December 19, 2004

Skyrail to Kuranda and Scenic Train Back

I got up at about 6h30. I got ready to get picked up by the Skyrail bus at 7h45 but they were there early at 7h35! Good thing I was ready and waiting outside... They brought me to the beginning of the Skyrail where I paid for the day (82$) and I was the 1st one to go on at 8h15... And the only one too! It was quite freaky because the Skyrail was very high, above the rainforest trees!! At the 1st stop Red Peak I walked a bit through the rainforest where I also got a phonecall from my mother on my cell phone! The off again in the Skyrail to the 2nd stop where I went to see the Barron Falls and the information centre. I went to the last leg of the Skyrail journey all the way to Kuranda. I walked along the main street but it was deserted as it was so early! After browsing in the shops that were opened, I decided to go to see the 2 markets (heritage and original). Then I went to Birdworld (entry to 2 parks for 21$). Lots of birds and people feeding them. After I tried to find food. I opted for a nice place called Banjo's and had the most delicious ceasar salad and a drink (14$). While walking around after that I saw an aboriginal artist working on a didgeridoo, painting it nicely. It was neat to see how they do it, the technique. I chatted a bit with him too. He explained how he can only paint the stories of his family, that he likes to work on canvasses better because they are flat and that he uses normal acrylic paint with the tip of the paintbrushes and not the soft part to make the dots. Then I went to the Butterfly Sanctuary (2nd entry of the Birdworld ticket) and got a 30 minutes very informative guided tour. Then I bought frozen fruit ice (cream) for 3.50 with watermelon and pineapple. It was very nice but the watermelon was a bit bland. After I went to buy a gift for my brother in a souvenir shop and walked back to the scenic train. I got there early but bought a Coke (2.50$) and sat waiting because I was too tired. The ride back was ok but not as exciting as the Skyrail had been! It was more informative though as they had recorded messages with information about what was coming up. They even handed out cold towels! At the station when I arrived Andy called me to say I had won a Homebake CD (in a contest I entered at Drum newspaper). Back at the hostel I went for a swim in the pool and chatted a bit with a German girl that was there. Later I made pancakes again and ate them in the bar area this time. A guy that was in the TV room the night before was sitting alone so I joined him after having fetched desert from the kitchen (yogourt and fruit). We shared a pitcher of draft beer and then he left to go phone his family and I went to watch some TV and bed.

December 20, 2004

Atherton Tablelands Tour, Waterfall Swims

This morning at 6h30 I could not sleep anymore so I got up. My tour was only at 8h25 so I had plenty of time! I got breakfast and ate in the TV room. After at 8h25 the bus arrived to pick me up for the tour of the Atherton Tablelands. I was the last passenger. With Ben, the guide, there was also: Phil, Oliver from Austria, 2 girls from Swesden, Lucas from Switzerland, Ian from England which also was on my 3 day boat tour in the Whitsundays, Larissa from Germany and an asian couple. It was nice group of young travellers! We stopped at a gas station and then when we started the long drive Ben asked us all questions to make us talk and get to know eachother. We went to the Cathedral Fig tree first. Then we rode through farm lands and stopped at a wine maker for an optional free wine tasting session. Then on to see 2 lakes, one being Lake Eacham. There were cute turtles in that one! After having rolls for lunch we got a few minutes to go for a swim. There were a lot of fishes in the lake!! Not everyone in the group went to swim... Then we drove to Milaa Milaa falls. Everyone except Ian went in. It was nice! I went behind the waterfall! Then we had nice fruit and were off to the next falls, Zillie. We only saw them from the top a little lookout because they are located on a private property! After it was Elinjaa falls. It was the nicest one of all and by then everyone was tired of swimming so I was the only one to go in!! Then we drove to the hostel in Yungaburra to pick up a few people who went canoeing that afternoon and the group was complete again! On the way back to the hostel Ben introduced us to bus surfing as we were going down a very swirly mountain road. The best time was 1 minute 34 seconds without touching/falling but I did only 15 seconds! Ben dropped everyone and I was the last one to get off! He thanked me for trying to be fun and get the group to participate, etc. But we both agreed though it was fun the group never really gelled. At the hostel I made spagetti with tomatoe sauce. After I watched a bit of television and went to bed by 23h.

December 21, 2004

Michaelmas Cay cruise with Ocean Spirit

At 6h I was up but I did want to sleep longer today! But I had to get up and get ready for a tour! I was ready with 15 minutes to spare but the bus was 10 minutes late so I waited 25 minutes outside! We went to the marina and to the boat. It was a nice big boat! On the front deck they did a safety briefing. Then we were off. Later I went inside to watch a presentation by a biologist about marine life on slides. Then I went on the semi-submarine with glass bottom to watch the Cay and stay dry. I saw 2 sea turtles! At 11h45 it was lunch and I had a nice buffet! And 30 minutes later I was ready to snorkel! My mask was not properly working (water filling it because it was too big for me!) so the biologist Dave lent me his mask, a very expensive one he said! It was much better and I continued snorkelling. Then it was time to go back to Cairns. I got a nice piece of cake and sat on the front deck where some crew members were playing music. At about 17h we were back. I had spagetti again, watched TV, read magazines in the garage before going to bed.

December 22, 2004

Day on Fitzroy Island

This morning I got up at 6h to get ready to go to Fitzroy Island. They were going to pick me up at 7h20. I had brekky, got dressed and at 7h15 I was outside waiting. It seems to take longer to get ready in the morning because I have to put sunscreen lotion on everywhere and that takes a lot of time! At the marina I checked in for the boat and then we were off to Fitzroy Island at 8h30 exactly. "Fitzroy Island is a continental island which features fabulous rainforests and nearby coral reefs. (From a website)" Upon arrival on Fitzroy 50 minutes later I went to hire gear for the day: snorkel-mask-fins 12$, stinger suit 10$ and boat ride to a spot between Fitzroy and Little Fitzroy to snorkel 12$. After that I hired a locker to put all my stuff in for the day 5$. I walked to the boulders along a walking track in the forest but it was so hot I did not feel like going further (summit) so I came abck to the resort. I did see a lot of lizards though, very small, about 10 cm and they were mostly brown with some orange on the side. Then I changed into my swim gear and went by the pool to swim, read and sleep. At 12h15 I was the first to get the food from the BBQ lunch, but I have to say the food was not that great...! I had fish, potatoe and salad with tropical fruit for desert (the best thing of the meal). Then at 13h we left to go snorkel on the boat. It brought us to a spot between the two islands and after a few safety notes we were ready to go. Most people used floating noodles, but I do not understand why... When snorkeling it seems your body floats on it's own! When I first snorkeled in the Whitsundays I really thought it would be harder but it was really easy. Snorkeling today though I saw mostly corals, some fishes, etc. Most fishes were tiny and I was later told it was juvenile fishes that would grow to become bigger fishes. Then I went further away from the boat and found the nicest spot! It was some hard coral and like 50 fishes about 15-20 cm big that were eating all over this coral area. I just watched them for quite some time, was so nice! You can even hear them when they nibble on the coral. They were blue (or black?) with stripes and a yellow top on the back. Then I went back to the boat after 30 minutes and got some water and then went back in again for another 30 minutes. Then it was time to go back to the resort. The afternoon was spent hiding under cover because it was rainy. At 16h I got ready to leave and at about 17h we were leaving. Back at the marina the bus was there to bring us back to the hostels/hotels. At the hostel I went to the supermarket and bought juice, pinapple and nectarines. I was so thirsty! I then made my ownb fruit salad with pineapple (fresh), nectarine and grapes and also pancakes with Nutella. I ate at the TV garage room and then went to pack my stuff. There was someone in my room at that point and he wanted to go to bed so I packed as silently as I could. Then I went to shower and after I went to watch the last hour of the movie "A Few Good Men" downstairs in the TV garage room. At about 23h30 I went to bed.

December 23, 2004 continued...

Leaving the Hostel (Yay!), Shopping in Cairns & Flight to Sydney

I got up at around 8h30, which was nice for a change! Then I had breakfast, changed and finished packing to check out at 10h. I left my bag in the luggage locker room and walked to the city. I took a scenic route walking along Abbott Street and seeing all the big Cairns buildings: library, city hall, post office, etc. Many were white which was very nice! Then I went to use the Internet at Peterpans for an hour (1$) and then off to the shopping centre (Central) to find a few Christmas gifts for people back in Sydney. I got 1 book, 1 magazine, 2 funny golf balls, chocolates and 1 DVD. I would have to buy a blender back in Sydney because it was too big to carry back on the plane. I also had my photos developped at a one hour photo shop (30$ for 2x24 photos). I got hungry so I got a Coke and a ceaser salad (7$). It was very yummy.