Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Day 5 in Cairns

On December 24, we wanted to go for hang gliding (flying leap) where we are suspended from an overhead cable.. Unfortunately, they have stopped operating for a number of months probably because it wasn't windy..

We ended up in Cairns Central.. trying to hunt for discounted Crocs..

In the afternoon, we returned to Brisbane..

My brother's friend (Sean) picked us up from the airport..

In Sydney, I found a boat named after me.. in Brisbane.. I found a water bottle named after me -_-"

My brother and I returned to Malaysia on Christmas by flight (Air Asia X).. it's cheaper to fly on Christmas! LOL..

Monday, December 28, 2009

Day 4 in Cairns

On December 23, we joined Raging Thunder for XTREME Tully Full Day White Water Rafting at AUD225 per person.. The water at Tully River was crystal clear!

It proved to be the most enjoyable (and most expensive) activity out of all the things we have done in Cairns.. It was my second water rafting experience.. previous water rafting was in Sabah where the water was like the colour of milk tea -_-"

We did activities like body surfing, rock jumping, rapid swimming and raft surfing..

That's rock jumping from 2 to 3 storeys high..

That was my sister screaming while jumping down.. (Well, obviously I screamed when I jumped too.. LOL)

That's body surfing through Grade 2 rapids.. I was trying to multi-task: 1. Trying to breathe 2. Coughing out water I accidentally drank 3. Trying to swim out of the crashing waves and swirling rapids 4. Taking a picture (I was under water for less than 10 seconds)

Our guide (Kris) told us that if we try to body surf through Grade 4 rapids.. we might be under water for 40 seconds! Yikes!

Our guide loved to flip the boat upside down -_-" That's my brother being washed away by rapids.. All I did was taking a picture of him :P Nah, the water was quite gentle on him ;)

Of course, posing for camera was equally important.. even though the boat was about to flip over..

Enjoying the waterfall..

Our guide, 3 of our team mates from Sweden, and the 3 of us from Malaysia ;)

Our guide - Kris.. It was a fun trip.. all the guides were humourous :P

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Day 3 in Cairns

On December 22, we went out for snorkelling trip at Great Barrier Reef and catamaran sailing with Passion of Paradise at AUD139 per person.. The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2600 kilometres..

We had the option of going for diving (an additional AUD70)..

The weather was good..

Wet suit for hire at an additional AUD7 (to protect against strong sunlight and jelly fish).. No, we didn't rent the suits.. that's why we suffered from sunburn and jellyfish stings.. Symptoms include an intense, stinging pain, itching, rash, and raised welts. Luckily those were just harmless baby jellyfish..

Many fishes swam near the catamaran..

We brought disposable underwater cameras from Malaysia..

My sister showing thumbs up ;)

My brother and I..

Someone else going for diving.. guests dived and snorkelled at the same spot.. so it's kinda boring.. it was only about 3 metres deep -_-"

The corals were so over-rated.. they were all brown and lifeless.. Were we at the wrong spot? I expected many colours and shapes!

Taunting the birds by the beach..

The currents at the raised platform in the middle of the sea were quite strong.. swept us away and we had to call for help to drag us back to the catamaran.. LOL! It was easier swimming at the second spot - by the beach :P

Yummy fish? :P

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Day 2 in Cairns

On December 21, we went for half day ATV ride at Blazing Saddles for AUD125 per person..

Going for ATV ride during summer means that we won't have mud all over our clothes.. but ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) kicked up so much dust, sometimes we were riding blindly :P

I actually prefer horse riding to ATV ride, for some reasons, I'm nervous with ATV! I fell down twice -_-"

My sister riding confidently~

My brother riding his ATV!

There were others who went for horse riding at the same place as well..

Beautiful horses ;)

Then, we drove down south to see Curtain Fig Tree.. one of the highly promoted places in Cairns.. but, well, just another tree to me -_-"

As one of the largest trees in North Queensland, the Curtain Fig Tree is unusual.

Need wide angle to snap the whole tree.. or I should stand further.. LOL..

In the evening, we walked around town..

Then the night market..