Lynsey Dawn Mckenzies Son Has Autism

Magnetic Iceland, Townsville and the impact of financial crisis

After only! 4.5 hours drive we arrived in Townsville and equated with the ferry across to Magnetic Island 8km offshore Iceland. Many Australians say that people on Magnetic Iceland "funny" or "different". This prejudice can we hereby confirm only. But first things first: Arrived

, we took the approximately 30 minute walk for us to reach our 70-year old host Hoyt. At first glance, we noticed nothing unusual on. Hoyt is a very friendly, open and educated man who has traveled much in his life. On the first night he took us and 2 Franzoesinnen who work on farms in Australia compared with free meals and lodging, to a very great local market. The food, fruit and vegetables, jewelry etc., are all of the inhabitants of the island against small fee made available. Very very beautiful among all the palm trees and tropical plants ...

However, on the way Hoyt fell by its nature, every 5 minutes something up from the street, on unpleasant. He has a mission to rid the island of dirt and to free all still reasonably useful from the garbage can and to take home and use it for themselves. It must have looked strange, an old man who digs in the garbage cans and 3 women and Michi, an embarrassed silence and trotting behind him ... Actually, everything so bad, he would not collect old discarded dishes set before and wash it without us! But more later.

The next morning was It bananas, papaya and oatmeal with hot water. To drink half of a tea bag black tea. The shock after breakfast, sitting with me still deep. Hoyt refuses to use detergent. Also we are allowed to use only one plate per half cup water. We then wash off with your fingers! And if you come here then know where the plates etc. and Hoyt looks very pleasurable morning to lick the plate and spoon, is a completely different. I understand his anger about waste of resources, but this goes too far here. He uses no toilet flush! But we have then operated it and did not follow his example. Because he never takes a shower at home, I wonder if not handled the ecological way of life in extreme stinginess is.

According to this morning Lichen shock experience we all start off then went snorkeling. The island has in every corner a new bay. And each bay is different. But together they have that you can snorkel there wonderful. Even just below the water surface near the beach you can admire tropical fish. As in the aquarium and the right outside your door! I was thrilled. Then we took upon ourselves to hike the island. There is a "Koala Walk" which is up on a mountain, where a former for the second World War II-built fort is executed. This path is known to be easily seen koalas. And voila, we had seen three pieces! are

On the way back We then went snorkeling again. Hoyt had already taken off in between, he had a "Skype-rendezvous" with a friend from the Ukraine - strange for a 70 year old grandpa, right? Without him, the same was all much more relaxed, and during the Franzoesinnen lay on the beach, Sandra brought with me, relaxed breathing underwater. Water is not like my element, so far! After initial difficulties, we went quite well, I saw a few Fischis, and decided then, the next day to do with a local diving school a introductory dive! Exciting!

The next big adventure was then but for now the dinner. A stew of rice and pumpkin, the same with Hoyt again Stirring spoon, which he licked smacking, great! Meanwhile, Sandra has been removed from cooking to Hoyt to help weed plucking - in the grounds of the neighbor who did not want that! Sandra has totgeschaemt itself. We decided to not have long to stay.

The next day we had breakfast before diving nor can endure over us - I got so excited eh nothing down, and Sandra had passed the appetite in disgust ... Hoyt makes it so things like over-ripe papayas rauspuhlen from the nuclei in order to suck during the day should be good for digestion, therefore, lie between eating the seeds around .... At least, came by a few colorful birds, and somewhat distracted.

diving - that was for me always incredible! But since I know Sandra, she raved to me again and again what a great feeling it is to float on the water surface to swim with the fish and to dive into a different atmosphere. So on we went! I was lucky, and an English immersion teacher took his first half an hour for the theoretical introduction, all quite logical, and comforting. Then I was in the pool all taught at rest and under water for quite alone voiced the real thing. When the first conquest was over, then immediately hats of fun, and Sandra by the pool were happy and many pictures made.

After half an hour in the pool finished primary education. Sandra had booked a dive, and so we trudged a few hundred meters to the nearest beach, in our funny suits! Magnetic Iceland belongs, strictly speaking, been to the Great Barrier Reef, but only new at the very western edge. should therefore be the dive for Sandra just getting started, and from Townsville, we wanted to in the following days will really push into GBR .... We ran into the waves until we could no longer stand, and swam further 50 meters before we dive. Incredibly, the feeling! After I first focus on breathing, I looked around and saw for the first time in the life Live below the water surface, WowWowWow! I was overwhelmed. After a few meters, the first duke me my private diving instructor (Michelle) for the moment, we saw a giant fish and a ray. In addition many small tropical fish. And behind me appeared the most beautiful fish, Queen fish :-) If Sandra was nothing to see, she looked me in my first "steps" and was pleased with me. We dived around some reefs where fish are hiding from us, useless.

After several minutes I was able to dive around and independently, and have also discovered another same rays that looked at us interested. I beckoned to the girls, and in a relaxed atmosphere and about 4 feet deep stared at the man and rays. After 32 minutes I was cold, my air running out, and I also happy first.

Late evening we went back to Hoyt, and stated the next morning to run away early, with the Franzoesinnen, and even before breakfast. Hoyt took a bit bent to this news, but he had already purchased replacement - a new German couch surfer arrived! We warned them before, and had them back the next morning alone with the waving Hoyt. On the right you see the papayas, which grew in the front yard, and we were served up for breakfast.

The 3 girls and I were glad to get away took a breakfast in a bakery, and then to early ferry to Townsville. There we wanted to dive the following day, at the right, world famous Great Barrier Reef. All along the coast are dive schools, and local vending offers yet, but we had we actually picked up the extra for the North, since the reef is closer to the coast, and it is warmer than the south. Townsville than the "capital of North Queensland and largest city signed with a super Tagesaausflug with two dives. And now? You probably guessed - nothing came out of it! The provider of the Warlords has only one boat, and broke. A replacement boat has been given elsewhere. Another supplier told to proceed only if at least 15 people ride - Sandra was the only one who asked that day. The rest of countless providers have closed simply because of the financial crisis! Unbelievable. We would have to Cairns can go, but time, distance and the additional costs against it. We went to a night in Townsville very disappointed to the west, towards the Outback, and the coast behind us. Sandra has been very disappointed and still nibbling at the missed opportunity to see tropical fish and turtles swim giant among colorful corals ...

We hope soon, to be able to properly Fiji Diving, and console ourselves with the thought there much cheaper and longer and dive without mass tourism can be.