Day 177 (December 16): Jet Lag in Paradise
When we wake up in the morning, it is six hours later but yesterday on the west coast of the United States. Because we're waking up at 3:30, 4 or maybe 5 (if we're lucky), it's morning in both places. Crazy.
On Thursday (Dec. 12), we wake up in Sydney and fly to Hamilton Island ("Hamo"). This is a private island in an area of the northeastern Australian coast called the Whitsundays. It looks and feels a lot like a smaller city in Hawaii. The airstrip reminds one of James Michener's South Pacific: a single strip built out into the ocean at either end on the only part of the island that can possibly accommodate it.
It's hot and humid and we're melting. The resort has sent Rodney to meet us and he whisks us to our hotel and an extraordinary hotel suite, overlooking the turquoise water of the bay. In the balance of the afternoon, we nap, swim, eat pizza and fall asleep by about 7pm.
Our weekend is filled with tropical fun. On Friday and Saturday, despite the heat, we swim in as many pools as possible, nap in the afternoons, and watch movies. The kids get to ride mini-quads (ATVs). Lily takes a painting class.
The highlight, on Sunday, is a snorkel trip to the Great Barrier Reef. We're on board at 9 and underway for about 2 hours until we reach the reef. The catamaran is carrying a few dozen folks and because our kids aren't shy, we begin to meet all of them. We swim for about an hour before lunch and a bit longer after. We had a lot more fun in the second half because Ali and Cate ditched their life jackets and promptly took off like mermaids, diving under the water and exhibiting their "dolphin kick" abilities. The bummer is that Lily's waterproof camera had sustained enough damage over time that it lost its waterproofness and promptly died. The double bummer is that we missed the fact that you can rent an underwater GoPro, which would have been awesome.
Here's a pile of pictures from our time on Hamo.
On Thursday (Dec. 12), we wake up in Sydney and fly to Hamilton Island ("Hamo"). This is a private island in an area of the northeastern Australian coast called the Whitsundays. It looks and feels a lot like a smaller city in Hawaii. The airstrip reminds one of James Michener's South Pacific: a single strip built out into the ocean at either end on the only part of the island that can possibly accommodate it.
It's hot and humid and we're melting. The resort has sent Rodney to meet us and he whisks us to our hotel and an extraordinary hotel suite, overlooking the turquoise water of the bay. In the balance of the afternoon, we nap, swim, eat pizza and fall asleep by about 7pm.
Our weekend is filled with tropical fun. On Friday and Saturday, despite the heat, we swim in as many pools as possible, nap in the afternoons, and watch movies. The kids get to ride mini-quads (ATVs). Lily takes a painting class.
The highlight, on Sunday, is a snorkel trip to the Great Barrier Reef. We're on board at 9 and underway for about 2 hours until we reach the reef. The catamaran is carrying a few dozen folks and because our kids aren't shy, we begin to meet all of them. We swim for about an hour before lunch and a bit longer after. We had a lot more fun in the second half because Ali and Cate ditched their life jackets and promptly took off like mermaids, diving under the water and exhibiting their "dolphin kick" abilities. The bummer is that Lily's waterproof camera had sustained enough damage over time that it lost its waterproofness and promptly died. The double bummer is that we missed the fact that you can rent an underwater GoPro, which would have been awesome.
Here's a pile of pictures from our time on Hamo.
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| It looked and felt as if this boat was chasing our plane to the landing on Hamilton Island |
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| Ali (left) and Cate (right) seem to big (from below) |
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| The terrible view from our balcony at the Reef View Hotel |
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| Moonrise |
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| Sunrise |
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| Aw shucks |
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| Post-snorkel hunt for shade |
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| Mini-quads got the double thumbs up from Hank |
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| Henry took the early lead... |
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| Ali passed on the quads so she got a race car ride with mom |
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| Cate, Cockati and Sunrise |
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| Koalas (in an enclosure at the breakfast cafe) |
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| Henry's a little excited about (captive) wildlife |
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| Wind in my hair |
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| Ready to snorkel |
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| The after-snorkel reviews were positive |
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| This horrible picture is proof that six of us went snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef |
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| Still smiling (sometimes) |
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| Henry befriended Andrew, whom we hope to see again in Cape Town! |
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| All smiles |
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| Thanks for a great trip! |
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| Goodbye Hamilton! |
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