Last day in Cairns

It's my last day in Cairns. I finished work yesterday and tomorrow at 10.30 I head back to Melbourne and the cold! Yesterday I went walking as usual, when I got back to the hotel it was starting to rain. When I got up to my room on the 7th floor there was the most magnificent rainbow I have ever seen. i could not capture it with my camera. It was a perfect picture book rainbow, - I could have run to either end to find the pots of gold, so close to me. Seemed like a good 'sign'.

The two women i worked most closely with (the third my mentor had started her leave) took me out for breakfast. Was a lovely meal and I didn't eat for the rest of the day. In the evening I stopped on the way home to listen and watch some of the music at the Indigenous market on the esplanade. It was a beautiful balmy evening, yesterday was humid and this morning when woke up I couldn't see the hills as it was raining and the clouds very low. it's beginning to clear now. Not sure what I will do today, will no doubt walk along the esplanade as the markets are on today.

Work gave me a lovely gift 2 small paintings which will be perfect in my newly decorated and refurnished study.

Til next time....

Almost time to leave Cairns

1) this is where Iwalk in the mornings 2)taken form the reef terminal 3) a stop on the Skyrail

The last two weeks have gone by quickly. Work has been busy, but i got a lot done. The weather not quite so warm this week, bu not as cool as Melbourne and it will be cold for many months. I can understand why so many older people escape the cold and head north to Qld or even Darwin!! I have enjoyed my time here it's good to meet new people, make new friends and take a small step outside your comfort zone. I miss my friends and family and I am looking forward to getting home and catching up with everyone. I think the trip and work has been really beneficial to me and i will look for some meaningful volunteer work when I get home. It's just finding the time!! I fly home on Sunday and I suppose I will get back into the swing of things again. i am looking forward to putting my study into some sort of order again and then having my bathroom renovated - no doubt there at least 25 things to be done around the house and trying to adjust to a smaller backyard and a car space next to mine. Always changes no doubt I will deal with it all. A last few things to do in Cairns Friday evening and Saturday before I fly home

till next time...

The Best day! Awesome!!

1) Homeward Bound 2) Trish ready for the day 3) Upolo Cay

Today was a great day. Sailed at 8am for the Barrier Reef. I booked with Ocean Freedom and it was a great choice. We landed first near Upolo Cay on a near perfect day. It is a tiny little sand cay ( Sea Cucumber poo)I took the boat to the cay and then walked through the shallow water to deeper water (where reefs were) I practised my snorkeling so that I was prepared for the afternoon. I walked back to the cay and sat and stared out to sea. I saw several turtles and a shark. After a lovely lunch we set off again to 'Wonder Wall" on the outer Upolo reef. After a short trip in a glass bottom boat. I went snorkeling. it was amazing! The size of the coral and the colours of the fish.. it was great. Snorkeled as long as I could. I made the mistake of wearing a buoyancy vest and a wet suit. {I was a bit nervous} and I was buoyant!!! I kept on tipping over ..and found the flippers heavy going. But despite that it was great. The crew were a great bunch of young men and women. Going out of their way to make sure I had the best day.. It was very relaxing lazing around after the snorkeling enjoying an ice cold corona. On the way back the crew served us with huge platters of fresh fruit, cheese and biccys and cakes. They also took time to chat with us which made it so much more personal. A wonderful day. I saw nemo of course, and so many of his family members' Photos to follow when I get them developed.

Only downside was after I walked home I had agonizing pain around my ankle - over use of the muscles from the heavy flippers and not something I do regularly. Hot & cold treatment and nurofen and see how I go tomorrow!

Work was ok this week. I have been busy with the filing system, Enjoying the beautiful weather and my early morning walks.

Well my last week begins on Monday!!! What can I say back to the cold of Melbourne. I want to see the boys of course, I miss them heaps,, but that cold..

til next time

Back to work tomorrow!

1. The Pub with no beer. 2. Mareeba Welands. 3. The Chillagoe caves

I had a great day today. I went on a tour to Chillagoe Caves and Outback. The day started at 7 am when i got picked up and we headed off towards Kuranda to the Mareeba Wetlands where we had morning coffee. It was beautiful ! Lots of birds great for the serious or not so serious bird watcher. We left there and went on to the Chillagoe caves. It was quite a long drive. met up with the ranger about 12 midday We each got a torch which was great and even better they all worked and we had a backup light. I felt secure with the torch (miners lamp) slung round my shoulder.

The caves are beautiful, with stalactites and stalagmites and the limestone formations are quite spectacular. The spiders were huge! the cockroaches tiny! and the bats I didn't see close up. Luckily no pythons appeared.

We had a pub lunch in the town of Chillagoe, visited the old smelter works further down the road, then we visited the pub with no beer!!

On the way home we stopped at a coffee centre Skybury and in no time at all I was back at the hotel.

Saturday and Sunday were lovely lazy days, Sat I visited the markets as planned, enjoyed coffee and cake in the SUN and reads the newspapers. I walked in the evening, it was a lovely balmy evening. Sunday passed quickly I walked and shopped, sat by the pool for a while then did some scrapbooking. I am scrapping some photographs from Santorini. Its a very small album and I can see that it's going to take a while.

Work tomorrow, I will be on my own - lots to do before I finish up on 26th June

I am off to bed now - til next time...

Yippee it's Friday!

the night sky from my room Bye Pamela!! See you again

It seems a while since I was so excited about a Friday @ 5pm... and this is a long weekend which is great for me as i found a tour that I wanted to go on that only runs Mon's Wed"s and Friday's. so Monday I am off to Chillagoe Caves and outback. It will be a long day with pick up at 7 am and drop off at 6.30.

My volunteer Buddy, Pamela returned home to Perth today. I will miss her and her bright cheery ways!! Last night we went out for dinner to an Indian restaurant. It was very nice - I think we ate too much!! It was a lovely balmy evening and we sat outside. Pamela brought her woolly jumper as she gets cold but I guess us Melbournites perhaps don't feel the cold as much.

The weather today was a little cooler and overcast. When I went to book my reef trip it seemed like a good idea to postpone that trip as the forecast is choppy seas. The trip to the caves sounds good and the reef can wait til next weekend

Saturday will be my market day - up early to get my fruit and veggies for the week. Paw paw and pineapples, passion fruit (grenadillas) and melons fruit salad for brekky on Sunday morning.

After the fruit market I will check out the markets along the Esplanadeand then onto the markets at the Pier.

Hopefully a stop for coffee along the way.

Yesterday I caught up with a young woman I worked with when on my last project in Cairns. It was lovely to see her and catch up with all the news of her family. I am fortunate to be able to volunteer in this way and be able to make new friends.

We met up with the CEO of the Cape York Land Council to talk about our project. the project staff seem happy with our progress to date and I will be back doing the hands on stuff on Tuesday.

Well that's about all for now. I am going to read my book and chill out with a glass of wine.

til next time

Second week in Cairns

Back at work after the weekend. The weather in the morning has been much cooler than last week, I could have worn a light long sleeved top this morning but ventured out in my usual walking gear. Singlet top and 3/4 pants!! I know it's only 13 in Melbourne today or something like that!! Still remember, I am working and not outside enjoying the sunlight all day. I haven't been doing much since my last post, mostly work and a detour via the esplanade walking home. I have a long weekend this weekend so have been planning my time. I am hoping to do a trip to the reef, probably Sunday. Just keeping an eye on the weather...
Saturday there is plenty to do with fruit and veggie shopping at Rusty's markets then markets on the esplanade. Music and other activities.
My volunteer mate leaves on Friday evening so I will be on my own next week. I will miss the company, we are going out for dinner tomorrow evening.
My connection has slowed down again this evening.!! So will stop there.. hopefully more news and photos next time
Til next time....

First Weekend in Cairns

Another beautiful day in sunny Cairns. Today my volunteer mate, Pamela and myself took the train to Kuranda. It was a perfect day for Kuranda, blue skies about 28 deg forecast, and less humidity than yesterday. We walked to the station from the hotel and caught the train about 8.30. We spent a relaxing day wandering the markets, admiring the artwork and enjoyed a beautiful lunch at Frogs Restaurant. We stopped for an ice cream before catching the skyrail back down. The skyrail trip is quite spectacular, beautiful views of the rainforest, Barron Falls and river and sweeping views over Cairns and out to see. it was great except for quite a number of minutes when the Sky rail stopped due to a technical problem!! Nervous chatter, jokes about an overnight stay in the rain forest, did we have anything to eat and don't mention the toilet!! and don't move (rock the boat) it was a bit scary, being suspended over the rain forest, the view was spectacular but...... then we started to move again thank goodness. A couple of scheduled stops and we were back on the ground.

I am looking forward to a lazy day tomorrow, nothing planned for me, maybe a walk or some shopping or perhaps just laying by the pool.. i will decide tomorrow.

Friday was busy at work, we then took a detour home via the fruit & vegie market, and the esplanade. I was tired after my first week at work and I had sore feet!!

Til next time...

Day 3 in Cairns

The weather is warm and humid, not too hot - almost perfect. My hair loves the humidity! I have big hair!!

The work is going OK only day two in the job. I am enjoying the walking in the morning before work - seems strange talking about work after being out of the workforce for a while. Tomorrow is Friday and the weekend to look forward to. It's fun having another volunteer to talk with and spend time with. We are going to KURANDA on Saturday, my colleague is only here for one weekend and she is going to the reef on Sunday. I will go to reef probably next weekend.

That's it for now.. wont bore you with work details !! till next time

Relaxing in Cairns

I had a great time in Brisbane last week, very relaxing, did some scrap booking, drank a lot of red wine and ate chocolate. my friends spoilt me!
Got home washed the summer clothes, caught up with family and it was time to pack for Cairns. i left home at 4 am this morning and arrived in Cairns 3 hours later and 30 mins before scheduled time! Have been relaxing today and settling in and tomorrow I report for work at 8.30! Work?? I am keen to get the walk in before work so it will be my usual wake up time - 5.30. I was disappointed to find that the lagoon pool is closed for maintenance. I was looking forward to relaxing there. I am only 3 blocks away from the Esplanade so it will be easy to walk before I start work. I hope my walking mates back home are continuing the morning walks without me.
I can't believe that my suitcase was overweight before I got here. Would have been even heavier if I hadn't taken out the bird book and the second pair of bathers.. ? The sun has just gone down, I have a lovely view from my apartment window. Will take a picture of it and post on the blog.. til next time