So I've spent the last few days on a much needed holiday.
Tropical Far North Queensland (FNQ) or (effenQ) is a lovely place. Beautiful beaches, palm tress, and lovely weather.
As part of my role as a Tourist, I decided to join a Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour. It's really great to splash about and see some fish.
That's not where the story ends. It wouldn't be a Rant if I didn't have a couple of things to rant about.
Ok. First rant, "okay guys".
It's not my first tour. I've been out to the reef plenty-a-time, and here's a Pet peeve of mine: "Okay guys".
Let me explain. When you take a tourist boat out to the reef, there are a bunch of young staff. I call them the 'okay guys'. You need a bit of education to understand that these youngsters are completely clueless about anything, but are taught to lie outright to visitors.
It goes like this: whenever the blue T-shirt dude say "okay guys" (the variation is "hey guys") s/he/they/grrr is just making something up. It's either nonsense, not true, or the actual reverse. 'Okay guys' is the ultimate irony.
Some examples:
"Okay guys, yesterday we saw some Minke whales doing some aerial twists and somersaults. Keep an eye out for them on the trip out to the reef".
"Okay guys, we might see some turtles out on the reef. The early group saw a few large turtles and their kids swimming around the coral".
"Okay guys, if you spot a shark, put your hand on your heed and signal to the crew."
"Okay guys, lunch is served".
So, anytime "okay guys" is spoken, a little bell should go off.
A second rant.
Something that smokes me is the territorial nature of operators.
Okay, I didn't choose to be Australian, but it says that I am on my passport, and I guess that I was born within this land mass means I am one.
How does it work when these operators act greedy with the reef?
It goes like this:
"Okay guys, when you are out of the reef, keep within the ropes, don't touch or step on the coral, respect the little critters lying on the sand floor, don't carry anything with you, everything on the reef should stay on the reef, we are working on protecting the coral for the next generation"
Hang on a second.
The Great Barrier Reef is a national park. However, unlike any other gardens. Imagine like the Fitzroy Gardens. You don't have a muppet walking around telling you to tread softly on the grass, don't pick the flowers, or stop rubbing up against the trees.
So why does the Great Barrier Reef, thousands of kilometres of underwater rocks, have Guardians of the Galaxy patrolling it?
As a local, the locals think they are hot as Rick Springfield in the Jessie's Girl music video.
I wish we could just hire a boat, head out to the reef, have a snorkel and swim.
Instead, you have to take a mini-Titanic, sit through countless lectures on marine life, and given more rules than being on a high school trip to the Zoo.
Aside from these rants, lovely day out on the reef.
eFffen Q really is a spectacular place, okay guys!