Trip to the Rainforest

After the trip to the Great Barrier Reef on Sunday, I have since been able to check out a wildlife habitat, go on the Daintree River to check out crocodiles, go on a nightwalk through the Daintree Rainforest (which apparently was the inspiration for the movie Avatar), and go "jungle surfing" through the rainforest.

picture taken from window of bus on way to rainforest

wallaby

black swans

cassowary

bird with a really sharp beak

apparently koalas sleep for 20 hours a day

view of the Daintree forest from croc infested Daintree River

 accommodation with some other guys for the night 

view of the ocean 

During the Daintree Rainforest  night-walk, we were able to see all different types of vegetation and creatures. One of these was the strangler fig 

which is a parasitic vine which hollows out the inside of trees creating this cool pattern seen throughout the forest. I also licked the flavorful green ant, whose body is has a coating of absorbic acid (vitamin C) which was used by the aboriginals to help cure illness. 

Our group also came across the Forest Dragon native to the Daintree Forest 

as well as the huntsman spider 

which can detect even the most sensitive of movements. We also saw some of the frogs of the forest and I came across a bandicoot outside of my room for the night. 

bandicoot

Earlier today, before leaving the Daintree Forest area called Cape Tribulation, I saw no less than 3 stingrays, while walking in the water on the beach. Amazing how well they blend in, and you have to make sure you don't step on them. The first was distinctly different than the last 2, with the first having a more short, stubby tail and the other having much more of a whiptail.

Will upload more pictures when I have more reliable internet access.

The Great Barrier Reef

Today was an amazing day. I got to go snorkeling and scuba diving (twice) at the Great Barrier Reef.



It was awesome to get used to the sensation of being able to breath under water while watching schools of huge fish pass by you and being surrounded by huge coral formations. I'm pretty sure I saw Nemo too.

While diving, I got to pet a cuttlefish which turned a brilliant blue color. It looks like a mini squid.

Cuttlefish

I also got to get up and close to a stingray and watch it bury into the sand.



Without a doubt, one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. The great barrier reef is certainly among the most incredible natural structures and habitats in the world.

View from the "Wharf" before departing

Without an aerial view of the reef, hard to do it it justice

Certified to Scuba Dive

Glebe Point

After finishing up a long essay today for my Investments and Portfolio Management class, I took a run over to Glebe Point.

 The Anzac Bridge

Baseball at the Olympic Stadium

Tonight I got to play baseball in Blacktown on the outskirts of Sydney at the Olympic Baseball Complex (from 2000 Sydney Olympics). The field we played at was not the actual field used for the Olympic games, but used for the home team practice prior to the game. The Olympic field is used nowadays for the Sydney Blue Sox, a pro team in Australia whose season starts in October. We have a number of pitchers on our team who pitch for the Blue Sox and helped us to win our close game today.


The field on the far right is the one we played on

I was able to contribute to our win by going 1 for 2 with a double and adding a couple walks and scored a run as well. Another fun night at the yard.

Double Bay

Yesterday I ventured over to Double Bay, a ritzy suburb of Sydney where I was able to meet another hedgie from the world of finance.

He invited me to chat at the Double Bay Sailing Club which offered a great view of the harbor and prime Sydney real estate.

 



Only a few more days until I depart for Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef on Saturday.

Baseball

Yesterday was an exciting day of baseball. We won in extra innings and I was able to play integral part in the win with a key hit and defensive plays to help us get the win.

Fell just short of a homerun again after an outfielder who was recently signed by the Braves tracked down a deep fly ball I hit which would have been good for a double otherwise.

Sydney Blue Sox, a pro Australian team we draw some of our players from

Release from Team Website Below

President 09-16-2012 0 Comments

The Ryde Hawks have kicked off their 2012/13 NSW State Baseball League campaign in style, winning both games of their first series of the season against the Manly Eagles. The Hawks blew the Eagles away with a 9-2 thrashing on Wednesday night before backing it up with a 7-4 victory on Sunday afternoon.

It was all Hawks on opening night as Ryde scored three runs in the second inning, two in the third and three in the fourth to stake starting pitcher Luke Wilkins to an early 8-0 lead. Wilkins was brilliant on the mound over five shutout innings, limiting Manly to just three hits while racking up six strikeouts to record the win.

Nick Dimmers and Chris Davis led the offensive outburst, picking up three hits and two RBI apiece, while Tim Green and Jake Wilkins contributed two hits and an RBI each. Manly managed to push across two late runs but relievers Hayden Staats and Wayne Lundgren erased any thoughts of a comeback and the Hawks cruised to victory.

The Hawks then came out and backed it up on Sunday with a thrilling extra innings victory. After both teams scored two runs early on, the score remained tied until the bottom of the eighth when Manly managed to edge out to a 4-2 lead.

Down to their last out with nobody on base, the Hawks capitalised on some shaky Manly defence in the top of the ninth with Davis and Luke Parish reaching on errors. Stephen Klosowski and Jake Wilkins then managed to hold their nerve to drive them in and tie the game at 4-4.

After solid performances from Scott Cameron and Lundgren on the mound, Luke Wilkins then returned and shut the Eagles down in the bottom of the ninth. With the score still locked at 4-4, the game was sent to extra innings where the Hawks made their opponents pay for failing to finish them off. Klosowski, Matt O’Neill and Jake Clinch all provided RBIs as the Hawks jumped out to a 7-4 lead that they would not relinquish.

Wilkins then hurled his second inning of scoreless relief, shutting the Eagles down in the bottom of the tenth to secure the victory and earn his second win of the season. The Hawks are now 2-0 as they head into a round two clash with Blacktown.

Sydney Islam Protests

During my walk around Sydney yesterday, I walked past Hyde Park, Town Hall, and Martin Place in the Sydney CBD. At the time I passed through, the city was very quiet because of being a Saturday.

As the day went on, there was a protest over an anti-Islamic film. On my way walking back, I noticed a number of police cars and a helicopter flying overhead though I wasn't entirely sure of what had happened.

The video below is from YouTube and was recorded yesterday.

The areas they walk by are the same ways I walked, and had timing been any different, I likely would have seen the whole thing unfold.