Well, I suspect the point here is not to generate absolutly smooth tones, but rather to create an arresting, interesting, beautiful image. You've succeeded brilliantly. It's one of those pictures it's hard to tear your eyes away from. A very nice job.
Thanks for the comments Asher. I'm ambivalent regarding the Neat Image variant, I don't really mind the grain in the original but I suppose a lot of people like "clean" images.
Very nice photograph and colors wayne. I am not sure if you intended the grain/ noise in the picture or if it is by default. I tried running it through "neat image" software and kind of like results, what do u think?