Dec 12, 2008: Sharks!
 

When we think of shark infested waters, we don't usually think about tourist destinations like Frazer Island - the largest sand island in the world which is also world heritage listed, but here is an example of why not to go for a swim in the ocean.

These pictures were taken by my Dad when we were on a family holiday at Frazer Island many years ago. I just found them the other day when I was going through some old photos.

What's that dark shadow on the water out there?

Attachment 20770

You guessed it. It's a Shark! about 4 metres long swiming in knee deep water.

and no, it's not a dolphin. :)

is so

Candygram...:runaway:

If you guys didn't have really good beer, nobody would want to visit.

Or did you put those big blokes out there on the coast to keep the Pommy Bastards away?

It's all hype, probably not more than half the swimmers over there get eaten.:headshake

Statistically, you're more likely to be killed by a vending machine than a shark.

My kids hate it when I tell them that.

Water's so cccold, don't you mean, "both swimmers were eaten"?

You know why sharks are so dangerous? Frikkin lasers!

death by vending machine?

^ Notice that no women are mentioned in the above quote. ^_-

:rotflol:
If I laughed any more they'd put me in the loony bin (I assume you're trying to drum up trade, Wolf?)

Seriously - great pics Ali.
Good job your Dad loved you!

I am more likely to kill a vending machine than I am a shark, too. That effer the other day that stole my beverage...growl.

Aussie sharks are also poisonous/venomous aren't they? Probably, hell, they have trees that can kill you fifty feet...

Seriously, you guys just don't seem to realize how scared we are of being eaten by a bear in the US or Canada and yet it's just a part of life if you live in an area where bears live. There isn't really anything much we're afraid of in the UK though. They only have wussy animals there don't they? ;)

It's what you're used to I guess.

Pretty much everyone that goes to Frazer knows you don't swim on the ocean side of the island because there are lots of sharks, particularly during fishing season when the Tailor are biting which is when more people are in the water.

In my memory and Dazza's, no one has ever been taken by a shark on Frazer and yet fishermen/women stand in the water up to their waist in waders to cast out beyond the break.

At least you don't have to worry about the sharks knocking over your garbage cans, or climbing into your car because you left half a donut under the front seat.

Land-shark!

That was me.


Sorry.




Mmmmm. Donuts.

I've been to Frazer Island and yes, there were shark reports on the seaward side.
I had a great time, hitch-hiking and sleeping rough in the campsites or behind dunes (no tent, just a sleeping bag and groundsheet wrapped over).
About a year later a 12 year old boy was killed by dingoes in broad daylight at a campsite where I stayed. :eek:

Wow. I thought they only ate babies.

Perhaps he was glazed with a jelly filling?
Nope, damn, that was the donut wasn't it.

We have dangerous birds over here. Just go to any town centre on a weekend at closing time...

There have been a lot of problems with dingos on Frazer island. I'd say there's been one or two attacks per tourist season every year for the last 5 - 10 years.

They're getting too 'friendly' with people and coming into campsites because they're just not as shy as they naturally would be with regard to humans. Obviously this is because Frazer is becoming so much more accessible and therefor there's so many people there all the time.

They've even built a 'dingo fence' around one of the residential areas which it seems a lot of the locals weren't happy about, but on the other hand, it's always the squeaky wheel you hear.

Dingos on Frazer are among the purest in Australia, and yet some people are calling for their extermination or relocation.

I think people should be more sensible about securing their food and rubbish and STOP FEEDING them.

Righto, long time lurker, first time poster.

Couldn't bear to watch someone burble on about the intricacies of Fraser Island's ecosystem who can't even spell it correctly!

S, not Z. Fraser.

Cheers

jackzon2, it's an inzide joke. I guezz you didn't get it.

And, welcome to the Cellar.

It is? Since when?:confused:

I was just copying Ali, after the 1776 incident I didn't want to undermine her confidence. :)

Hi Jackson! Where ya from?

You're such a joker, xoB.

You thought you were joking, right?

And that doesn't take into account giant gum trees that drop huge branches on people underneath.

What the hell are you talking about, HLJ? When a new member signs up and supplies an accurate correction, you tell him he's out of the loop. What kind of greeting is that? :eyebrow:

jacksonjackson, welcome to the Cellar. I think you'll find we're quite tolerant of Aussies here.

I guess I can't be perfect all the time, but I'm damn close. :)

Confidence? Hmmmm...I don't think it's been damaged too much Zen. ;)

jackson, welcome to the Cellar. By the looks of things you'll fit in very nicely here. BTW, did you have anything to add to the discussion aside from the correction of my spelling?

Ah, forgive me kind sir. I was defending our fair Ali.

I don't think "our fair Ali" needs any defending, she's proven adept at taking care of herself.
I also think she's intelligent enough to appreciate having an informational mistake corrected.

But, as long as you're not noob bashing, carry on.:cool:

Well it was a mistake, but the mistake comes due to the fact that you yankies put Z's - pronounced zeds - all over the place instead of S's. :)

Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it...and of course because I can't spell anymore.

Hey guys, sorry if my initial post seemed rude and abrupt. I was in a shitty mood for a reason I can't even remember.

Just trying to help, didn't mean to troll the conversation. Carry on :)

This reminds me of this sign I saw when I was in Puerto Vallarta two weeks ago.

And around the corner was a "zushi" bar.

It seems it's a common substitution.

I've seen the Z spelling at more authentic sushi bars. I don't understand why, but usually Sushi is spelled with the S, but specific dishes or styles use the Z (nigirizushi, chirashizushi, maki-zushi etc..)

Oh, here's why;

Thanks jinx, that was interesting.

And we've brought the topic back around, too.

Sushi - (soo-shee)- Technically refers to the sweetened, seasoned rice. The fish is sashimi. Wrap the two together in portions and sell it as sushi, and the name still refers to the rice, not the fish. Sushi is the term for the special rice but it is modified, in Japanese, to zushi when coupled with modifiers that describe the different styles of this most popular dish. In Japan when one says “sushi” they are referring to the whole package, the sushi rice plus the neta. And this holds true for all kinds of sushi. When one wants to say “sushi rice” they say “sushi-meshi.” Also, in Japan when someone suggests going out for sushi, they are referring specifically to nigirizushi.

Juzt the thought of eating raw fizh makez me want to puke. I don't care how it'z zpelled

Oh yeah, exploding gum trees can be a bitch...

I used to be a surf life saver on a very popular Northern Beaches beach called Dee Why. On a few occasions I spotted sharks out in the surf. We just had to inform the swimmers and keep an eye on which way they would swim, and try to guide them out to sea again with the IRB's. I also swam over a few hammer head sharks not knowing they were there, we only found out after we returned to shore, and the person who spotted them told us, mind you he was sitting safely on a large rescue board and decided not to make us panic. Honestly, I think he knew we'd all try and get his board from under him. I lived through that luckily and so did he.:censored: :shock:

We've got a whole toolshed of sharks out there...hammerheads, sawtooths, shovelnoses...

I was snorkeling in the reef off Lady Musgrave Island and saw some kind of gray shark. It was pretty small, only like 1.5 meters long. I thought it was really cool, and swam after it for a while until it took off. Only time I ever saw a shark in the wild.

It might have been a white/black tip reef shark. They're pretty common in the areas where people are likely to be snorkeling on the reef. You should be careful of them though, they can leave a nasty bite if they are surprised. ;)