I just finished Orientation week, also known as the best week of my life so far. For all of you still at Rice, yes-it was better than O-week! These past few days were spent exploring the rainforests and reefs of North Queensland, holding koalas and scoping out platypus. Already I have learned so much about these archaic ecosystems, and for that I am most grateful.

This journey began with an excursion to Port Douglas, a tourist town just north of a very scenic drive from Cairns. Here, I explored the World Heritage Site of the Wet Tropics with a native guide called Moks. On his “Dreamwalk tour”, Moks portrayed life in the forest and all of the ways the aboriginal tribes engaged with the forest. I was amazed by how integrated into the environment the aboriginals are, using the thorny wait-a-while plants as fishing hooks and green ant jaws as substitute stitches, a local technique which I tried myself on a small cut. Cutting off the abdomen, the green ant clamps down on the wound and acts as a temporary stitch, encouraging the cut to heal.

Later that day, we went on a boat ride along the Daintree river spotting saltwater crocodiles along the river banks. It was fascinating to see these ancient critters in their native habitats.

It just wasn’t the same seeing them the next day in captivity at a place called The Habitat, where sample ecosystems and their representative critters were on display for viewing. The Habitat, nevertheless, was a lovely place for actually seeing the animals. For example, we had breakfast surrounded by tropical birds.

At The Habitat, I also had the opportunity to feed some wallabies and kangaroos, who were more than happy to get up close and personal with me. It was a great opportunity to see all of the wildlife that Australia is known for before studying them out in the wild.

My real dreams came true when I got to hold a fluffy koala, an animal which I have adored my whole life. I almost teared up as the keeper handed me the koala, who sat calmly in my hands as I smiled for the camera. Feeling the clingy creature hold onto me was one of the best feelings in the world.

The next couple of days were spent in Yunguburra, where I spotted platypus swimming down a nearby river in the early morning. We will be spending 10 days out here for the rainforest module later on in the semester. We also practiced birding near Hasties swamp, a wetlands park featuring swamphens, spoonbills, egrets, and other local birds. The diversity of wildlife here never ceases to amaze me.

The last day of orientation was spent snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef. The reputation of the place definitely does not precede it; this reef is truly one of the wonders of the world. The vivid colours of the coral combined with the vast diversity of fishes gave me the impression that I was swimming in a sunken Garden of Eden. The most majestic moment came when I snorkeled alongside a juvenile sea turtle. I’d like to think of him a grown-up “Squirt” from the film, Finding Nemo.

All in all, Australia has been treating me extremely well, offering magnificent sights of wildlife and showering me with hospitality from the friendly people.