Day 17 - Atherton Tablelands

Day 17 - Larry and the fun bus
Originally uploaded by photog larry.

After a night at the Cairns night market, which included buying a bunch of souvenirs and getting a masage from the chinese contingent in the night market, it was off to the Atherton Tablelands. I was looking forward to this for the picture taking oppotunities it would afford.



We joined a tour called Uncle Brian's. This tour had been recommended by a number of sources, including the Lonely Planet and the dirrty hot chick at the hostel. They are a bit gimmicky, so we can't tell you everything (as per their request), but you can tell by the pictures, that we had a pretty good time, being immature....

Basically, the day consisted of driving around in a fun bus, stopping at swimming holes and waterfalls along the way, including the world famous Millaa Millaa Falls.



We were supposed to see the Platypi at the end of the day, but because of the rain, they wouldn't come out. Slightly disappointing, but no big deal.

Because of all the wet activities, and the rain, the fun bus became the ass stank bus by the end of the day. Reminds me of the days of my good ol Red minivan, with the homeless people smell in it...ah the memories....

anyways, day ended, and so then, did our time in Cairns. We frantically tried to figure out how to pack, with our bags growing, with more and more souvenirs stuffing our suitcases...

next stop, the whitsundays...

Day 16 - Day trip to the Reef

Day 16 - Getting Ready to Dive
Originally uploaded by photog larry.

Our next day took us on a Day trip to the Great Barrier Reef, on the appropriately named "Reef Daytripper". The boat was kinda slow, and many boats passed us going out of the dock, but our understanding was, that we were not going out as far, so we'd still have the same amount of reef time. Unfortunately, we only snorkelled in one area for the day, because there was no wind, so our slow boat wouldn't be able to move fast enough to make it worth our while. But that was ok. We still had fun in this area. PLUS - we really should have had rain. Our trip to Queensland overlapped the rainy season for the area. In fact, while we were in Uluru, it rained EVERYDAY in Cairns. But when we got there, sunshine openned up, and we did not see rain for these two days. Clearly, we were DESTINED to be there! Overall, good value for what we paid. No pictures were to be had from our $40 crappy camera bought on board. I think some sun leaked into the film cannister before we developed the pics...oh well. But even though there were no pictures to show you, it wouldnt hagve done the area justice. You just have to go there to experience it for yourself. Warm water, beautiful colours of fish and coral. Unbelievable!

Day 15 - Queensland - Daintree River and Cape Tribulation

Day 15 - Spiky leaves
Originally uploaded by photog larry.

We rolled into Cairns around 4-5pm after the time change, and headed for the phones in order to try to find a place to stay. This was the one place on our itinerary where we had booked absolutely nothing. No room, no tours. Being accountants by nature, we started to panic at this point. We started calling the places in the lonely planet, and the first few places we called were booked up. Plus, we were running out of change, and couldn’t find a place that would give us any more. One last chance. Alas. A booking. So we hopped in a cab and headed over to Ryan’s Rest. A small hostel, outside of the main strip, but close enough to walk. We were greeted by a hostess who clearly spent a lot of time tanning, and she showed us the room and facilities. We unpacked, and then back upstairs to try to get some bookings. Crap. Office closed. Now we started to panic a bit, as we had no idea what was out there, and things were starting to close up. Luckily, as we went downstairs, we saw dirty hostess in one of the rooms. I guess she was dating someone / living downstairs in one of the rooms. So we politely knocked, and she told us she would help us out.
She made some good suggestions on tours, and started making calls to book us up. Next thing we knew, we were set up for the next 3 days. Sweet! Panic subsides.

Hungry, we headed to the mall, which was closing fast, and ended up eating noodles from this fast food place. One of the few times that I ate Chinese food out of one of those typical Chinese take out boxes that you see on TV, with the metal handles.

Anyways, no one cares about this crap. On to the first day trip.

Our first day tour got us up early in the morning to head to Cape Tribulation, north of Cairns. Our tour started with a bus ride along the coast, and a stop for a quick breakfast. Next was a boat cruise on the Daintree River, where we got to cruise around, looking for crocodiles.

Crocs are in my mind, the clear top of the food chain. They have been around for more than any other predator. They rule the areas that they inhabit without a doubt. The tour operator told us that the males are territorial, and have many lady friends in their territories. They fight the other crocs for territory. This is basically the only way that they die. When a younger croc comes in and fights the older croc and either kills the older croc, or beats him into submission, such that he leaves the territory. In those cases, the losing croc must find a new territory, or die of starvation. Apparently, their fights can go on for hours and days. Just bashing each other constantly with their tales…..

I love my zoom lens by the way. At one point, I was looking through my lens at a croc, and it made a sudden move. I flinched, before realizing that I wasn’t even close to the croc.

Anyways, after the river cruise, we headed up to the Daintree Rainforest and did a hike through the rainforest, and saw Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the reef. It has some significance, as the only place where two distinct World Heritage Sites meet.

Anyways, after lunch, we did a little more touring, back to base camp, stopping in Port Douglas on the way back. Port Douglas is a small sailing town. Basically, it is Cairns for rich folk. Rich white folk. Sort of like Newport beach. OK. Seen it, move on. A cha cha cha.

Day 14 – Kings Canyon and Alice Springs

Day 14 -Atop Kings Canyon
Originally uploaded by photog larry.

Kings Canyon is just that, a canyon. Reminds me of the Grand Canyon, but smaller. Either way, it was a beautiful hike. If you want some info on it, here you go.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_Canyon%2C_Northern_Territory

I’ll let the pictures do the talking. Here’s one. Head to flickr for the rest.



After that, was the long drive back to Alice Springs. I was a little concerned about this drive, given that it was a long drive, with no real rest stops, and Linda still feeling pretty lousy and dehydrated. But she was a trooper and hung in there, even desite the bumpy dirt road that we did our driving on.

Once in Alice, we headed to our hostel – I little joint called Annie’s Place, that was recommended in the Lonely Planet, and cleaned up. How nice. We went to dinner in town with this german dude that we had adventured with on our trip, and he told us about how he hated the French guys, and couldn’t stand to be with them any longer (he was actually booked to travel on with part of the group on an additional 2 days, but bailed out, last minute). Haha.

Alice was pretty low key, and uneventful. I was vetoed on the Alice Springs Casino (which likely would have been hugely lame anyways), and we spent the rest of our time repacking, and cleaning laundry to get ready for our flight the next day. Off to Queensland next!

Day 13 – the great outback

Day 13 - Sunrise at Uluru
Originally uploaded by photog larry.

Off for a beautiful sunrise at uluru. It was what it was cut out to be, spectacular. We then headed to the rock to walk around the site, and potentially climb the rock itself. But we were thwarted by bad weather, so no climbing for us. Whether we would have chosen to climb the rock or not (either out of fear, or respect for the aboriginals), will forever remain a mystery. But for the record, the task of the climb seemed daunting, given the worn out rock, and chain that looked like it would uproot at any minute.



After this small disappointment, the tour guide kind of left us with “free time”, since some people wanted to walk the entire way around the rock, while others opted for a condensed route, and some didn’t care to stay out in the heat. Linda and I decided on the condensed route, given our need to be near the facilities. So we did our walk, taking the occasional picture. People were walking at their own pace, so eventually, it became just the two of us walking along the path.

We finally came to the end of the path, which led onto a road. The tour guide had told us that the air-conditioned cultural centre was just “over there”, down the road, close by, a short walk. That is where our bus would meet us.

We walked,
And we walked,
And we walked.
In the blazing heat.
Abandoned.

Honestly, there were times when I thought that we were just going to get forgotten and left there to roast.



Finally, after a 20-30 minute walk, we reached the cultural centre, where we basically collapsed and slept on a bench until the calvary came to get us.

After yet another sweaty meal of bread and cold cuts, we headed out to a campsite near Kings Canyon where we ate a decent hot meal cooked over a campfire and rested for the night. The night was hot, but considerably more comfortable than the night before. We got smarter this time, and slept outside of the tent. I was a little apprehensive at first, given the snake incident from the previous night, but I got over it, and exhaustion prevailed.

Day 12 - the outback, the olgas and the heat

Day 12 - Valley of the (fill in the blank)
Originally uploaded by photog larry.

getting back to the campsite, I remember thinking that I wasn’t sure what to expect. we were given fairly scant details by our travel agent, except that it was a tour, we would be fed, and would be sleeping in private camp facilities.

as we drove up, you couldn’t really miss Uluru (or Ayers Rock). There is really nothing else around, and its pretty darned big. Part of me, due to the heat, was saying to myself – ok – great, seen it, now we can leave.

we got to the campgrounds and were greeted by the rest of the group, who had actually driven as a tour from Alice Springs, starting in the morning (our flight didn’t get in til after they left). Since the drive to and from Alice Springs is filled primarily with nothingness, we probably took the more luxurious route anyways.

We had some lunch of cold cuts and stale bread, and unpacked into our tent. All I can remember, is going into the tent, and realizing that it had just gotten about 5 degrees hotter, just from being inside. I was hopeful, that after sunset, the tent would cool down.

Anyways, after lunch and unpacking, we headed to the Olga’s for an afternoon hike into a valley. Since we were provided very little information by our tour guides, i can’t really present you with any fun details.

Back to campsite for a quick dinner of BBQ. It was pretty bad, but I suppose adequate enough, and what were we expecting? Perhaps knowing that other groups were doing a “Sounds of Silence” gourmet dinner was making me jealous.

Back to the Uluru site, were we witnessed a fairly unspectacular sunset, due to the clouds and generally overcast skies. Oh well. Such was our luck.

Back to the Uluru site, were we witnessed a fairly unspectacular sunset, due to the clouds and generally overcast skies. It wasn't too bad tho. you be the judge:



We went back to camp, relaxed as much as we could in the 30+ degree heat, and attempted to go to bed.

I don’t think I can ever describe in words, what we felt that night, lying in a tent that hot, sweating as we attempted to sleep.

Anyways, part way through the night, I couldn’t take it anymore, and got up from my bed/puddle and headed for the canteen, in hopes of some cold water to cool off. Of course, there was none. Oh well. Had some strange conversation with one of the frenchmen on the tour, who couldn’t speak a lick of english. I tried my best to communicate with him, but it ended up being completely incoherent. How awkward. Heading back to the tent, though it was dark, my eyes had adjusted, and I swear, I saw a snake wrapped up in the tree beside our tent. I froze for a minute, trying to think of what my next move was, but really, all I could think of were the brochures and steve irwin, talking about australia and all the most poisonous snakes in the world populating on this continent. I cursed myself for thinking that somehow, picking the tent near the tree was a good idea. Composing myself a little, I got back into the tent, and quickly closed the flap that we had openned to get some minimal airflow. Snake bites preceeded crappy airflow, so I made the executive decision to increase the air temp in the tent by 1 degree. I considered telling linda about the snake, but she was sleeping for the time being, and I figured it would make things worse, so I let her sleep through.

Suffice it to say, I didn’t sleep much the rest of the night, and before we knew it, the guide was getting us up to get ready for sunrise.

So for those of you who are wondering about whether I’m in for a trip to algonquin or other such camping adventures….i’m going to go ahead and pass on that. I’m a city person, and I don’t think that’s going to change!

pics here...