December, 2015

My first introduction to the wondrous continent that is Australia consisted of a 3 day Catamaran cruise around the Whitsunday Islands. It was the BEST way to get around the area, seeing both the highlights like Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet, and Hamilton Island- but also some of the smaller sandbars and snorkel spots accessible only by private boat.

We booked our tour with Wings Adventures, and had an A+ captain and crew to show us the sights.

As much fun as we had above the water, the snorkeling was truly a out of this world. We had to wear light wetsuits on account of the jellyfish, but the insanely colorful fish and curious turtles abounded.

I came back and wrote the below journal entry about adventures like that only increase my desire to see the rest of the world. A tad cheeseball, but please enjoy along with some pretty pictures.

For me at least, traveling and experiencing a new place is a bit like being underwater. There’s a whole world whizzing by on the surface going places and making progress, and its exciting to be a part of. But if you make the effort to pause and take the plunge, a dazzling world awaits below. 
Sometimes it strains, and it’s usually uncomfortable. It’s about striking the right balance with the air you’ve got in your lungs and your desire to push just a bit deeper or further. Stunning and impossible colors exist down there that you could never imagine from the blue surface. 
For those few moments beneath, everything else fades to muted background noise and you feel connected with every new exotic creature or pretty thing to look at. You’re part of their routine, subject to the currents and waves that ebb and surround you. And to them, you’re just a curiously shaped visitor in their universe. 
From the surface, it’s easy to forget that world exists. It’s not particularly convenient or cheap or instantly gratifying, but it’s there and it beckons and it’s so worth it. And I’m grateful for every second that I get to spend traveling. Because when you finally pop back up, the world has expanded again ever so slightly.