DFP'S PLACE

We meet this morning at the Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, China.  A stunning 7th-century repository for Buddhist scriptures and manuscripts, the Pagoda was the 8th landmark in our virtual trip around the world.  It is here that we learn that our next destination is:

One of the great natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia will definitely be a fun place to visit, but not easy to get to!  At the Xi'an airport, we need to investigate the travel possibilities.  Cairns, Australia looks like the closest destination city.  How do we get there?  Using one or more of the flight locators on the Links tab, find the flight(s) between Xi’an, China and Cairns, Australia with the least total flight time. Hints: Select either a single date or a range of dates (whichever returns more results), select one-way, select single passenger.

We arrive at Cairns in the Northeast of Australia.  This is Queensland:  land of sugarcane, and one of the most geographically diverse areas in the world.   We are instructed to head for Port Douglas in order to find a boat out to the Reef.  So we procure a ride and follow the Captain Cook Highway north.  At Port Douglas, there are a number of boats available for our trip out to the Great Barrier Reef.  But beware!  There are a number of hazards between Port Douglas and the docking platforms at the Reef.  Click on the photo below and safely navigate your boat to the Great Barrier Reef!

The Great Barrier Reef is a vast and beautiful underwater ecosystem that supports a great number of aquatic species. It lies from 10 to 150 miles off the coast of Queensland and has a span of roughly 1,400 miles.  It has existed for perhaps a half million years, but is constantly evolving as coral formations expand or diminish.  Climate change and other human activity has accelerated some of those changes and poses a risk to the Reef's future survival.  Let's take a closer look at the Reef.  Put on your snorkel gear, click on the photo below, and let's dive in to learn more about this underwater world!

At one of the floating platforms in the Reef area, you can snorkel, dive, or take a semi-submersible tour of the area.  We've just finished snorkeling; so now it's time to take on the other two in a twin challenge:  First, to DIVE, click on the photo below and see if you can solve the puzzle of the Great Barrier Reef.  Then, step into the semi-submersible vessel and spot all the key words in your underwater tour of the Reef.

Now, let's get back in the water and visit the Reef via the "Fun Zone" by clicking the photo below.  No challenge involved here, just a chance to learn about the reef environment in a fun way!

After many hours of enjoyment and awe at this magnificent natural wonder, it is time to return to our boat for the trip back to Port Douglas and our evening accommodations in Cairns.  But before leaving the Great Barrier Reef, we need to locate our landmark token.  Find the photo below in one of the links (or links within the links) on the Links tab of this website.  Click on the photo to open a live webcam of the Great Barrier Reef, but note that it is only available during Australian daylight hours!

As we sail back to the Queensland coast, the Reef still beckons and we listen to its music.

     2."Piece It": Did you complete the "puzzle" of the Terra Cotta Warriors?

     3."Count It": There are 47 total figures in the picture: 39 "whole" warriors, 5 "headless" warriors, and 3 horses