Cairns

Cairns

Flew to Cairns. First things first. We ate. The next day we went to the crocodile farm. Jeff and Lou looked for audience participation but got kicked out for trying to climb into a lagoon to wrestle a croc. Dundee Jeff and Lou hung their heads in shame as they were escorted out. It was well into the 90’s every day with high humidity. Each day Jeff and Lou ran for an hour. It was the toughest mile they ever ran! The next day we went in search of the aborigines. We rode the gondola up to a remote area. As we traveled up we contemplated many things, including, whether it was the cable moving or the wheel, if we had enough food in our backpacks in case we got stranded in the car, (Jeff only had two chickens and one cantaloupe in his backpack), if it would be better to jump or climb to the ladder if stranded . Panic set in at every joint on the cable. We’re talking death here. But we had chicken and cantaloupe so we wouldn’t die hungry! Along the way we got off for a look. At one of our stops our guide was Jerome, a native Djabuganydji Baja, the one local aboriginal to be found in the rain forest. His people dated back 40,000 years. Oral hygiene was not his strength. He told us about the rain forest, the people, and a story about how a curse would follow you and your children if you disturbed the land. Since Jeff and Lou left their DNA in several places along the trail, we are all cursed. As usual, Jeff and Lou squared off and competed on who had the best kiwi accent. Oy! At reaching the top we were excited to see an authentic aboriginal village however some sort of migration must have occurred because all that we found were shops and restaurants run by kiwis, not an aboriginal in sight. Maybe it was because of our curse! The ride back down was even more harried. We had already eaten the chicken and cantaloupe!!

The next day we went on a 2 day sailboat ride. We were a multicultural group of 12 passengers and 3 guides. Simone was a young hot Italian, John, a kiwi, and Jon (pronounced Yon) a Hattie from Germany. Among the guests were 2 young, newby girls from the Netherlands. One was a midwife and one an opthmologist. Great accents. The first thing they did was take away our shoes. We paid good money for those shoes. Luckily they gave them back upon leaving. Whenever you see people on TV on a sailboat, they walk around so easily. We held on for dear life anytime we moved! There weren’t enough seasickness pills on the boat for Jeff and the ginger cookies disappeared after the first hour! First off we were asked to choose between a stinger suit, (jellyfish) or a wet suit. Jeff fought the suit (remember his sense of freedom when getting a massage, same applies here). Lou picked a pretty blue stinger suit. Picture Papa Smurf!  Everyone was invited to dive, even if you weren’t certified. Jeff and Lou however were put on the DL for health reasons and Joanne for being totally terrified. Clare was the only member of our group healthy enough and brave enoughto dive in spite of Jeff’s wheeling and dealing. (“Listen if you ever make it to Christchurch, have I got a burrito for you!”) Flippers, goggles and snorkel were assigned. Walk like a duck. Joanne, a non-swimmer who never puts her head underwater hovered on what looked like Captain Hook’s gang plank contemplating death. John held on saying “Just look at the horizon and think of Armstrong-big step!” he said take your time and go when you are ready and then pushed her in! The snorkeling was totally amazing. It was like swimming in an aquarium. Incredible colors, hundreds of fish, sharks, giant sea turtles, dolphins. At times the coral was so close we could touch it. Touching is a total No-No and could result in total destruction of the reef. Oops!  As Clair got ready to dive, we saw one girl totally panic and come back. When it was Claris turn, she got a little claustrophobic but did dive and we snookered above her. Their air bubbles were silver and made noise when you popped them. At one point they dove below a giant Sea turtle and we swam above for about 10 minutes. The sleeping arrangements were tight. We had two private cabins that were far from private and very hot. You’d think the rocking of the sea would be soothing but not so much. Meals were good. The shower was like being at camp. So many terrific things on this trip but this was a major highpoint!!