Cairns Part 2

New Years Eve was a relaxing day. Iral and I had breakfast at the resort, poolside, before having facials and full body mud wraps that morning. This being my first body wrap I didn’t know quite what to expect. Wayne,, one of our hosts was going to do them. While he’s a nice front desk person, a pleasant waiter and a good bartender. I don’t think he’s well schooled in spa treatments. At my thanksgiving gathering back in early December I was speaking with a guest about this trip and he warned me Skinny Dips had a reputation for what we’ll call “less then professional behaviours in spa treatments”. Wayne is a mid 60s gay guy in a relationship with a mid 40 guy. He’s has a full grey beard and the time has come where he has more body hair than head hair. His Richard Simmons like outfit didn’t flatter him at all. After preparing myself in the private bath I came into the treatment room in my robe. Wayne proceeded to bath me with a warm cloth and took his time. He then applyed the facial substance and mud over my body, finally wrapping me in a warm moist blanket and a large sheet of plastic. Courtesy of Bunning’s (Home Depot of Australia) Wayne then left me alone and I drifted in and out of sleep with the warm damp cloth over my eyes. When we finished Wayne was more than helpful at removing the mud. Unfortunately, I needed his help as the stuff took a little elbow grease to remove and I was not able to reach the far points on my back. I do have to say over all the experience was pleasurable and my skin did feel clean and refreshed but I think I’d prefer a younger and much hotter man to administer it next time. Wayne asked me to send Iral in once I had dressed and I made my way back out to the pool area. I took a few minutes to brief Iral on the experience. He was a little nervous and in the end had the same feelings I did.

After our wraps we walked into town and picked up a rental car we’d reserved for a New Years short road trip. We wandered around a little and found a cute local place for lunch, The Lily Pad, a kind of vegetarian, hippy style cafe. The place was busy and the food was good. We did some window shopping then stopped into the casino for a reprieve from the humidity and to kill some time. At 3pm we had massages scheduled back at the resort. 1 of these came as part of the package when I made the booking months before and the other one was paid for already. Our wrap experience at least gave us some knowledge of Wayne’s techniques. I had laid a little ground work earlier in the day letting him know that Iral was a licences remedial masseur and how an unprofessional massage could cost one their licence. So while our massages were sensual and I learned a few moves I’d like Iral to use on my next home massages, I’m hoping Wayne wasn’t able to try all the tricks he had in his bag. You live and learn and you’ll never know unless you try. So lesson learned and now I know!

The rest of the afternoon was spent near the pool and the bar with trips into our room for air conditioning. In the evening we had a nice dinner at the bistro in the resort. I have to say Wayne makes a much better chef too. We were one of the first people to get dinner so while the other guests ate Iral and I relaxed in our room, which then turned into being asleep by 10pm on New Year’s Eve. (I know we’re SO OLD! But how many of you partied all night yourself???) Luckily the crowd gathered just below us and woke me up at 11:50. I looked outside, it was pouring down rain. People were gathered under the canopy or were enjoying the hot tub. I woke Iral and we did our own little count down in bed. As the other guest partied in night away Iral and I drifted back off to sleep only to be awakened by them several more times before 3am when they finally had enough New Year cheer.

At 6:30am we were well rested, up and getting ready for our road trip to Cape Tribulation and Mossman Gorge north of Cairns. After 17 years in Oregon a little rain wasn’t going to bring a halt to my plans and our first stop was this viewpoint at Rex Lookout. The spot is named after a politician that helped construct the Captain Cook highway. A single lane in both directions road, that we were travelling on. Not really a highway but the only main road in the area and one of the few paved ones this far north. A little farther along and we came to the tourist town of Port Douglas. Very nice but not really much beyond hotels, guest cottages, golf resorts, restaurants and souvenir shops.

Our first taste of the famed Daintree National Park came at Mossman Gorge in the southern most portion of the park. Not really a “gorge” like my friends in Portland are used to but more like a rocky river to raft down. There were some kayakers there practicing moves in the fast moving waters. I got a couple cool videos of them, but this site won’t let me load videos anymore. Walking back the short loop trail to the car park (parking lot in Australian) we saw a wild bush turkey. I’m told they’re not the ones we can get in the stores. These guys are like a big chicken and nowhere near the size of the typical Thanksgiving Tom.

We also spotted this VERY cool mushroom. I’m not sure of the name but it was about 5” tall and so neat I just had to take a photo. If someone knows the name please fill me in.

From there we continued to head north. We had to board a small auto ferry to cross the Daintree River to get to the main coastal section of the national park. We decided to travel as far north on this narrow winding road as we could on sealed pavement then try and hit some of the sites on the way back. So we passed places like Cape Kimberly and Cow Bay, Bailey Creek and Thornton Beach heading for the point we’d have to turn around, Cape Tribulation. Here we took a walk along the beach where there are signs warning the tourist to watch out for saltwater crocodiles in the brush line and along the water’s edge. You’re also told not to swim in the water because of the deadly Iracongi Jellyfish. They even had a bottle of vinegar there used to pour on a wound if you’re stung by one of the tiny creatures. It won’t save your life or even stop all of the excruciating pain but it will help ease it as you rush to the nearest hospital 90 minutes away back in Cairns. Luckily the beach is about 15 metres wide (50’). So I ignored Iral’s pleads and stroll along down the middle of the beach. Figuring I can out run a croc if I had too and staying out of the water. About 30 metres ( 92’) into our walk I spot this fella, a Lace Monitor Lizard. He’s about 2 metres long (6’) and sunning himself quite happily on the beach. As I edged closer to get a photo he did seem to take notice of me but didn’t really move very much allowing me to snap several photos and get within about 10’ of him. We also saw some tiny ½” size sand crabs, a few birds but never a croc or a jellyfish. This was probably a good thing and I was able to tell Iral “I told you nothing bad would happen”. (You all know I’m not one to follow the rules, especially if someone tells me I can’t do something I want to do)

From there we headed back south a little ways to Dubuji beach where we sat in the sand and had a nice picnic lunch of potato chips, salami, mixed nuts, mango and Lycee. If you never heard of Lycee and I hadn’t until about a month ago. It’s a small round fruit about the size a large walnut. It has a tough bumpy outer skin you peel off and a peanut size seed in the middle. The flesh is pink and it’s VERY juicy and sweet. Most stores here carry the tropical fruit and you MUST try it if you can find them! The beach was sunny and warm. The sand was soft but firm to sit on and scattered with little balls of sand from the sand crab homes. We listen to the waves lap at the shore line and ate our snacks gazing out at the water and the Great Barrier Reef beyond.

After lunch we continued south and stopped at Jindalba rainforest boardwalk to do a short hike in the woods. It was here we found this really cool tree growing at an angle and in a maze pattern. I’m not sure of the type of tree but it’s one of the ones I mentioned in the last blog that grows up around a host tree eventually killing it and then the inner tree rots away leaving an empty space.

By now it was getting late in the day and Iral and I started our drive back down to Cairns. We stopped at another Gay Resort we had heard about Turtle Cove, to check it out on our way home. It’s about 45 minutes north of town and really in the middle of nowhere. They have a VERY private beach that some of the rooms look out over. It has a nice pool and plenty of space to play beach volleyball and other things. Being New Years it was totally booked out and we weren’t’ able to check out any of the rooms. I had heard a lot about this place over the last few years and wanted to see for myself. It’s under new ownership and they’re making a lot of renovations to bring it into the new millennium. So maybe next time we’ll stay here?



There’s one more blog entry to this trip and it’s all about the GREAT BARRIER REEF. I have 2 performances with the band on Tuesday for Australia day (think 4th of July without the fireworks). So it’ll probably be next weekend before I start to type it up.



Hope everyone is well and enjoying the last few weeks of winter. Until next time my dear friends take care! And come VISIT!!!

New Years in Cairns

From Lake Eildon National Park on Christmas we go all the way north to Cairns Queensland and Skinny Dips all male resort for 6 nights including New Years Eve.

The flight left at 7am, meaning Iral and I had to get up early on the Tuesday the 29th. Security for domestic flights here is quite different from the states. We checked in at the kiosk for Jetstar and got our boarding passes. At the counter we show them to the clerk and our luggage gets the usual sticker. The only questions asked, “Are we flying to Cairns and do we have any explosive items in our bags”. No identification is required at all. This relaxed approach continues at the security gate. We are not required to take off our shoes or open our CPAP bags (Iral has one too) or even show our boarding passes to anyone. We just empty our pockets, throw our bags on the conveyor belt and stroll right on by. Iral’s bag did get sent through the scanner a second time but it came out fine and no one even spoke to us. We got some beverages and I started to read my book. (A true story about an Jewish American family that moves from LA to live in Jerusalem Israel in 2001, entitled “Coming together, Coming apart” by Daniel Gordis, regardless of your political views it’s very interesting reading) I managed to get us into row 1 of economy class and we arrived in Cairns a few hours later just fine.

Cairns is only has about 150,000 residents and nearly 3 million visitors a year. Our resort offered a free pick up at the airport and we had been instructed to obtain our luggage then place a call to them and they’d come get us. Only being a few minutes from the airport it saved us cab fare. We obtained one of our 2 bags and thought the other would be coming along any minute so I gave Wayne at the resort a ring to come get us. He mentioned where we should wait for him and he’d be there in a jiffy. After a few minutes all the bags had been claimed and our 2nd piece of luggage was nowhere to be found! I ran out to meet Wayne while Iral waited in line at the baggage service desk. Wayne said he’d make the loop and I went and filled out some paper work. We had a direct flight from Melbourne to Cairns and the missing bag contained all of the clothes for both Iral and me, including brand new Christmas clothes. After about 20 minutes with a very polite customer service girl, Ebony. I was assured most bags turn up in 24 hours and that it was probably still in Melbourne. I surely hoped so because the outfit I was wearing was quickly becoming damp with sweat from the 95% humidity Cairns has in summer.

Wayne was polite and made his 3rd or 4th loop pass. Just like in Portland cars are not allowed to linger in the pickup area. A heavy set woman with a white nose and wide brimmed hat made sure he moved himself along. Once at the resort things got back on track and we were shown our room that over looked the courtyard pool and hot tub. As I had requested a bottle of champagne was chilled in the refrigerator. Since we were on holiday we started it off right by drinking the entire bottle before heading to the local shopping mall to buy some new outfits to wear. A little tipsy and off we go in a cab to Cairns Centre Mall, hoping to score some after Christmas deals on clothes. I got 2 t-shirts and a pair of swimming trunks and Iral got the same all for only $80. Not too bad, Thank god for Target! We spent the rest of our afternoon between the resort pool and our air conditioned room only stopping at the bar occasionally of course. That evening we decided to take a stroll into the central business district and find a place for dinner. 3km later we made it to Outback Jack’s on the edge of the tourist area. The walk taught us that our flip flops were not good shoes for long distances and the humidity has zapped us of our energy. With our feet up I gulped down some water and Iral enjoyed a cold beer waiting for our food. The establishment was a HUGE gimmick and tourist trap. There wasn’t an Australian in sight and that included all of the employees which were mostly backpacker kids. However, I have to admit the food was very good. After our meal we had more energy and found a local public pool to sooth our tired pig toes in for a few minutes while enjoying a ice cream cone. 

From there we drifted over to the casino for a little while and lost a total of $10 in more than an hour of playing games. Every large town in Australia has a casino and the gaming industry is run by private investors not the indigenous people. This one only has 500 slots and about 20 tables really quiet small by American standards and gambling is about the only vice I have anymore. (I know some of you may find that hard to believe but its true) A vice I have learn to keep in check or at least try to. Back outside the humidity hasn’t dropped at all and in minutes you are sweat covered. A short cab ride back to the resort and our first day is over before we know it.

Wednesday morning was another early to rise day. I had booked us on a rainforest waterfall tour with Bob Stranger http://www.gaycairnsaccommodation.com/GayTours.htm Bob and his partner Andrew own Boyz on the Beach B&B, north of town. Bob had been a National Park Ranger for many years and knows the area VERY well. He only accommodates 4 guest per day. Iral and I got lucky and we were his only clients for the day. He immediately put us at ease by letting us know what was planned and that we could adjust the itinerary as we desired. Our first point of interest was the small tourist town of Kuranda Queensland in the hills above Cairns. We didn’t stop here really as most places weren’t even open yet and I had planned this trip to get out and enjoy nature. So Bob gave us the narrative while we cruised through on our way to Barron Gorge National Park and the wonderful Barron Falls. It may not look like much but the view was great and at the end of the rainy season (we were just in the first few days of the 3 month period) Bob said there would be several metres of water flowing over the falls. The link to Wikipedia shows a good photo if it with more water and has other information on it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barron_Falls. From there we did a little 4x4 on some dirt tracks and got a horticultural lesson about some of the native plants. We learned about how the grass tree (see earlier blog of the Brisbane Range National Park hike for a photo) needs a forest fire to germinate. How some types of trees live off established trees by growing around them and eventually killing them. How there’s a species of palm tree the shoots out spiky vines to help advance it up into the canopy and that those spikes have a poison in them that is highly troublesome to people with asthma. He showed us several kinds of orchids which unfortunately weren’t blooming at the time. Damn Mother Nature doing things on her own schedule not mine! Plus many more facts of useful information I can’t remember anymore. Around 10am we had morning tea by a creek. Complete with home baked cookies, several kinds of herbal teas, a table cloth and even didgeridoo lessons. The trick is to loosen your lips and flap them like a horse, here's Iral have a try at it!

After morning tea Bob took us farther down another road where Iral and I were able to take a walk by ourselves for a while. He just dropped us off and said follow the dirt road until you see me again. We had about 45 minutes to enjoy the sounds of nature, the exotic plants and butterflies of the rainforest and smell the clean humid air. It was great! I do really enjoy the outdoors and after months in the big city this is exactly what was needed. We met up with Bob again and proceeded on our journey. From the deep forest he took us to a fresh fruit stand where Iral picked up a flat of his beloved mangos. I was able to get some chilli mango sauce, some termite tea tree honey for my flatmate back home and a jar of mango jam for a friend of Iral’s.

The rest of the day was spent at another out of the way spot Bob knew about Emerald Creek Falls. This area was not a national park but it was a spectacular afternoon. On the road out to the trailhead we passed a giant termite mound. This mound is about 6’ in height and at least that in diameter. Bob says this would have taken over 100 years to construct. I have to assume that means many queens have ruled the palace in that time. The termites in this part of Australia eat only dead material and the traditional way to make a didgeridoo is to sick a log of wood in one of the mounds. The little sawdust makers only eat the soft centre and leave the outer hard wood. You can see that someone has placed a log beside it in hopes that a year from now it’ll be hollow.

Once at the parking area Bob showed us a spot where we could cool off in the stream while he prepared our lunch. About 45 minutes later we returned and found this lovely setting beside the water.

 Bob had cooked a hot meal for us on his propane camp stove, Steak, green salad, coleslaw, roasted veggies and a nice bottle of champagne. We enjoyed our meal cooled from our swim with the cascading waters at our side, the chirping birds in the trees and one of the mangos for dessert. After we helped Bob pick up the picnic items then he took us on a stroll up to a spot of amazing beauty. The reason he brought us here, the lovely Emerald Creek Falls. Along the stroll we came across a green ants nest. These little buggers make their home in the leaves of trees and fold the leaves over coating them with a substance that holds them together. Bob informed us that the Aborigines eat them for protein. So I tried one and it sort of tasted like a lime. The natives also used them to create a green paste for painting of the face, didgeridoo and shelter hieroglyphics.

Once up at the falls we were awestruck by its grandeur. We were the only people here! The large pool of water is cool and inviting. You had to swim about 40’ to reach the falls. Iral and I played in the water for a lon cssfloat: right; floaus for a little while but then wandered of assuring us he’d be back and allowing us to have some time to ourselves. We spent time taking many photos from several angles, very few of which I can actually post on this blog.
 After a long while of fun and I spotted a viewing platform point above the falls. As I often to I have to climb to the top of things. So we started back on the trail to a fork we had passed along the way. I was sure it would take us up above the falls and it did.

Once back at the car the day was nearly over. Bob placed an Elton John CD in the dashboard and we enjoyed the scenery as it passed along the highway. Heading back to town we stopped along the way for some ice cream and it dawned on me that Jetstar hadn’t called to tell us if they had found our luggage yet. So I tried to call them and made several attempts at various numbers to no avail. Without me even realizing it Bob called the resort and found out that our luggage had been delivered and was sitting in our room waiting for us. Our last stop of the day before getting home was this great viewpoint on the hillside as you climb up from the ocean’s edge. In the distance you can see Cairns airport tower. It was a wonderful day and one of the best tours I had ever taken. I highly recommend if you’re ever in Cairns to look Bob up. He’s a great host and knows the area well. He has 4 different tours he takes guests on so I know I’ll be looking him up the next time I’m in town.

This is just the first 2 of the 6 nights we spent in Cairns os stay tuned for more updates.

This website has changed how I load images and not for the better. I am no longer able to load small movies and it's much more of a pain in the ass to load pictures. I'm going to quit for the night since it's almost midnight and try to finish loading the photos in the morning. If anyone reads this and knows a better sight to post a blog let me know please by emailing bkhpdx@yahoo.com.

Thanks!

Christams in OZ

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is here again. The long warm sunny days don’t feel like Christmas at all. But I guess I’ll get used to that in years to come. I’m easing back into the holiday season a little more this year by cooking a small dinner and exchanging gifts with my Australian friends.

But let us begin at the office on Christmas Eve. I had a VERY busy morning with 3 projects that just had to get finished before the long holiday break. I coined a new phrase that the project managers would just have to deal with by telling them “Santa doesn’t work here and you’re not getting everything you want for Christmas!” (Feel free to use that one next year Ruth and P, I’m sure Mark will appreciate it!) I managed to complete enough to keep them all happy and get the deliverables sent out. In the afternoon the office had a sausage sizzle. Basically, flavoured hotdogs cooked on the grill out on our patio. But all the kids came into the office and even Santa reared his hairy face for a little while. I escaped before he came. Leaving the office about 2pm and getting paid until 5. Now that’s a nice holiday gift from the office.

Once at home I ran to the store to pick up some things for the dinner I was making. I made a small ham in the crock pot along with some baked potatoes and a fresh green salad for my flatmate, Michael and my boyfriend Iral. Christmas morning Iral and I exchanged gifts. He got me a collapsible bucket for camping, a nice pen set, some cuff links and a alarm clock that projects the time on to the ceiling at night. I got him the movie Bruno a 12 pack of Dr. Pepper (yes I turned him on to it) and a gift certificate to his favourite store, David Jones. (It’s like Nordstroms). I got a few other things from home too. Phyllis sent me a care package of things like grape jelly an Oregon calendar and some hazelnut chocolates. My mom sent me some much needed bed linens and Michael bought me 2 tickets to the gay pride T dance on the 17th of January. It’s a outdoor dance party with about 3,000 people. I didn’t go last year and have heard it’s a lot of fun so I’m looking forward to it.

Christmas day Iral and I took a drive to Lake Eildon National Park about 2 hours northeast of the city. We spent the afternoon lounging by the lake side on a blanket after a picnic lunch. Then we waded in the water for a little while before doing dome 4x4. In the evening we went to one of his 4 sister’s house for Christmas dinner of raw oysters, cooked jumbo prawns, spring rolls and Asian noodles. Most Australians celebrate with a bbq since it’s so warm and nice at this time of year. Iral’s family is from the Philippines so that’s where the menu varies from what you and I are used to having. We spent most of the time singing karaoke with his mom, sister Susan (our host), and niece Nadine. Iral and Nadine have beautiful voices while Susan and I croaked out a few lines here and there. It was a lot of fun and the first time I’ve ever done karaoke completely sober!

On Saturday the 26th we did a little shopping and then had drinks at Max and David’s house in the afternoon. Sunday the 27th we took a ride on Iral’s motorcycle out into the countryside. I’ve ridden with him 3 times now and am getting past the fear of death I had on the first ride. Although on our way home he got on the freeway and did 130 kph (80 mph) for a short stretch and I just put my head down and prayed. Don’t worry mom. I wear a helmet, leather jacket, boots and gloves while I’m on the back and trust me I hang on to Iral like his life depends upon it! He can tell when I’m nervous by how tight I’m holding on to him. He wants me to get my motorcycle licence and buy a bike but I just don’t see that happening anytime soon! LOL.... I’m too old to die stupidly I hope!

On Monday the 28th we had scheduled a hot air balloon ride over Melbourne but some low clouds that morning cancelled the trip and we had to reschedule it for January 26th, Australia Day.

On the 29th we left for Cairns for 6 nights but you’ll hear more about that trip in my next blog update.

I hope everyone’s Christmas was wonderful! Brian