Into the Jungle We Go!

Over the weekend I decided to get a real feel of the rainforests here in Cairns! So I decided 1- to go on a hike   (by myself) and 2- to visit what are called the Tablelands. First let me tell you about my hike....

As you are already probably guessing I did get lost! I had never hiked by myself before let alone in a rainforest. I did however stay on the path I was just feeling a little too adventurous,  it being my first time and all, that I decided to take a different path back down the mountain. Well 2 hours later I ended up in a sugar cane field at the base of the mountain somehow! As you can imagine there are lots of animals that live in the sugar cane fields so my mind was racing the whole time trying to walk as fast as I can through the brush just waiting for a python to come out and grab me! Luckily I made it though fine and ended up back where I started! I guess I have a better sense of direction then I thought. Thanks Dad!

 All in all though it was a great hike! I ran into no other person and felt quite secluded from the rest of the world. It was just me, the trees, and the mountain. The mountain however was not making it easy on me. I did stay on the path but damn that path was steep. I final fully understand the meaning of an uphill battle. My calves were burning and the sun was only getting hotter and my water was slowly disappearing. I found myself jumping into shaded spots when ever I could just to breath in the cool air. That was what it was like up the mountain, once I got to the top the scenery made the hike all worth it! The view was spectacular and I could see the surrounding mountains so clearly. The canopy was nice and shaded which made for a nice rest before my hike back down the mountain which you know how that ends up.

At the end of the hike I felt very accomplished and satisfied that 1- I did not die, 2- I did not run out of water, 3- there was no snakes( that I saw), and 4- I may have got lost but I found my way back. I am quite the explore now!

Now to the Tablelands!

After my solo hike through the forest I just couldn't get enough! So I booked a trip to go visit the Tablelands of Queensland! The Tablelands are better described as a plateau of sorts that has rich volcanic soil great for rainforests and farming land! We had to drive up a windy road through the mountain that had a total of 84 turns to get to the top where the Tableland where. Thankfully I did not get car sick and I learned that Aussies are crazy drivers!

Anyway the trip induced 2 stops as volcanic crater lake that made for a nice swim! The crystal clear blue water was cool and refreshing compared to the ocean water that feels like bath water at the moment unfortunately. Then to a Killing Fig Tree that kills other trees around it so that it can grow bigger, then to Dinner Falls for some awesome photos, and then to Milla Milla Falls to swim underneath a water fall! This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. The  water was life a massage on your head as is came cascading down the cliff. The rocks behind the falls made for some great climbing as long as you didn't slip! Then to Devil's Pool which as you can guess by the name of it was too dangerous to swim in. people have died trying so we just gazed from distance. The whirlpool was cool to see! There we saw something that made the whole trip worth while though! It was a wild Cassowary! They are an endangered bird in AUS that stands about 4 ft and have huge crawls attached to huge feet. I am not a bird person so as cool and pretty as he was all I could think of was that damn rooster Dad use to have and how he liked to stalk you after you had your back turned. This bird was just as curious only 10 times as big and he came pretty close to kicking this one women who was coming too close. So I high tailed it back into the bus and took pictures from a safe distance. He walked around the parking lot but even the tour guide said they are dangerous just because they are so curious. Apparently they like to run into cars and chase people! Well now you know why they are endangered!

The day was awesome and even though it was cloudy and over cast spending the whole day in the Tableland's rainforest was awesome and beautiful! I falling in love with Australia!
Now I have to get back into school mode. :-(

First day of UNI!

So today was my first day of classes at James Cook University! I had Australian History and my lecturer looks like he just walked out of the outback! We was wearing high waisted jeans, cowboy boots,a collared button up, and a hugh brass belt buckle. What a cowboy! He also took a 5 month kick through the desert. Walking from Melbourne to northern Queensland. Look at a map and check it out! Crazy! Anyway classes seem to be going well so far but I still have the rest of the week to figure how hard it is going to get.

Cairns Tour!

Cairns is really paradise on earth! I went on a cursing tour of the city and surrounding areas yesterday! The tour was on a double decker bus just like the one in London. I sat up top with the wind in my hair and the sun beating down on my already burnt skin. We had to duck occasionally because of the low lying trees but luckily no one was wacked too hard.

Our first stop was to Trinity Beach. Close enough to take a bus and so beautiful.  There are palm trees everywhere and a swimming enclosure to protect you from the box jellies. Next to another beach farther north called Palm Cove. This beach was more of a resort with lots of shops and hotels but a great place to spend the day.

Then to Cairns but honesty the drive to Cairns was one of the best parts! The mountains covered with beautiful green trees was breath taking. Remember I come from Wilmington where there are no such things as hills. So this is very exciting!

After driving though the city the real fun began! We went into the mountains into Crystal Cascades! A cool river flowing over beds of rocks that called your name to climb and explore! Some of the rocks actually formed slides that were so much fun to slide down! There was even a water fall that was small but big enough to swim behind and watch the water fall in front of you!

It was so fun and I am so glad I decided to live here for 6 months. This place I never going to get old! 

Finally Here!

It is hard to believe that all my years of dreaming of Australia and wanting to dive the Great Barrier Reef have finally become reality! After 4 flights and three layovers I have made it to Cairns, Queensland, Australia! 

This city is amazing! There is so much life and happy people! Backpackers and visitors all over the world come to Cairns to explore the reef and get to know a bit of the local culture!

The swimming in Cairns however is not recommended...meaning that if you manage to escape getting eaten by saltwater Crocodiles the killer jellies will surely get you.

Although you have to be cautious of the jellies the water off the coast of Cairns is quite spectacular. One of my first adventures in Cairns was to Green Island of the Great Barrier Reef. A ferry took me there and I got to snorkel for the first time on the GBR! Not only was the coal absolutely beautiful but I also saw a sea turtle (that came out of nowhere and nearly scared me to death), a sting ray, and NEMO! Yes! I saw a little clown fish hiding in his anemone! But Green Island was just a taste of what was to come.

The following day a Catamaran took my group and me out to the outer reef for not one but two dives! The first dive was deeper and the corals where blue and purple. I saw Nemo again and got to hold a sea slug..he was kind of pointy! There was tons of angle and parrot fish and so many others that I wish I could name! The second dive was more sallow with more red and yellow corals. Again there was nemo and many sting rays! After spending the whole day on a boat and everyone was very sun burnt we landed with smiles on our faces for not only had my dream finally come true but also the dreams of many of my fellow other study abroad students as well. It was amazing to be able to share in the excitement together. Those memories will be with me forever but they will not be the last for the excitements of my first week in Australia did not end.

The following day we went up the mountain and into the rain forest to meet some Aboriginal people where I practiced my boomerang skills, listened to a man play the didgeridoo, watched some cultural dances, held one of the few nonpoisonous snakes in Australia, fed some kangaroos and got to hold a Koala! The fresh fruit we ate was delicious and the tour through the rain forest was exciting! I was in paradise and I did not want it to end.

And it didn’t for when I got to accommodation close to James Cook University(20 min north of Cairns) I found myself again surround by green trees and tropical plants! I am quite literally living in a rainforest! I can look you my window and see the mountains that are covered with vegetation!

So far this has been amazing and it all seems to be a bit surreal right now!