manu, courtesy of the show "Boys' Weekend" -- he is soooo cute and funny. I sort of squealed when I saw him, but there was already a crowd of girls up the front... so I just stood at the side and tried not to look too excited.

He looks a lot smaller in real life -- not as tall, and not as fat! Haha! He batted his eyelashes, literally, at all the women surrounding him! I nearly died!


But, of course the 'real' star of the evening was Gordon Ramsay, the man himself.

"I'll try not to use the f-word throughout the evening, not once... Ah, f--- it!"

Personally I think the whole Ramsay thing is overhyped, I have heard very bad reviews from friends who have gone to his restaurants (even the London Claridges one).


Here is Ramsay on stage, and it is honestly the first time I have seen him cook -- on screen or off.

There's no doubt that he possesses the skills, but off screen he's not very entertaining, maybe because he's not abusing the hell out of contestants. I didn't think very much of his menu, as well, save for an interesting salmon preparation.


After the show, the boy and I think about going on the Ferris wheel -- there is something quite romantic about this scene, don't you think?


But we decided to give it a miss, mostly because it was sooo cold.


We tripped down to Chinatown to grab some supper -- I had a steaming hot bowl of liver congee (plus a raw egg that I beat into the congee at the table), and the boy, BBQ pork rice.

Liver congee is such a comfort food of mine, but this one wasn't that great. Our local Chinese restaurant is much better at both dishes, and we were quite gratified to realise that!

I really enjoyed the Good Food and Wine Show, though, there were quite a few bargains to be had, and I should have brought my food trolley so I could have bought more than a few bottles of sauces (we didn't drive, so had to lug all our bargains all over the place).

If you went to the show, tell me what you thought of it, or of Gordon Ramsay! Or tell me what you think of him anyway!

What I've Been Up To

For the lack of outfit posts, this, my dears, is the reason --


I've finally got all my books on the shelves that have been custom-made for the home library! Apologies for the poor lighting, but the overhead lamp busted and I've only just figured out how to replace the light bulb, if that is indeed the problem.

In the photo above I couldn't quite get all the shelves into the photo, but don't worry, detailed shots will follow...


On the left wall: travel, teaching materials, hobbies/sport, graphic novels, children's literature, general fiction (A-Z by author's last name)...


Continued, general fiction (A-Z by author's last name), and in the corner on the left, religion, health and alternative therapy, books on writing, reference books and dictionaries. On the right, drama, poetry, theory, philosophy, history, politics, music, textbooks, art, photography and travel picture books.


Interspersed between the books are knick-knacks and artefacts. For details on all the photos to follow, click through to flickr and you will see notes on the picture (hover your mouse over the photo).


General fiction A to K...


General fiction L to Z, plus anthologies.


Religion, health, languages, reference books and dictionaries.


Plays, books on poetry, poetry anthologies, poetry collections.


From top shelf: post-colonial studies, feminist studies, theory and philosophy, fashion and fashion theory, photography/anthrolopogy/archaelogy/social studies.


From top shelf: textbooks (economics, philosophy, etc), music, self-help, outdoors, politics, history, art and photography, art, photography and travel.


I LOVE my fashion shelf. Inside the Chanel box, an embarrassment of silk camellias, given to me by a lovely lady at the Rue de Cambon store in Paris. The music box plays "La Mer".


I also love my photography/art shelf. I can sit and read these books for hours and hours.


My theory books, when I was in uni I would save up and buy a Routledge text every two weeks or every month. (I was at uni for five years doing a BA Hons and Dip Ed!) I don't think I've read any of these books from cover to cover save the Foucaults, they have always been reference/dip-in-and-out books for me. I would like to have the discipline to read them more thoroughly.


My poetry shelf, I can track my genesis of appreciation for poetry through this collection.


Reference books are really important. I used to study linguistics and literature, and I have always said that linguistics is the science of language, where literature is the art of it. I love to study every aspect of language, and yes, I really like knowing when and where and how the word "awesome" was first used, and how it evolved over the centuries.


But I think the collection of books I adore the most must be my children's books... some of them I have had since I was a child, some are versions of the books I read as a child. I think children's literature is so powerful since it shapes a child's mind and imagination and values. I would like my kids to enter into the same world as we did as children... what better way to prepare for that than with a solid children's literature collection?

I hope you have enjoyed this peek into my real passion and obsessions. Thank you very much J and A for helping me with this mammoth task -- very much appreciated!

Quite a lovely week, really

When winter comes around I am prone to sitting around the house in fleece pyjamas, a fleece rob, thick socks AND ugg boots, in a fire-heated room, with the TV on... I'm not keen to go out or do anything, especially when it's raining. I don't even cook very much because it's just too cold... but then a day comes around when the boy gets sick of my inactivity and prods me to go out to dinner.


Because he is so nice I decide to give him a treat by wearing his favourite dress on me, ever (even more than my wedding dress I think). He loves green and he loves the cut of the dress on me.

Cheongsam: tailor-made from vintage fabric that I found in a small shop in Chinatown, Singapore, shoes by JWest from Singapore


I was afraid I would be cold with my bare shoulders in the restaurant so I added this little faux fur cape.

Cape: Alannah Hill


But of course with the rain and wind, I popped on a coat -- does it look strange with the dress peeking out?

Coat: Burberry, bag: Chanel 2.55


I simply love the print of the dress, it's silk and watermarked with leaves woven into the fabric. We had a lovely dinner and I really enjoyed myself... and all dressed up in layers it wasn't actually that cold! I even got away with bare legs.

Nail colour: OPI Quarter-of-a-Cent-Cherry


Mid-week I went to the office to do some work. I tend to get really cold when I'm sitting still, so I layered up again.

Cardigan: Pink Zebra, skinny scarf: Laura Ashley, dress: Stellino


I like the contrast of the black tights against the red booties, and how the booties and the bag are the exact same shade of red, in suede.

Tights: Levante, booties: Wittner, bag: Kate Spade


Those booties!! I had been eyeing these booties since the start of the season, but didn't want to/couldn't afford to pay so much for them. But then I got paid for that article I got published, and then the booties went on half price... so I bit the bullet and bought them! They are just the right height, not too high, and are immensely comfortable -- suede topped and leather lined. I also love the little ruffles all down the front of them, they remind me of prim Victorian shirts.


On Thursday I meet up with J for lunch, a spot of city shopping, and some thrift shopping. I'd forgotten that it's usually much colder in the city than outside it, because of the shadows cast by the buildings and the wind tunnels... so I was pretty much freezing in this outfit when I wasn't indoors or walking briskly. Good thing I had a light scarf and some leather gloves or I probably would have had to go home.

Cardigan: Pink Zebra, dress: FCUK, tights: Sussan


I wore my tights pulled down under my heels, and a funny consequence of that was that they kept slipping down... I had to spend every 10 minutes trying to inconspiciously hitch up my leggings from above my dress. Not a very elegant look, but very funny for my friend to witness! Good thing we were going into lots of change rooms so I could hitch it up more effectively at intervals.

The shoes are cute, aren't they? A nice lady in a shop in Paddington asked me if they were Chanel. I had to say no... they are from some random shop. The label is Bizar, and they cost me $20! They are immensely comfortable and are great for walking on shopping trips like today's.


For lunch we had great big bowls of Penang Loh Mee, from Malay-Chinese takeaway in the city. It was the daily special, and was really fantastic. Not like the version we have in Singapore, but pretty close. I really enjoyed mine and looking at this photo makes me want it all over again.


The find of the month!!! At Vinnies I find a pair of barely used suede driving shoes, by Tods! They are in my size, right down to the half-size. There is some wear on the inside of the shoe, mostly near the back above the heel (you can see it in the photo).


But the underside is barely used at all, except again on the heel (just on the edges). Looks like its previous owner really only used the shoes for driving.


Evidence of my presupposition -- the little knobs on the back of the shoe, where it provides grip on the floor of the car, show some wear as well. Nothing a suede brush and some light cleaning won't fix, after which I will spray on some suede protectant, and my shoes will be as good as new! Best thing of all -- I paid $25!!


And this was the other find at Vinnies -- a silk anorak by local hipster label, Manning-Cartell. I wasn't quite sure about this piece, but thought it might make an interesting and modern layering piece for summer or late spring. I like the ruffled collar and the pockets (I know you can't quite see it here in this photo, though.) What do you think?


I do love winter skies and winter trees. Here is a shot of Sydney city, taken while we were waiting for our bus to come.


And today (Friday), J and I went to watch Coco Avant Chanel. J wore a cropped beige tweed jacket that she found at Vinnies, it is by Blumarine and it is gorgeous. I only wish it was it in my size! Since I didn't have a tweed jacket I had to make do with beige, black and white, and pearls.

The movie was quite beautifully shot and Audrey Tautou is a dream. It was a very sombre movie, though, even if it was quite unspeakably elegant.

Cardigan: Sussan, dress: Laura Ashley, tights: Marks and Spencer, shoes: Diana Ferrari, bag: Cue


We went for coffee in Newtown (at Campos, of course!) with A, and on the way there I spied these pigeons, all huddled up on wires. I thought they were so cute, and spent a few minutes watching them... directly under them. Then I realised it wasn't such a great idea to do that, because, children, where there are pigeons, there is pigeon poo. And that is a sad fact of life.

R.I.P. Michael Jackson, my favourite song of yours is still "Ben".

Back in the cold

The other day I was talking to someone. I didn't know him very well, so naturally we spoke about the weather. I wondered aloud if spring was coming... and he informed me that winter had only *just* started, so we would have 2 1/2 months of this cold, still.

2 1/2 months!!

Here's what I've been wearing -- although I don't like the cold, and am still learning how to dress to safeguard against the chill, I must say that winter dressing affords lots of leeway when it comes to mixing-and-matching, and layering.


I've found that when I feel really cold and helpless against the winter, I reach for my parka -- it's actually a bit too warm for me though, especially indoors. Then I have to take it off.


Add a nice big bowl of coffee from Danks Street Depot, and I completely overheat.


Because the parka is so warm, I usually wear a sleeveless top underneath it... which is too thin just on its own, indoors. Grrr.

Parka: Witchery, ruffled shirt and pants: Sussan, necklace: Zoe Bonbon, hairpin: etsy, bag: LV Speedy 30


Day 2 back in the cold, and still cold... obviously I haven't quite learnt my lesson about the parka. This parka is even warmer than the other one... and underneath I was wearing a shirt that was a bit too short in the torso, so that when I sat down on a bar stool (we had gone to a pub) I was terrified that my undies were showing. In the end I had to 'wear' the parka around my waist. Ppfftt.

Parka: Witchery, jeans: Victoria's Secret, Enzo Anglioni


Having overheated the past two times I swing to the other extreme and try to bring my beloved Tigerlily dress into winter action. I probably should have added tights!! Somehow the dress doesn't look so short in summer when worn with thongs or sandals, but looks peculiar when worn with boots.

Dress: vintage from a vintage shop in Newtown (for the life of me its name has slipped from my memory!), belt: markets, boots; Sportsgirl


And I covered it all up with a 1980s trenchcoat, which makes the look a little bit stranger... almost flasher-like. :/ As you can see I am more than a little rusty at winter dressing!

Trench: vintage Burberry's, via ebay


I don't care how I looked, though, because J, my friend T and I went for some scrumptious Malaysian food at Sambal, in Lane Cove. This is the Penang char kway teow (fried rice noodles) -- it was YUM! Could have done with 100% more chilli though.


This is the Peranakan-style popiah (spring roll) -- not very authentic but very yummy nonetheless.


And this is J's mee goreng (fried noodle), which tasted good as well, but she preferred my char kway teow. Hah.


The following day was errand day, and since it was pouring down with rain, but I was going to be indoors at the mall, I thought I could skip tights and add rainboots.

T-shirt: Esprit, vest: Target, skirt: Laura Ashley, socks: Sock Cafe, gumboots: Big W, bracelet: Big W


Add a lightweight rain anorak and it saves me from having to use a brolly -- quite impossible when your hands are full of groceries!

Anorak: Simona Sport


That night we are off to see Tommy Emmanuel in concert, but because I was late I didn't manage to document all of my layers! However you can see my little faux neck-piece that I found in the bottom of my cupboard. I bought it last winter from Vinnies, had it drycleaned, but never got around to wearing it. I think it looks better attached to a coat neckline, as I think it was meant to be.

Cloche: Morgan and Taylor, neckpiece: Vinnies, coat: Burberry, jeans: Sussan, clutch: Alannah Hill, brogues: Betts


And the next day I am boring and revert back to my parka for a spot of thrift shopping in Newtown. I know... boring. I did find some really great books though!! Anna Karenina, new translation, $3! The Volcano Lover by Susan Sontag, $7! Woooot!

T-shirt: Mighty Fine, bag: Sisley, boots: Target

To be continued!

On to the Whitsundays

We bade farewell to my parents and to Port Douglas, and boarded this small plane, bound for the Whitsundays.


I'm always tickled by small planes and how you can see from one end of the plane to another, and how you have one or two air stewards instead of the usual dozen or more.


The boy is not so keen on two-engine planes. Here is the plane soaring away from Northern Queensland.


Blue skies. Perfect weather. Is it really winter?


And we land at the small airport at Hamilton Island. Hamilton Island is very charming, but rather like a large theme park -- the hotels and businesses on the island are almost wholly owned by the Oatley family, who also own vineyards and a wine business.


After our activity-packed leg of the vacation at Port Douglas, I am pleased to report that this was pretty much all we did for the next few days -- look at this view.


I spent a lot of time gazing up at the ceiling, enjoying the heat (before I had to crawl back to a Sydney winter). I also got a fair bit of writing done. A very productive time.


There was really nothing to do but enjoy the weather...


Swim, and enjoy the weather some more...


And what weather it was!


On our last day there, there was nothing to do but enjoy the sunset...


And I must say, be delighted by our little surprise visitor... a cheeky possum! It is drinking ginger ale from a wine glass, supporting it delicately in its two front paws. Something tells me it's done this before... I snapped the photo before scaring it away and clearing away the glasses from the table outside. It's not advisable to feed wildlife.


We decided at the last minute, the following day, before flying back to Sydney, to go out on a boat to see some of the other Whitsunday islands.


I saw this houseboat, anchored in the middle of pristine waters, where dugong and turtles are known to feed and be sighted. Its name is the 'Harum Scarum'. Heehee!


And that concludes our holiday in Queensland. It was such a lovely time, a great combination of activities and relaxation. Best of all it was summer weather without the humidity... and travelling without the hassle of worrying about passports, liquids on planes (domestic flights operated by a domestic airline = no liquid restrictions onboard), language difficulties, or exchanging currency.

It's taken me a while to get through the backlog, so I am glad to be done with the Queensland posts! I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into our short holiday.

A very long day (Part Two)

The hot air ballooning part of the day over (sob), we settled down to a champagne breakfast. How indulgent! It was included as part of the tour package.


We then made our way to the railway station for the Kuranda Scenic Railway. This is a restored carriage from an old section of the train.


Whenever I see a piano like this, waiting to be played, I wish I had been more conscientious when it came to my piano lessons... too late now. I'm afraid I'm not very musical, no matter how much I wish I might be... I can sing, but that's about it. I can't even sing from music, I'm only a good imitator, that's all.


As the sign says, the railway was established in 1891, and now runs wholly as a tourist railway. Along the way to Kuranda there was a very interesting voiceover telling us about the history of the railway. The tunnels that we went through were hollowed out by hand, or hand tools. Imagine that!


The view from the window: sugarcane fields.


And more sugar cane fields.


Here is the train going over a steel bridge. This is to me a leap of faith, and an engineering success. I think bridges are beautiful as well as functional. For example, I think the Sydney Harbour Bridge is more beautiful than the Sydney Opera House.


A waterfall that we passed by on the way.


Stoney Creek... wonder why they named it that? Hehe


At Kuranda itself, the best scones and tea are to be found at The Queen Bee. Sorry, I forgot to take photos, we basically devoured the scones in about 2.5 seconds.


Kuranda is entirely a tourist town. I found most of the shops and stalls very boring -- they were not particularly interesting or selling products of high quality. I did however really want to see the wares on offer in the Kuranda Op-Shop!


Look at these prices! You NEVER find prices like this in Sydney op-shops.


Sadly, I had missed its opening time for the day (Thursday). Instead of looking through the op shop we had been listlessly walking up and down through the horrible markets filled with touristy faff. Just my luck!


Instead of taking the railway back down, we opted for the Scenic Skyrail. It was a very long way down, but the best part of this how much you can see, with a bird's eye view.


Here is a cable-car on the way up, whizzing past us.


And a view of the river (I'm really, really bad with names and the like. Sorry.) and a riverboat.


Look at this valley... I won't bore you with more shots like this, but suffice it to say that I really enjoyed it, even if the boy didn't (he doesn't like suspension cables one bit). Poor boy!

To recover from the early start, the following day saw me do nothing much but lie next to the pool, swim, and play with some very cute, very funny children (in which I was ordered to make mud pies, sand ice cream, sand pizza... you get the idea).


In the evening we had a bit of a treat lined up for us -- dinner at Flames of the Forest. A bus comes to pick you up, and takes you to a 'secret location'... where you are greeted by amazing candle-trees like the one above.


We are led by two Aboriginal men (who work for the program I suppose) along a fire-lined path, to...


...this beautifully lit set-up, under tentage, where we enjoyed a very unusual dinner (which included crocodile and kangaroo... they didn't quite taste like chicken). The best part about the night was the magical storytelling by one of the men, and the mesmerising accompaniment on the digeridoo by the other.

It was a really lovely end to our time in Port Douglas. I don't think we would have quite done so much if my parents hadn't been there -- the boy and I are just as liable to chill out and do nothing (which is really what he needs on a vacation at this point). But I did enjoy myself immensely and I am glad that I did all that we did... although I probably wouldn't rush back to Kuranda in a hurry. :/

A very long day (Part One)

The next day of our Queensland holiday saw us getting up at 3.30 in the morning. Our bus picked us up at 4.15am, and trundled us along to a small rural town (I'm sorry, I can't even remember its name), not remarkable for very much except this...


The private fields of farmers double-up as a take-off ground for hot air balloons! Here is the hot air balloon we are to ride in being inflated.


Two balloons are taking off at about the same time, and this is the other balloon being inflated.


In the dark light (is there such a thing?) of dawn the balloon is lit up like a giant's lantern.


The sky is getting lighter, and you can now see the basket that carries its passengers. The basket is divided into five main sections -- four quadrants plus a section in the middle for the pilot.


Here is the view of the other hot air balloon from our balloon.


It was so, so peaceful up there (when the burner wasn't being fired), and best of all, we got to see the sun rise.


The sun's rays filtered through the morning mist, over the fields and trees.


The little speck in the top right corner? That's the other hot air balloon.


Here's the view from the top of the balloon, downwards -- I have no fear of heights, but I can think of how this would be very scary for some people.


After about 20 minutes in the air, we landed quite roughly in this field of brush.


The balloon is loaded up again with its next group of passengers and it gets fired up again.


Here's a close-up of the animated pilot who was full of knowledge about his craft, and also about the surrounding areas.


The balloon takes off again. Everyone on board is silent -- there's something about hot air ballooning that makes you feel a child all over again.


The balloon floats off... bye bye, balloon!

The Great Barrier Reef

I learnt to scuba dive 4 1/2 years ago in Phuket, Thailand. It was always something I'd wanted to do, but didn't have the guts to until I got really sick. Then I wanted to do it no matter what... and I did!

Sadly I never dived again after I received my Padi qualification, mostly because I don't have a group of diving friends and never really made the effort to meet some. (Maybe it was also because I managed to meet boy, move countries, acquire cats, get engaged, get married, go back to uni, buy home, etc... or not).


It was my hope that I would get to dive again in Queensland -- in the Great Barrier Reef (at least a part of it). I was terrified though, because I didn't seem to remember anything at all from my diving lessons. I wanted to get a refresher before we went out to the Outer Reef but just didn't have time.

We went out to the Outer Reef onto the Quicksilver pontoon, accessed by this high speed boat. On the journey there the boy pushed me to go speak to one of the divemasters, and before I knew it, I was signed up to dive. Eep.


From the pontoon you can easily snorkel and be amongst sea life. The blue suits you see everyone wearing are stinger suits, to protect you from bluebottles (a type of stinging marine life, similar to the jellyfish).


The dive suit on the far left was mine. I was really churned through the process, and I can honestly say that I didn't consciously remember much about diving, at all, including the weight of the tank (I couldn't stand up for about 3 seconds, I had forgotten how heavy the gear was!).

When I was underwater though I nearly panicked, mostly because it was very deep... I could hear myself breathing too hard, WAY too fast... and told myself to SLOW DOWN or I would use up all my air too soon. Of course that made me panic even more.

I nearly abandoned the dive in the first five minutes, but I didn't, mostly because I was diving with someone else (other than the divemaster), and I didn't want to ruin his dive.

I'm embarrassed to say that the divemaster noticed my panic and fear and literally held my hand for about ten minutes of the dive. It worked though, I calmed down and started to actually enjoy myself. My internal monologue went along the lines of "OMG I'M DIVING IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF!"

Of course this section of the reef is only a small percentage of the whole reef, and this being a high-tourist impact section doesn't have all the variety of reef and reef life that you would expect to see on documentaries and the like. Still it was pretty awesome, I saw (and was instructed to touch) some corals, sea creatures (including a giant clam!!!!!!!) and of course, Nemo (a clown fish).

No photos of me diving, though, because the charges were exorbitant ($28 for a photo?! $75 for the video?! No thanks.)


I did get some photos through the observatory deck, though, which is submerged.


Here's what it looks like. This is great, because even non-swimmers or very small children can get a glimpse into the underwater world of the reef.


And even if you don't dive, you can choose to do an undersea walk, equipped with this special suit. I prefer the freedom of scuba diving.


I didn't get around to writing any letters or postcards, but I really wanted to mail out some from this postbox, where it would get the special Barrier Reef postmark.


Quicksilver also operates a free semi-submersible boat that takes you out along the reef.


It's quite claustrophobic inside, and sea-sickness inducing when it rolls with the swells.


But then you get to take photos like this...

It was such an amazing day out! I won't forget this in a hurry. I'd forgotten how tiring it is to dive, though, I was pretty much dead by 5pm... that evening we had pizza in the hotel room, and it was pretty awful and made me sick. But tomorrow is a new day...