Tropical Wonderland

Saturday 14 September. Despite a couple of hours sleep I felt more than a little disorientated in sunny Cairns. 

Lipstick palms adorned The Hotel Cairns where I snoozed

The 8am walk around the seafront with Steve allowed me to recognise some of the views in Jason and Hester's photos, although I could not recall the town at all from a family visit back in the 70s. Tanya then drove us to the botanic gardens where Steve's knowledge of exotic plants soon became evident. An 11am brunch appointment at Holloway beach north of Cairns was comfortably managed; the photo suggests I indulged in my first, long awaited, malted milk. I do remember the sad phone chat with June (Steve's mum) which revealed that her sister Val, who had a deep stroke before I left England, was unlikely to recover. I also spoke with my father's cousin Delma, and hoped she might like to meet and get to know me.

Brunch in a pleasant cafe next to the beach in north Cairns

The weather had warmed considerably so as we journeyed north I was pleased to discover that in Tanya's car air conditioning equated to opening the window. My ongoing somewhat confused state deepened when the chap we picked up on a 180 degree detour near Port Douglas was dropped off in Mossman (although this did explain why he was not unhappy about being squashed in the back seat with Steve and assorted objects) and replaced with the motor for Steve's boat! Feeling the need of fresh air and less motion, I wandered around Mossmann while the others went about their business. I was awestruck by the huge epiphyte covered rain trees lining the road heading north out of town, and perplexed by the horrid substance-less smell (too recognisable to one who gets travel sick) which I later learnt came from the sugar mill nearby.

Looking south towards Mossman

I was awake enough to appreciate the Daintree ferry crossing, and soon we arrived at Steve and Tanya's residence near Diwan. I later discovered that the main gate has lovely images of a frog (symbol of the Australian Rainforest Foundation for whom Steve worked) and local big bird, the cassowary. 

The frog and cassowary (hidden by eucalypt flower) gate

I soon settled into my cabin, 'Ulysses', and agreed with Tanya's recommendation of sleeping with doors open to appreciate the morning view. Tanya created a most delicious Thai pumpkin curry soup for dinner from pumpkins grown in the garden. I accepted Steve's offer to walk me back to my cabin as, even with a lamp, I risked not finding my way. In Perth, while most went to bed around midnight I, still hyper, sat up for hours checking emails, FB, trying to convince myself I really was in Australia; now I was in great need of an early night. With the Internet only available in Steve's office, I downloaded my latest photos and soon nodded off.