CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA–IMPRESSIONS

∙ WHAT WE DID/SAW/EXPERIENCED
          ∙ Time in port: The ship was originally scheduled to arrive at 8 am on 2/29 and to leave at 3 pm the next day (3/1).  Then, they changed our departure to 3 am on 2/29, giving us only one day in Cairns (pronounced “kanz” – easier to say than to do; when is an “r” ever silent?!)  That just wasn't enough time here, since we wanted to go to the Skyrail and train to Kuranda (a full day activity) and to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef (also a full-day).  We, therefore, flew here from Sydney on 2/27 and checked into the “Cairns Luxury Apartments” at the marina (in reality, Harbour Lights Complex; the former is a name they apparently use to draw people in on the internet).  This was my first flight on Qantas, reputed to be the only airline that’s never crashed.  It looked more like your typical US airline than the amazing New Zealand Air.  Unlike some frugal US airlines, they did feed us lunch and give us headsets to listen to music or watch TV and a movie on shared screens.

 
DAY 1
          ∙ We got in about 3:30 pm and checked into our "Apartment" (Harbour Lights), where we stayed with our new friends from Pennsylvania, Erika and her mom, Lynn.  There were some negatives, like these tiny little ants crawling around the kitchen (even on the countertops); internet was a challenge; there were no robes or power adapters; no one showed or helped us to our room; there are limited office hours; and the sofa is pretty beat-up (at a cost of app. $350/night).  But there were plenty of things we loved too, like the space of a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment, with a pretty well stocked kitchen, dining room, huge balcony (where I can smoke), lots of closet space, washer/dryer and a view to die for!  Overall, it’s great. (We bought some bug spray and wiped off the counter-tops.)
          ∙ Since we had our own kitchen, we decided to relax and make our own dinner (spaghetti, wine, garlic bread, salad) - a relaxing evening at "home".  After the whirlwind of activity in Sydney, it was great to just walk to a grocery store, buy food, cook at home and relax.  Besides, I’ve been running myself ragged and have a cold now, in spite of the flu shot I got.  Aaarg.  The funniest moment came when Erika and I realized we’d never make it back to the apartment with all the food we’d bought, so we wheeled the shopping cart all the way up to our room!  You should have seen the look on Bill and Lynn’s face when we entered the room with a shopping cart!  (We returned it later.)
          ∙ Most intriguingly, a swarm of huge bats came to visit us both evenings as the sun was setting . . . wild! (Those little “specs” in the evening sky are bats!)


DAY 2
          ∙ We spent this day taking in the breathtaking views of Cairns' tropical rainforest.  It rained (or poured) intermittently throughout the day and night.  The rain reduced the heat, though, which made the high humidity more tolerable.
          ∙ Train to Kuranda
                    ∙ We were picked up from Harbour Lights and taken to “Freshwater Railway Station”, where we shopped and checked out their little museum before boarding the train.


                     ∙ From there, we boarded this adorable old train for a ride up to the rainforest village of Kuranda.  We opted for the “gold class” car and got amazing service, including mimosas and any other drinks we wanted, these little ham and cheese croissants, spinach and cheese pastries, and blueberry and other muffins.  There were only six of us in the railway car, with a hostess all to ourselves.  It was a real treat to ride the train “in style” up through the beautiful green mountain.  The bad weather made it hard to see past the haze, but it was an enjoyable ride, nonetheless.


          ∙ Kuranda
                    ∙ In Kuranda, we commiserated with the the cuddly Kuala bears and kangaroos, and the not-so-cuddly alligators and lizards.  Bill got to bond with a cockatoo. And then we shopped – and shopped some more.  That seemed to be the primary activity in town, after you’d seen the Koalas, birds and butterflies.  The town is a mecca of stores for tourists to let go of their money.  I even bought an authentic Didgeridoo!  It’s this really heavy wooden instrument that makes those robust deep tones played by the Aboriginal people.  It’ll make a great addition to my tropical furniture and furnishings – along with the boomerang I also bought.
          ∙ I haven’t mentioned before, but Australia is the first place we’ve visited thus far that will not take our US currency.  Okay, then.

          ∙ Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
                    ∙ After visiting Kuranda, we boarded the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway (a 6-passenger gondola, with only 2 of us inside since it wasn’t very crowded) for the journey back down the mountain range.

                    ∙ The ride was breathtaking and included stops at the Rainforest Interpretive Centre and Red Peak Station (lookouts to see a big waterfall and close-ups of the rainforest)