Cairns Festival

Wednesday, 30 August 2017

Our time in Cairns has about come to an end, with only one more day remaining.  The last few days have been fairly busy, with the Cairns Festival Main Parade happening last Saturday.  There were 87 entries this year and it took well over an hour for the parade to pass.  There didn’t seem to be as many actual “floats” this year, but there were lots of entries from various schools, organisations and clubs with people in some form of dress special to that particular entry and walking behind their banners.  There were lots of children, which was very special for them.  Following the parade, after moving our chairs to the boardwalk, we only had a short wait until the much anticipated fireworks show drew the expected oohs and aaahs from the crowd.

On Monday night, we took James and Maureen with us to look at the light show on the Cairns Library (and dodge the bats which hadn’t left home for the night!).  This year, the colours were very bright and depicted Aboriginal designs.  After leaving the library and as we drove past the soon to be opened aquarium, we noticed that the restaurant area was open to view and a large tank was brightly lit.  Himself managed to make a sudden stop without damage to anyone or anything and we joined a number of other people having a free look at what can be expected after opening day.

Tuesday night we said farewell to our bowling acquaintances at Edge Hill, promising to return next year, hopefully.  Today we enjoyed lunch with James and Maureen – our last opportunity before leaving on Friday.

It will not be easy to leave the climate behind and head for the cold weather further south, but it will be rather nice to see our family again.

Hot Days in Cairns

Friday, 25 August 2017

Remembering the fallen

Cairns Cenotaph

Installing the Installation

Rescue party

Still plenty of water

Local fauna

Four months to Christmas, in case anyone is counting!

The weather has continued to be monotonously clear, hot and sunny, with daytime temperatures around the 29-30 degrees.  It will be difficult to leave this climate in another week.

Last Friday was Vietnam Veterans (Long Tan) Day and we joined other veterans at the Cairns Cenotaph for the annual service.  Such a beautiful setting on Trinity Inlet, especially with a high tide.

The weekend came and went, like many other days, Tuesday was our normal bowls night.  Although bowling well, no prize money this week.  During one of our walks along the Esplanade, we noticed that the installation of the new $1,000,000 art installation had commenced.  No doubt, there will soon be many letters in the local newspaper!

Yesterday afternoon we once again walked to the Crystal Cascades, thinking it would be cooler under the trees.  Although shady, it was much more humid, but there were plenty of Ulysses butterflies to keep us happy.  Unfortunately, we also met a Raging Canyons party returning from a much shortened afternoon and carrying one of the party in a sling stretcher.  Probably not quite the experience many of the young overseas tourists were expecting.  As we neared the entrance to the Cascades, we came to an abrupt halt when I spotted another of the local reptiles crossing the path (we very nearly walked on it!).  The small group approaching from the other direction also decided to stand back and wait until it disappeared among the leaves and undergrowth.

Last night we enjoyed a meal out with James and Maureen (from Canberra) and two other couples we have met in the caravan park.  The park is thinning out quite noticeably now, although there are still plenty of overseas tourists in campervans and motor homes spending a night or two.

Snakes and the Atherton Tableland

Thursday, 17 August 2017

 

Snakes are probably a bigger worry!

Paperbarks

Twitching

Jacana

Going, going

Gone

 The weather continues to be dry and hot, with cool nights (well, 16 degrees that is!).

The weekend just seemed to disappear and Monday afternoon we decided to have a walk around the Cattana Wetlands.  We were the only people there and it was much cooler in the shade of the trees and beside the water.  There were a few different birds about, including a few jacanas walking on the water lily pads and a couple of darters, with their snake like heads poking out of the water.  It was as we were returning to the car after stopping for a final photo opportunity that we scared a snake only a few feet in front of us on the edge of the path.  We both stopped suddenly, Himself immediately implemented a rear guard action in case of attack from behind (there may have been another snake following us!!!), the snake sat up and looked at us, then moved hurriedly away for a few feet then stopped and looked back again, with much wider eyes.  He quickly decided it would be safer well away from us, who had the same thoughts.  We stopped at the snake information board at the entrance and decided it was most likely a slatey grey – “venomous and likely to bite.”  This made three snake sightings in about ten days.

Beautiful moth on the green

Staying cool

More water than mud!

Avenue of Honour

Preparing for a Lion Dance

Times have changed

Temple entrance

Painted tin panel

Wooden carving of a bat

Inside temple

Cute dragon

Cheeky little carving

Probably not much call for ski fittings ...

Pig oven

Temple and meeting house

Sculpture depicting the banking profession

Orange blossum

On Tuesday, we decided it was much safer to have a foot massage, ice cream and walk along the Esplanade boardwalk – the tide was nearly in, too, a real bonus.  Tuesday night was our usual bowls night and my team were very unlucky not to win a prize, losing on a countback.  It was a lovely warm night and no dew, with lots of bugs, moths and micro bats flying about.

Wednesday we headed inland to the Atherton Tableland, with a stop at the Termite shop for some chutney and a visit to Maria for some coffee, spotting a recently dead snake near her driveway.  We wandered our way to Yungaburra, stopping for a stroll around the village before heading to the Avenue of Honour and Lake Tinaroo.  The lake is well down and it is easy to understand why the farmers are angry at not being allowed to irrigate when water is being released daily.  We had a lunch stop at the Malanda Dairy, another stop at Gallo Dairy for some chocolate purchases (also a piece of cheese) and fortunately we were too early for the afternoon milking of the cows.  We used the back roads to travel to Atherton, visiting the Hou Wang Temple.  This is the only remaining wood and tin temple in Australia and the only building remaining of the Atherton Chinatown.  The museum was very interesting, with stories of the local Chinese community and artefacts from the site.  A guide took us to the temple, explaining about the village as well.  This lady was so good, she really brought the place to life.  We were able to look closely at the interior of the temple and its contents, with explanations provided, before moving to the meeting house next door and then having a look at the reconstructed ramped pig roasting pit and the sculptures along the main street depicting the life and professions of the people who lived here.  We were so glad we visited.

Lots of photos today!