Congratulate me -

I'm a licensed SCUBA diver! Here's how it happened: While I was in Brisbane I was investigating what to do next when a pamphlet for snorkling the Great Barrier Reef came across my radar. In short order I was ready to sign up for a 2-day snorkling adventure ... but then I let myself read the part about the open-water diving course and noticed the price was actually pretty reasonable. Hmmm ... Two days later I was on a plane from Brisbane to the City of Townsville (yes, really), then a ferry, then a bus to the hostel on Magnetic Island & their resident diving school! That was Sunday - and by Thursday evening I had certificate in hand!

Uh, so why am I still on Magnetic Island three days later? A: High winds. You see, technically, I can say I have dived the Great Barrier Reef 'cuz Magnetic Island is *on* the reef & two of the days of dive school involved diving right off the beach! But this is considered the "inner" reef, and in fact the water here is murky; visibility is a dozen feet on a good day - not the experience I wanted to take home. However, the good news is a local dive operation makes guided dive trips to the *outer* reef, the classic GBR - and stops right here on the island! So the plan is to join one of those expeditions, BUT - high winds over the east coast of Australia have been scuttling scheduled dive trips, keeping me on land.

Wheeler Reef.

But the good news: I finally got on a boat to a place called Wheeler Reef Sunday & got my dive in! Wasn't quite as idyllic as I'd imagined - visibility was still so-so due to the rough weather (which was also responsible for the rough 3-hour crossing that caused half the passengers to get seasick!) but I still saw *lots* of terrific corals and fish in two half-hour dives! And of course, if that's not good enough I can come back some day. Hmm, looks like there will be a solar eclipse near here in 2012 ... hmmm ...

- Rob

Sunshine State?

I wasn't in Brisbane (and its rowdy party hostel) for 24 hours before I concluded that Queensland was the moral equivalent of Florida, weather- and attitude-wise. Sunny days, balmy nights, palm trees & open-air bars & cafes ... Then I noticed the license plates, which read: "Queensland - Sunshine State."

Brisbane: First impressions

Brisbane by night

I wasn't overly thrilled when I arrived in town, partly 'cuz downtown Brisbane is crowded & unremarkable ... but it may also be partly due to my departing cool cloudy New Zealand in flannel shirt & jeans, then arriving in the hot humid city, *then* dragging my backpack & luggage all over the city 'cuz I couldn't find the hostel.

I did, however, change my tune that night after a nap, and when things cooled off I crossed one of the many pedestrian footbridges across the Brisbane River. The "Parklands" (south bank) is a gorgeous area packed with world-class museums, theaters, foresty walks, a well-done artificial lagoon (I bought a swimsuit yesterday, maybe I'll do down there) ... oh, and a huge ferris wheel - the Wheel of Brisbane.

The Wheel of Brisbane

For now the plan is: Figure out what's next.

Goodbye, New Zealand; G'day Australia!

Landed in Brisbane this morning! Feels strange after 9 weeks in New Zealand. More photos are in the works, and my current status can usually be found on my Facebook page, even if you're not on Facebook.

Pics for Kiwi crossing pt. 6

Final flickr photo album of pics from my south-island road trip.

Kiwi crossing, pt. 6: The Catlins; Queenstown.

Pics for Kiwi crossing pt. 5

One more to go!

Kiwi Crossing, pt. 5: The Southlands; Stewart Island

Back in Christchurch

Got back Tuesday night - and went straight to work on Journey's End (yesterday & today were hang & focus, tomorrow is plotting, then a couple of days of tech rehearsal). So no new writing for a while, tho' I'll focus my free time on catching up with the photos - got part 5 in the works, plus dabbling with a little video.

A couple of video experiments available for viewing:

Fun with time-lapse video, part 1: Mt. Cook Clouds

Fun with time-lapse video, part 2: Mitre Peak Clouds