Day out for crocodiles

We had a great Ozzie BBQ for lunch. While waiting for the bus, i saw this lovely month and i couldnt resist the colour on the green. The next item on the agenda was out to spot crocs.

We took a cruise boat and set sail down the river which is known to house a few huge crocs. The wind was strong that day and so many crocs dived into the water to keep warm as there were no sun to bask themselves in. I was a little disappointed but luckily, we spotted two half submerged big crocs for up close view.

As luck would have it, we even spotted one baby croc about 1 year happily swimming before me! Happy!!!! Of course my crappy hand held compact couldnt snap a decent shot. Luckily I insisted my husband to bring his big canon camera and we had such a clear shot! Lucky!

I'm happier in seeing them in the wild than in captivity. I hope people will be less stupid and jumping into the river despite all the warnings against it. Many stories were told about stupid people trying to do stupid things to get a shot. One stupid idiot apparently tied a bloody piece of pork meat to his canoe to lure the crocs so that he can take a good shot up close. What was found was a half wreaked canoe with no body to be found. We were told of countless stories of what people (actually ALL MEN and GUYS) would stupidly do just to get a shot, or go for swim thinking the crocs wont eat them. In my opinion, they were basically blaardy asking for it.

Day trip to Daintree Forest & Cape Tribulation

It was another bright eye bushy tail morning for us, heading to Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulations today!
The 135-million year old rainforest of the Cape Tribulation section of the Daintree is the most ancient and primitive in the world. Many species originated when Australia was part of Gondwana, more than 120 million years ago.

The 4 wheel drive we had looked kinda lean and mean, and it was really comfortable inside! Simon was our driver and guide for the day and the guys there always has jokes to share that make the long day really enjoyable!!

We didnt have to do any climbing or trekking for the day's activities. All we needed was camera, and a good ear. At the Daintree, we had a seperate guide to lead the way and explain the different parts of flora and fauna. Up to 80% of the rainforest fruits and plants are poisonous or rather unsuitable for consumption for human beings. The Golden Orb Spider here are really huge here! If u noticed, this spider only had 7 legs as I saw it overhanging the steps.



While I was keeping my eyes peeled for the green rainforest frog, Cassowary and some snake action, I didnt get to see any on this trip. Our guide told us that the frog will let out a loud shrieking cry just like a human baby when it is being attacked. I wished I could have a sound recording to know how that sounds like but no such luck.

Then as I boarded my drive, a blue flash caught my eye and it was the blue Ulysses Butterfly! The Ulysses Butterfly is an icon of Tropical Northern Australia. It has spectacular large iridescent metallic-blue wings that can be seen from a great distance. It was magnificent to see it fluttering in action rather than pinned to a board preserved. I tried to take a picture but all i could get was a blue dot above the end of the red car to remember by.

Apparently it rains 220 days in a year down in daintree area and I am glad my trip fallen within the 145 days of bright dry day. At some point it spit a little while we were on way to BBQ lunch but it was over before we knew it.

At Cape Tribulation, the mangrove side on the left was bright and sunny, while the right side was covered with dark heavy grey clouds.

Just then, a pink stub caught my eye. I thought it was crab leg, but later i realise it was part of the plant roots! I didnt quite know what the little sand moulds was until i got closer. I am assuming the crabs made it as they burrow downwards.




It was low tide while we were at the beach. I saw shells attached to the exposed roots and thought it was pretty interesting. As I explore further up, the 2 green stubs beneath the whole endless row of mangrove root grabbed me.
Porous roots sticking out of sand soil for air to absorb air and whatever nutrients they can get.
Along the way, Simon said that Captain Cook had been sailing around and was the one giving his explorations new names such as Cape Tribulation, Weary Bay and the mountain - Mount Sorrow.

I laughed out loud when Simon said "You can really imagine the state of mind the fellow was experiencing back them isnt it to have such cheery names!" Apparently, when Cook looked around the next morning after a sleepless night and understandably feeling a bit grumpy, he assigned a whole bunch of rather negative names to the beautiful coastline.

The origins of the names....

Cape tribulations
Cape Tribulation is situated 36km. north of the Daintree river in the Daintree National Park. It has a colorful history, known as Kurangee by Aborigines for thousands of years and renamed Cape Tribulation by James Cook as this was the place where his tribulations (trouble) began. Kuranjee (Aboriginal for 'place of many cassowaries' was renamed into Cape Tribulation (tribulation = trouble).

Weary Bay
It was named by Captain Cook becausehis men were weary rowing around looking for a river into whichthey could bring their damaged ship the Endeavour. (naming Weary bay where they had a rest stop)

Endeavour River

Captain Cook ordered the men into the rowboats and for several days they towed the disabled ship up the coast until they found a river suitable for bringing the ship in to beach at high tide and carry out repairs. This is now called the Endeavour River and the town there is called Cooktown.

Kangaroo
Apparently the name 'kangaroo' originated when Cook asked the local Aborigines what the name of this animal was they replied something like ' kang-goo-roo' . Later it emerged that this was not the name of the animal but one Aborigine saying to the other; what the hell's that white idiot talking about?

Kuranda Scenic Train Ride

Up in the Kuranda town, there was really nothing much for us to do except do the few walking treks until it was 2pm for the train ride. So we had about 3 hours to kill basically.

The town isnt very big and littered with restaurants and few souvenirs shops. The people here basically survive on the daily steady stream of tourists that is here for the cable and train ride.

We stumbled across a photo gallery of the deceased photographer Peter Jarver (http://www.peterjarver.com/about.php). His shots of landscape was immensely beautiful, the sort you feel really touched by its simpilicity and captivating beauty captured in a still moment. We lingered and lingered taking in all the works in display and finally in the spur of moment, we decided to buy 2 pieces. Its something beautiful that we knew we would like to have in our home.

After an hour in the gallery, we decided to go on a short nature walk. There wasnt much to see except to kill time really. Strangely, I found the place seemingly devoid of much life.






After lunch, we headed towards the train station. As we made our way there, I mentioned causually that "I rem the documentary show saying that this train leaves on time you know?" My husband looked at his watch and said "Then I suggest we better run because we only have 5mins to spare." We dashed towards our destination and its never a good sign when you do not see a single person on the way or at the station!!!

We made it in the nick of time and with luck, found our seat and the train took off in less than a min. Close shave!!! As the train started, it stopped over at Barron fall from the other side for more phototaking. Other than that, it was full steam ahead and all we could do was once again gaped at the picturesqueness landscape before us...




Tried to take a video off the camera and stupidly, I forgot that video clips cannot be rotated and i can only take it from horizontal! Anycase, Just thought will still share a short clip of a unrotated barron fall and a mountain view from the train. The clips are short since I needed to save space for my remaining days....

Cable Skyrail up to Kuranda Scenic Train

We decided that we had enough of snorkelling and so we opted to do the Daintree Rainforest and Cape tribulation tour instead. Time to do some land activities! Afterall, it will be kind of silly to miss out on Daintree the other world protected heritage when we are already at its doorstep. (http://www.daintreerainforest.com/)

The first excursion was taking the scenic Kuranda Train ride and the cable skyrail. So it was an easy breezy morning for us for a change and we didnt have to depart till 9.30am. As we had prebook the train and cable tickets via the agency, we didnt have to worry much and all we needed to do was to collect the tickets and off we go.

Kuranda railride is for 34 kilometres, where the 100 year old railway climbs more than 300 meters through tropical rainforest, delves through 15 tunnels, bends around 98 curves and tip toes precariously over 40 bridges. It travels up one of the most impressive mountain ranges in Far North Queensland through the Barron Gorge National Park.

We started the excursion with an upward cable to soak in the scenic view.The skyline was amazing! Being low season, it was good having the cable car all to ourselves!

The cable car had 2 stops, and we got off both. The first stop was a short boardwalk along the tropical trees. It wasnt a very interesting stop so we sped off to the cable Q, as I dragged my husband hurriedly to get before the 2 LARGE Japanese tour group and a korean large group. The last thing u need is to be stuck behind a tour group Q that takes forever!

However, the really nice stop was 2nd stop off the Barron Fall cable stop (optional stop). We were pretty lucky that there had been rainfall before we arrive and hence there were actually waterfall to see. Otherwise, I think it would have been quite boring to see rocks and boulders with trickling water. So as our cable ascended, we pass by Barron view and had a bird eye view from the top.

There was a lookout for the falls but i think it didnt look as spectacular as the one taken from the cable, possiblity due to lack of depth angle.

As the cable ascend to the top where the town is, we went pass the beautiful lazy river. If u just keep quiet and listen, you will hear all the myriads of birds and insects surrounding u amongst the greens.