Cairns, Day 10 - June 25, 2000


Sleep was fitful worrying about how things would work out. The alarm went off at 6am and we jumped up to start getting ready. At 6:30 we called the number given by the nice lady and confirmed our tour to Kuranda, our barbie lunch and our Aboriginal show.


We were picked up at the motel and dropped off at the train station. We had about a 15-minute wait for the train. The ride up the mountain into the rain forest was unbelievably beautiful. The weather was iffy, cloudy and cool, but it never rained. On the train we had the pleasure of the company of two girls of Chinese ancestry. Julia & Lily spoke with us and we learned that Lily was from Riverview, Mi. She was living in Sydney now, but before we were practically neighbors. They told us their Chinese names but neither of our memories are what they should be.



We had one photo stop on our way to Kuranda. A platform had been built overlooking a tall waterfall.


When we arrived at the top we transferred to a coach, which took us through Kuranda and dropped us at the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. We had our choice of options for our free time but the butterfly dome took our interest. We were just in time for a tour through the indoor forest. Not that it was large enough to warrant one but because we enjoyed listening to the VAST amount of knowledge that our guide had accumulated.


The most stunning of the butterflies was the Ulysses, a gorgeous large blue specimen. He pays for his beauty by being an easy target for his enemies and therefore tends not to sit still too long. In fact, none of them were too willing to pose. I took the easy way out and most of my pictures came from the glass cases in the museum. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8


We loaded into the coach for the trip to the Rainforestation for a 'real' outback barbie. It was very nice and the meal was great, almost as good as the one we had in Darwin.


A walk through their animal refuge once again showed us koalas, kangaroos & crocs. We even got to see a roo with a joey in her pouch and another nursing a roo almost as big as she was.


We had the opportunity to have our picture taken holding a koala but I got my back up 'cause it was a digital picture and they wouldn't give me a digital copy even though I had an extra floppy with me. The law for exploiting koalas is very strict. They, the koalas, are only allowed to work three hours a week and only ½ hour a day. If they work three days in a row, they get at least one day of rest. Not bad hours.


We were gathered up and herded down the path for the aboriginal culture show. I have no idea how authentic it was but it was certainly entertaining. There were about eight men all painted up and they performed several energetic dances. After their exercise, each of the dancers took a portion of the audience and demonstrated the aboriginal music instruments and weapons.


First was the demonstration of the didjeridu. This reinforced Bill's desire for one of the instruments and before we left the Rainforestation, we were the proud owners of a didjeridu. It won't arrive for about three weeks so I'll have a little time to decide what to do with it. <G> He even showed us how the instruments were made. Originally they used termites to hollow out the inside and later used hot coals to burn out the center.


From there to a large field where he showed us how to throw a spear and how the distance increased dramatically when he used a two foot long launcher. Next was the field for throwing the boomerang, hold it so, toss it to 1 o'clock, release at eye level. See, I was listening, why did it hit the ground before it got started? Each person was allowed to take a turn. You won't see Bill trying even though I pushed my way forward to get a good photo. I raised the camera and read 'disk full'.


The Rainforestation wasn't through with us quite yet. In small groups we were loaded into WWII army ducks for a short trip through the actual forest. Our guide was both knowledgeable and funny. He passed out information sheets in the various languages needed. When Bill requested one in American, he was told to just read it more slowly.


The first thing he pointed out was a termite nest. Thankfully it's in the rain forest and not on our lot at home. Other plants were pointed out and then the duck was headed into the stream. We even saw some rain forest wildlife. We motored around the lake and then back on land and back to the station. Our trip was short but enjoyable.


Having taken the cable car on Sandia Peak in Albuquerque, NM, we opted to take the coach down this mountain instead of the sky rail. Bill may be a pilot but he still doesn't do heights very well.


The day was drawing to a close and it was time to look forward to the motel and re-uniting with our luggage. But, alas, it wasn't meant to be. As soon as we entered the room Bill called Ansett. He said, "Hi, I'm Bill Stone, what do you know about my luggage"? and they started to apologize. The case had gone to Bamaga. The fueling person was slow so the plane diverted to Horn Island. In this day of cellular communication to anywhere in the world, the phones were out to Horn Island and they couldn't get hold of anyone and so it went. Our luggage has seen much more of Australia than we have. Tonight they guarantee it will be there tomorrow - maybe.


Bill explained that not only were the papers in that case but also all our meds. We were told to go to the 24-hour clinic and have everything replaced. $200 later we were still short Bill's major diabetes medication and my main heart med. No one knew what the Aussie equivalent was or even if there was an equivalent.


In the meantime we haven't heard from Goway the travel agent. As far as they know, we are missing the tours that we've paid for. Not a peep from them.


Two doors down from our motel room, there apparently is a newlywed couple. Their room service basket is outside their door but no one has seen hide or hair of them.


Tomorrow is the Great Barrier Reef. I can't wait to see if our bag shows up.









LINKS

THE AUSTRALIAN BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY
Rainforestation Nature Park Kuranda

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