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Published: September 28th 2013
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Our bus is a little late today and we briefly chatted with a German couple while we waited. They were coming on the same tour to Kuranda. The driver apologized for being about 10 minutes late (not sure how they could ever keep a tight schedule, as you always have to wait for people) and he handed out our individual schedules. The German couple and we are going to the aboriginal cultural centre first. First, there is the background story (acted out by the Aboriginals along with the earphones to translate the story of birth (mine didn’t work!). Next was a theatre where the locals showed their native hunting tools and how they used them. The Bush Medicine talk was interesting, done by one of the men. He showed the native plants and talked about how they were poisonous and they had to find a way to make these plants edible. Last, was the hands on activity – how to fly a returning boomerang and how to throw a spear. Mine did very well. Just need a little more power to actually get the kangaroo. It was now lunchtime. And time to get out of the heat. We were eating at
the Native Centre buffet. Lots of salads (the chickpea one was really good!), and there was a large variety of hot foods. I particularly liked the Barramundi fish done in cream. Ken was very impressed because they had gluten-free chocolate brownies and ice cream. (Peggy, Father Mike – you would have no trouble eating here. There is gluten-free food everywhere)
After lunch, we got to ride the cable car. There are 3 sections to this cable car. We just missed getting car 23 (which has a glass bottom). We have a long ways to go up, over the trees and the gorges of the rainforest. It is beautiful. At each stop you can go for a walk on the fenced walkway. At the one level, you see the waterfalls. In their wet season (starts in late December) the water is up to the top of the falls. There are hawk nests in the cable towers. When they built the towers they were having a few problems with these nests, so they made allowances for them!! At the second level, you can see old equipment from the original mine. And you are finally reach the top, you still walk uphill
and it is hot – about 32 degrees. You try to find some shade!! And then you discover that this is a real tourist town with shops galore. The Koala Bear park might have been interesting but since we had already seen them and petted them, we decide to forgo the $17pp admission fee. Instead, we went and bought a drawing of the Koalas by a local artist!! And in our travels, we ran into our German couple again. It is finally 3:30 and time to depart by train. We had assigned seats and were again by our German friends, another couple from the Midlands in England and their daughter who had moved to Sydney. She was working as a surf instructor. The mother had grown up in Australia and interesting, they found Australia, very high priced too! We learned lots about the Australia trains and how the tracks were made narrower to save on costs. Today, we see these trains on their narrow tracks pulling lots of sugar cane to the mills. Building the tracks must have been a huge engineering feat with the cliffs and steep inclines.
And now we are back in Cairns because Jean is
getting this nasty cold and cough. I just have a bowl of chicken soup and Ken has the Nasi Goreng (we ate that rice dish many times in Bali)
Sunday we went to Mass and found it just like Mass in Canada. The monsieur was a good speaker but fairly long-winded!! Many people left right after communion. I always think that is an insult to God. It is like leaving the supper table as soon as you have eaten! Again it is very hot out and on our walk to the RSL club, a couple stopped at the corner and asked if we had notice the bats. By this time it is almost noon and nice and shady under this big old tree. When you look up, you can see the red fur of these red fox bats hanging upside down! The bats are twice the size of our bats. Turns out this couple were from Florida and found the humidity very comfortable here in Cairns. They said it was horrible for them at home.
Supper at the “Cock and Bull”, known locally for their huge portions and good prices. It was only 2 blocks from the hotel. I had the pea soup. Very thick and good. Ken had Shepherd’s Pie. Back to the hotel to pack up and get on with our journey!
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Ruth G
non-member comment
Sounds like you 2 are having a great time. Love reading about your adventures and seeing your pics. sure hope your cold doesn't last Jean! All is well here!