Tales of Seven

How to Fix a Broken Toe - Australia Style

Queensland, Australia

I had been scrambling for over an hour on rocks in my sandals, was finally back on the sandy beach, and kicked the one remaining rock on the beach with my big toe -- hard. I looked down. Yes. Things were unquestionably 'askew'. After an hour of hiking/hobbling back to my remote cabin, I called the nearest medical facility (6 hours drive away) and was advised by a nurse to ...

Nurse: "Just pull it!"

Me: Pause. [In all earnestness] "Are you kidding or serious?"

Nurse: [With light-hearted, enthusiastic energy] "No. It's probably just dislocated. Just do it quickly. It'll be over in just a second!"

Me: [With some concern] "But what if it's broken?"

Pause...

Nurse: "Did you do it yet?"

I have to say that this and numerous experiences in Australia led me to  the wonderful perception that the Aussies are a self-sufficient, handle it, take-it-in-stride kind of people. I genuinely enjoyed their approach to the inevitable little trials, and took it to heart as I continued on to the next part of my trip, a hiking adventure....with what an x-ray ultimately revealed to be a genuinely broken toe. No worries!

Suicide by Crocodile?

Queensland, Australia

We were walking along (but not too close to) the shoreline of murky river water when our guide told us a story that went [something] like this.....

It was just a couple of years ago that this one fellow was seen standing right on the waters edge right here, making a lot of noise in the water. A couple of folks in a boat yelled out to him to get away from the shore. It was known crocodile terr-i-'try'.

But he refused. You see -- he was here to end things. Every once in a while, folks just don't want to carry on....

Well, those people in the boat came over and wrestled him away from the shore - good thing they did... ....wouldn't have been long.

Wow - what a way to go. Suicide by crocodile.

(Pictured below - one of the many warning signs we saw.)

A Lizard Named Fred

Uluru, Australia

I was sitting in front of my cabin, as I did every morning, when a large lizard waddled past. Magic! A wild reptile. I quietly picked up my camera, then with a show of great stealth, followed that creature all around the grounds, taking shot after shot.

We finally reached the front gate where two of the staff sat. Watching me for a bit, one of them finally said, 'So we see you've met Fred'.

It turns out that "Fred" has been coming around for years now, and all I had done was escort him on his morning walk.

This isn't the first time my Crocodile Hunter-like experience has been utterly deflated. I've been misled by a bird, and even (I'll admit it, head hung low) by a fish at one point. -- An embarassing story for another time....

Heron Island, Australia

A few hours by boat off the coast of the East Coast of Australia, lies a magical little speck of land. Heron Island lies right on top of the great barrier reef and this one kilometer wonder is a popular diving destination and memorable trip for anyone.

• In this tiny, eco friendly space, no doors are locked and no money is used
• Buildings are incorporated right into the environment in a non invasive way
• It is surrounded by a wild, narrow strip of pristine white beach. If you go out in the morning, you have the entire beach to yourself.
• One can snorkel right off the island and see amazing fish, coral, and reef sharks
• The island itself is filled with trees and birdlife. At night, burrowing birds make the mostly unearthly cries you've ever heard
• It’s just ten minutes by boat to the dive locations, where the current along the reef is great for drift diving
• Food is luxurious and at night, you can sit out in the open , warm air with a drink looking out over a beautiful island.
• It's great for solo travel. I went alone and met many others who were driven there by the amazing dive sites.

My favorite memory was actually of snorkeling. I had been making my way around the island and came upon a fairly unexciting little area where it was mostly sand and no fish. I stood up for a moment and noticed a group of people looking out into the water where I stood alone. Shrugging it off, I put my mask back on and continued on, to immediately be met by an unending string of rays, and sharks going in every imaginable direction. Small fish had come into shore and I was in the middle of the feeding frenzy. Magic. 

The Great Barrier Reef is an unbelievable natural treasure. Learn more about the reef at http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/ along with some of the threats it is facing : http://www.reef.crc.org.au/discover/threats/index.html

Learn more about Heron Island at http://www.heronisland.com/