One of my memories of Australia

More than 10 years ago, I travelled Australia for a year on a working holiday visa.

I experienced, felt many things during my time there.

They are precious experiences of course and I will never have a chance like that anymore in my life.

But, I didn't look back at all since I came back to Japan because of the busy days after that.

 It is funny but I suddenly remembered some of them last night and I took out my diary I wrote in Australia.

 Today, I would like to write about one of those memories of Australia and put my child rearing stories to the side. 

 When I was in Australia, Darwin,  I was mainly working  as a housekeeper in my boss's house. 

I have many experiences under this boss but that story will be next time.

 I asked my  boss to have a week off. I really wanted to go to Exmouth to swim with Whale Sharks. 

 She willingly accepted to encourage me to experience Australian things.

 I booked a Greyhound bus and headed for Exmouth.

 After the long run, fortunately I could have a good sleep in the bus because I brought a sleeping bag with me so that it was not so cold.

I visited the facility of the whale shark swimming, where I felt nostalgic.

In fact, I visited there once but it was the wrong season for swimming.

At that time, I swore to myself, 'I will try again!'.

 I booked the swimming for the next day. Finally my dream was about to come true.

 At night, I thought to go around the facility and went out from the lodge. It was so cold like winter but during the daytime it was scorching hot!!

Australian weather was very interesting.

 I could see so many stars in the sky. I want to say aloud but the stars were so difference, the numbers ,the size and the shining.

I could see them and it felt like they were not so far away. I was so impressed by the gorgeous scenery that I was shuddering.

 The next day, it was a fine day. Including me, there were about 6 of us diving that day. Everyone seemed to be excited of course. After the ship was in the location where whale sharks often turned up, the staff were looking for them using binoculars. We were waiting for a while chatting,  then the staff shouted, 'He they are! come on everybody jump!'

 We were suddenly agitated by the news. 'OH the time has come!!  Oh, my god, who's first????'

 Everyone hesitated to jump in at this stage. The staff called my name, 'Naoko! come on!' so I jumped from the ship.

When I was in the sea, HE WAS JUST THERE opening his big mouth and coming toward me.

I  just tried to swim aside not to bump him and he was swimming straight just like nothing happened.

And I tried to swim following him by his side. He was just about 1m from me. He was so~~~ big, about 12meters long.

I couldn't believe that such a tremendous creature was just 1meter from me.

 I felt how amazing nature is and how small humans really are. 

I didn't want to lose any second of the chance so I swam  as hard as I could.

I was lucky because I had a confidence to swim so I could keep up with him until he was gone but, some other participants could not follow.

After he was gone, we saw 5 or 6 more whale sharks of varying sizes. It was incredible. 

It was one of my great memories in Australia.

I think I will never experience this anymore in my life....and this memory I will never lose from my heart.