More pics from Cairns

Babinda Boulders

Barron Falls

Milla Milla falls

My time in Cairns.30/8/10

Spirits not dampened!

We're off!
Making ready

I didn't drown

I have been enjoying many adventures here in Cairns. On my first day, last Wed I arreved at my accommodation- The Girls Hostel. It is well run, clean and the beds are even made up for you! Beds haave to be made each day,and rooms kept tidy. There are three kitchens, showers and toilets. Washing machine too, and launderette next door if needed. Booked 3 trips for Thurs, Sat and Sun.

Thurs I went out to the Great Barrier Reef, and snorkelled on two occasions. We were taken to 2 different locations. As Katie said, she has never known me put my face in the water. I was very apprehensive, but we were well assisted and looked after. It was magic. It's another world under there. Unfortunately, I did not take any photos underwater-a step too far! The only photo is of me enjoying the cheese, fruit and wine served after the second time in the water. I saw such a variety of coral; clown, angel, parrot fish and many more, and we also saw a turtle. Fab day.

Friday was designated housework day - washing etc (though not much etc). Went to cinema to see SALT.

Sat,, I went hot air ballooning over the Atherton Tablelands. 4.15 departure from hostel. Up in the air fust on sunrise. A serene experience. After the flight we are all obliged to help bag up the balloon. We were then taken for breakfast, with champagne! I then bolted on another trip, which involved crossing over the rainforest in a gondola (cable car type). We reached a fair height in it. It runs for 4.5 klms, stopping at 2 stations on the way down with info centres. All brilliant. Saw the Barron Falls.

Sun I went on an all day trip entitled Waterfalls and Tablelands. What a brill day, but water falls was an apt description! We were in an area that holds the record for the past 7 years for most rainfall in Aus for the year. The area gets rain 300 days a year. We were not there on any of the other 65 days! However, it did not stop us doing all on programme. Great guide with good sense of humour. We saw fantastic waterfalls, and beautiful boulders (Babinda Boulders); turtles; komodo dragon; yellow orb spider and some lovely walks. Once wet, you don't really get any wetter! But then, the rain is warm!

Off to Townsville by train tomorrow. Window seat booked for the journey 9.15-4.35. Staying in guest house, and the landlady picking me up from station!

Bali 3rd and last. Taxing the brain somewhat!

Beautiful flower seen a lot here and in Darwin. St. Andrews Spider(real name)

Me on the Bali Birdwalk(trek more like!)
The praying mantis which was on the back of my neck, and I brushed it off thinking just a leaf or something, til I saw itland on ground. Not my hand! And lastly, a wood carver in Ubud. That's all from Bali and prob for a fortnight at least.

Bali photos 2

View of the paddy fields

The Blanco Museum

Brenda feeding the eleqhant

A hornbill, and a temple above.

Bali photos - I hope!

Rowena and me; their living room open to the garden; me out for lunch with Rowena down at Sanur Beach with the view out to the sea behind me; more photos of the beach/sea. Even I have coped with the heat to appreciate.

More to follow of cultural centre Ubud and surrounds

Bali Dream - one of my favourite perfumes!

What can I say? Wish you were all here. It has been a superb week. Thanks firstly to Tracey for contacting her friend, Rowena and asking if I could stay with her in Bali; thanks to Eat, Pray, Love for persuading me I should come, and thanks to Rowena for accommodation and organising driver for me - no public transport system. First full day, orientation. Lovely house in Sanur Beach district, with me in separate bungalow in the garden. Bathroom off bedroom is actually outdoors, but in every way looks like bathroom as we know it. Able to view flower border, and forgs in the vegetation from shower and loo! Second day, Rowena out, so I walked along by beach (3 and half klms), read book over lunch and admired the view, and walked through the lovely warm water on return. Cook prepared meal every night with strict instruction not to add any sesame. Out to pub quiz at night - providing the usual laughs. We had to identify the 10 largest lakes by their outlines. This led to many jokes and remarks. Questions good and we came 4th. Picked up at 8.30 am next day to go to Ubud 1hour away, the cultural centre of Bali. This was the first of 4 days each of which I travelled thus to Ubud, following both my own itinerary and being taken to places recommended by Made my driver. Have visited some fantastic galleries, most notable for me, Antonio Blanco, nicknamed the Dali of Bali. Not only his pictures fab, the frames he designed a work of art in themselves. Packed lunch by paddy fields also a delight. Today, Bali Birdwalk. 9-12.30 ending with lunch in a Balinese restaurant. Prob 34 degrees, but we stopped midway round the paddy fields to have refreshments - with electrolytes to keep us hydrated. We drank the milk of coconuts of different ages, had a small banana each and another fruit(name escapes me). We viewed many and varied butterflies, dragonflies, large spiders(one called St Andrews), water snakes and more kingfishers - brill. All so lovely. Returned to the guest house =Gardenia where I have stayed 3 nights as Rowena had friends to stay arranged before I arrived. Very comf. Lazed about after shower to watch Oceans 11 downloaded by Katie for me. Have spent evening blogging! Off to beach for seafood meal tomorrow evening before Rowena takes me to airport for 11.55 flight-Darwin-Cairns.

Cannot get pics to download. Oh 3 just popped up. My bedroom, bed and bathroom. Will download rest soon. Need to pack!

Darwin 2

Could not access photos on last blog. Sending separately here. (I hope!)

Darwin

Never trust estate agents or YHA descriptions of themselves! Well, Darwin YHA not quite as expected, however 5 room mates were all nice. Everyone very respectful of each other, and friendly. 2 said worst hostel they had experienced, but not so bad I felt I had to leave. Told that kitchen was not very clean - saved from even pretending I'd try my hand at cooking! First night, went to the Deckchair Cinema. Fab experience - sitting outside watching the film, with hot food and drinks being served. Sorted. Out for 6.50 next morning to spend 5 hours on birdwatching tour. Marvellous. Got me to part of countryside I wouldn't have been able to access, saw lots of lovely birds, and best of all spotted my first ever kingfisher. Magic. Half way through morning, guide set out table, folding stools, wet facecloths, napkins, banana loaf and variety of hot and cold drinks available. Very civilised, and much appreciated in the 30 degree heat. In the monsoon rainforest, we saw among others, Rainbow Pitta, kites, rose-crowned fruit-dove. In the afternoon, off to the market at Mindil Beach, with every conceivable stall, and many varieties of foodstuffs from many countries. The great attraction is to watch the sunset from the beach, which is at 6.30 then have your meal. People flock to the beach at 6.25 from nowhere! Next day, 7am-7.30pm visit to a Nationla Park, Litchfield. Superb day, viewing crocs in the river first, from a boat; stopping at Humpty Doo for our morning tea; swimming or lazing in the pools at the bottom of waterfalls; viewing massive termite mounds; walk through monsoon forest where spiders and LARGE bats could be viewed. Sadly, camera slipped from my hands. Mix of hands moist from heat and suncream. Ended our day back at Mindil Beach for fresh prawns and champagne. It's hell, I tell you. Got some good tips from young Irish couple re good places to visit east coast Aus, and in NZ (and where NOT to go). Also, a girl from England endorsed the bus company I'm using to tour NZ. Last day in Darwin (all on tour complained about their accommodation!) and went to art gallery/museum. Off to Bali.

The Second week in Perth

Ok, so I've fallen behind. It's busy work, travelling and taking everything in. I put in full days! Ok, so no housework etc to speak of. Anyway, here are some of the things I got up to in my remaining time in Perth, staying with Rhonda, Brent, Hayley and Shane (not forgetting Cooper, the golden retriever). Revisited Freemantle to see exhib of Scot's artist. Then timed my visit to the Roundhouse to make myself available to be invited to discharge the signal gun at 1pm. Dropped Edinburgh's gun into the conversation, which helped. I now have the certificate to prove it. Off to Freemantle Prison, a bleak place. Convicts arriving in Australia in 1850 had the privilege of building thier own home, The Convict Establishment, later named Freemantle Prison. It was decommissioned in 1991. In the beginning, Yorkshire stone was used for ballast, and made the flagstone floors, and Jarra wood was used for ballast on the return trip. I also visited the Shipwreck Galleries, which had plenty of stories to relate, and houses the impressive remains of the Batavia, wrecked in 1629. This museum was also constructed by the convicts. The following day, Rhonda and I went for a full day out, 8am-6.30 to visit the monastery town of New Norcia, created to mission to the aborigines. The idea was to shcool white Australians and Aboriginies together, which sounds commendable. However, there were four sections - white boys; ab boys; white girls; ab girls! That night we all watched the film The Rabbit Fence, which relates to the "lost generations". I had not an awareness of children having been taken away from their parents to be "given a better life". Long road to travel again, with only one stopping place of note. Essential to fill up with petrol before any longish journey. Friday saw me at the Dolls of Japan Exhib - fabulous. On next to the Art Gallery, arriving just in time for the guided tour. All very interesting. Took note of pictures I best liked. Super meal out in Mexican at night by way of farewell dinner. Sad to leave (and no more daily avocado for my sandwiches from the tree in the garden). I was dispatched on Sat with Anzac biscuits, baked by Brent. Came in very handy for my breakfasts in Darwin YHA. Farewell, Perth.

End of week one in Perth- and what a week!

Hi all. Everything still fab, and I'm finding getting around so easy. Last Sunday, amongst other things we went to Freemantle. We were fortunate enoughto arrive there intime to hear the one o'clock gunbeing fired. In the lead up Edinburgh gets a mention. Then we went for the most amazing lunch of fishand chips-I had the fresh sardines. We popped into an art exhibition and noted that a Scot's woman has an exhib on this coming week. I'm going back there tomorow (Mon) to view, and to visit Freemantle Prison. I might even have a fish and chip lunch! Mon I went into Perth city centre, visiting firstly the Museum for exhib A Day in Pompeii. I then wandered around, orientating myself with train, underground and bus travel. Tues I took train to the end of one of the lines to Mandurah. Part of it is called Little Venice. I took a short cruise which takes you out for an hour and aim is to see dolphins. We managed to spot one, along with pelicans and cormorants. Wed I took the ferry over to Rottnest Island to see the quokkas, which are prolific there as no predators. They are a mini kangaroo which looked to the dutchman who noted them there like large rats, hence the name of the Island. I took the tour bus round the Island, and saw amongst other things, three osprey nests all out on rocks, an osprey in the distance, a pod of dolphins, tea trees, and fabulous views of the Indian Ocean. Thurs I went into Perth again, and took myself on a self guided tour, and saw buildings and places of note, ending at the Perth Mint, where we saw a gold pouring demo. Sadly, no free coins!

Thurs late afternoon and evening I met up with Iain, Claire and their daughter Aisha. We had coffee in lovely place called Indiana Tearoom. After walking the dogs, we returned to house for bubbly, and off for meal out I had my first meal of Barramundi.

Friday, I managed to find my way to Lake Monger. According to bus driver I was on not the best bus, and the person at Info "didn't know what they were talking about"! Not to mind, he fust called to the passengers where would be the best place for me to alight. Lovely walk right round lake, and saw lots of birdlife. Sat saw Rhonda, Brent, Shane and myself off a 7am to make the journey to Wave Rock. We returned at 6.30pm having covered 735klms. What a fab day out. We stopped a couple of times along the way, but the townships are small. Fortunately, Rhonda had packed us all a good picnic, knowing this would be the case. Wave Rock is a huge rock, part of which has been eroded to create a huge "wave". We then went on to visit a cave with aboriginal painting. What a day out. Thanks to Brent for all the driving. Today, we have caught up with chores, then off out to a market where we bought fresh fruit, nuts, veg and cranberries. I have been made so welcome by the whole family. I will post a range of photos.