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Published: November 26th 2006
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Morning Guys & Girls
So after my Reef experience with the shark, I wasn't sattisfied that I'd really experienced the whole shark thing properly. That coupled with the fact that I've got a taste for diving now I though why the hell not get weighted up and plonk myself into a tank with 22 sharks, sting rays (these things are huge), and some other marrine life! We'd been out for the day to the Glass Mountains with a fellow traveler (Hi Gareth), and mentioned that I was thinking of doing it. I decided to bite the bullet and book once he agreed to come with me.
So I turn up at the aquarium with nothing but a bikini and a towel, no problems so far. Then we are given a wetsuit to climb into. It's all going good. Then he puts 40kgs of extra weight into my pack! Umm starting to walk like a duck and have to lean forward constantly just to stay on my feet. Thankfully this time they actually put me in a practice tank (unlike the reef), as we have to learn how to walk under water.... So this is quite fun, I'm laughing and
joking with everyone. Walking with about 60kgs of extra weight on alone is a major challenge, doing it under water is rediculous. Once we have been over weighted so that we can't run away, we are informed that there are 11 of the said sharks who would take a rather large chunk out of you, should they wish. Okay, well then we've got a 50/50 chance of the ones that don't want to kill us coming round for a sniff instead. I like my odds.
We were taken over to the tank where all the sensible people are standing in the water tight tunnel which runs through the middle. We are just standing there and you can see that the sharks are there, just swimming round in the water. Not 1 second thought was given to it and I plonk in. Making sure that 1 - I don't have my hands dangling by my side 2 - I don't step on any thing 3 - don't make any sudden movements (these are the rules they gave me)! It was amazing though I didn't feel like I was in any danger at all, there was one moment when one was
swimming straight at my head when I nearly freaked but it did a quick turn in front of me. Thank the lord. They all came in for a good look at us. I didn't want to breath to much in case they didn't like the bubbles or something. The sting rays where rediculously big. I've never seen them this large before.
Then off to Brisbaine, I arrived at the hostle still covered in sea water. My hair screwed up in a hair bobble, cold & tired to find Amz & Wade sitting in the bar with a drink in hand. So a quick scrub up and back to the bar for party games. I'm not sure you can call them games when they are invented by an Irish guy who hasn't been sober since 1995. He has no idea who or how to win. You just do as he asks and everyone is happy. Some Dutch guys who had been on Long Island where in town, so we just spent the next 3 days drunk! Which wasn't to bad for us, but these poor buggers had to go to work in the morning.
I watched a DVD with
some of the guys, which I can only say disturbed me some what. Apparantly in Holland they have ad breaks on MTV which are short cartoons of 'The Happy Tree People'. It is not what the title suggest, but infact just mindless violence.... Burf/Chinny I'm sure you'd love it!
Then off to surfers paradise for some beach time & surf lessons. This is wicked, for 15 pounds you get a 2 1/2 hour lesson with a group of 8. It really isn't as hard as you'd think. Managed to get up on the board after a few tries, and even once managed to stay on right up to the beach. I'm not sure how I did it but it's true. The hardest part is trying to drag your board out whist the waves are smashing you back onto the beach. But well worth it. I've got arms like Rocky now.
Just a quick note to anyone who is thinking of traveling to the Gold Coast this time of year, be warned that it is Schoolies week. They break up from school this week, so the whole place is rammo with 17 year olds. They just walk the streets
and beach getting drunk and trying to pull anything in a skirt. Me and Wade were surprised to find they even tried chatting to us! Surely anyone even half cut would notice that we are slightly over 17??? It must be out youthfull looks now we have a golden tan!
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Sarah
non-member comment
Oh my god why?
would you go in a tank of sharks? I can't decide if you're my hero or if I think you've lost it. Looks like you're having an amazing time. XXX