Tuesday, 12 January 2010

Fishing Trip

On our first full day on the island, Carlo and I signed up for a three hour fishing trip while on Heron Island. We hoped to catch "the big one" but we held a somewhat pessimistic outlook as we have never been lucky when it comes to serious ocean fishing. At least we were able to pull up a few colorful comrades, who we gladly returned to their blue home once we captured a foto for the blog...:-)

Carlo managed to catch 3 and I only wrestled one into the boat, but at least mine was the biggest one out of the bunch. The elusive seatrout stayed so, but at least we saw a glimpse of some foraging dolphins. They probably were enticed close to the boat by the bait we had discarded.




Dolphins!!!

Check out the size difference! Yeah!


Despite the meager catch, we still had a good time!



Captian "Paul"

New Years Eve on Heron Island

Carlo and I spent our new year's eve on the island "turtle watching". This is prime time for the female green turtles to haul themselves ashore to deposit 3 to 4 clutches of eggs (up to 100) over the course of the next few months. We were lucky enough to have tracked down a turtle that was about to lay. It was an unforgettable experience, and 15 minutes until midnight she was finished and, exhilarated, we joined the rest of the guests at the bar. (More about the turtles later!)

Before all the turtle watching, we got "dolled up" for the occasion and had a nice dinner at the only restaurant at the island. It was not the best getup for crawling around on all fours in the sand on the beach... but hey, it was dark and out there nobody cared.

Ten seconds before the new year, Carlo ran into his cousin Silvia and her freshly wedded husband Ricardo. Both live in Messina, Sicily. They were also traveling throughout Australia on their honeymoon! It was an unbelievable coincidence to have met them there at that moment!




Almost 2010-seconds before we ran into Carlo's cousin and husband!

Ricardo and Silvia, Ines and Carlo... in 2010!!!



Gosh, time to go on a diet.... Maybe it's only the perspective?
At least Carlo is looking handsome as ever!


Arrival at Heron Island


This magnificant little island atop a coral reef was our home for 5 days!
Shipwreck close to the harbour in order to protect against big waves...


Arriving at Heron Island harbour!




Windy or what!

Heron Magic: I took these three pictures on our second day there!



Carlo at "Shark Bay"



These two pics I didn't take, but this is really what it is like!

Monday, 11 January 2010

Reef Walk at low tide


We have a TON of pictures and I don't have the energy or time at the moment to sort through them all as I start my new job tomorrow, but here are a few amazing shots from our reef-walk at low tide.

The multitude of life on and around the reef was amazing!





Giant Clam!


Snail with really big eyes!



Licorice Seacucumber and Giant seacucumber!



Seacucumber with great camouflage and purple ink released as disguise...




Three different kind of seastars!

If a leg is severed a sea star will grow it back over time!


Large Hermit Crab...



Cluster of different corals with turtle grass (which turtles actually do not eat)


"Brain Coral"


We don't know if this was an algea or eggs of some kind...


Flower Coral-looks like little flowers that move in the current. They close once touched.



At the end of our walk, the tide started to push in again and we had to get back to shore.




Saturday, 9 January 2010

Back in Munich-and Winter!

Carlo and I returned this morning around 5:55AM from a wonderful honeymoon in Australia.

We are quite tired after having been awake for 32 hours but so enchanted by all the things we saw and experienced. We fell into bed around 8AM and actually slept until almost 7PM! Since the stores close at 8PM and tomorrow all grocery stores are closed as well, we had to bundle up and buy a few things. The suitcases are still not unpacked but I reckon it will get done tomorrow.

We are happy to be back home and will have to get used to the daily routine again soon.

I will post pictures and a few more detailed accounts of our trip soon.

See ya later! (As they say in Aussiland!)

Ines