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Cape Tribulation
Hi all
Oh my god I'm tired, up at 6:30, just time for Nutella on toast mmm and then off. We drove through Cairns and on towards Port Douglas. We didn't have time to stop there if we wanted to go swimming in Mossman Gorge, so we carried on through to Mossman. On the way we hired a guide, as she was cheap and fun! I never really pay attention to guided tours but this one was really interesting. We passed fields upon fields of sugar cane and the guide told us that over 58,000 slaves had been shipped over from Africa to work in the fields and it was that bad with diseases and machette accidents that only a couple of thousand actually survived and were allowed to go home. She also told us that Sugar Cane toads were put in the fields to kill the beetles that were eating the cane but they regret that decision now as the toads are those ones that have hallucinagenic properties if you lick them! This story made me chuckle - who was the first person to lick the toad to find out? Also, you are advised to stamp on the toad if you see one to help wipe them out, I love the Aussie way of dealing with a problem! I also learned that the sugar cane from here is what goes into making the lovely Bundaberg Rum that has gotten me so drunk on a few occasions back at the CBH - hope you can get it back in Blighty - it's yummy/lethal. We stopped off for a break before we got to Mossman Gorge to enjoy the views of where we had travelled so far, Oz really does have some stunning scenery. On our way we also passed the area of Ocean where Steve Irwin died, the coral reef there hosts some of the world's most deadliest sharks - so obviousley where else would he be?
We arrived near Mossman Gorge but before we went for a dip we took the tour of the rainforest, again I was amazed at my interest (is this a sign of getting old?). As we were learning about the strange trees, plants, soil, we stumbled across a Boyds Forest Dragon. He was so cool, and blended into to his surroundings well with his colouring, but not as well as he thought! We all gathered around the tree he was trying to blend into and he didn't move a muscle. We all started to take pictures, there were more flashes than that when the paps are snapping Britney getting out of a car with no knickers on (I am trying to keep up to date with the celeb gossip whilst learning about trees!). The poor thing must have been blinded but didn't even blink for fear of being rumbled. Eventually he scarpered after the German guy got a bit too close with his zoom lens. It was hilarious to watch him run, I would have to demonstrate it to you because it isn't possible to describe it but it was the best run I've ever seen! On the way to the gorge we pass 2 snakes, or so I'm told, I am still scared to death of snakes and refuse to admit they exist. We get to the gorge and the currents look a but rapid, more than usual apparently due to all the rain. I was just deciding whether to get in and then we learn that the national heritage have awarded the gorge as the 2nd most pristine water area in the world. That'll do for me, clothes off and I'm in - ok you said prisitne but you could have also told me 'freezing'! Well that woke me up, and after the initial shock it was fun to be cariied alng with the currents and breaking every nail clinging to the rocks to stop myself getting completely swept back to where we came from! Ok, time to get out and head for the Daintree river for some 100% Natural Rainforest tea and biccies and cruise down the Daintree River. The tea was lovely - mum there are some teabags on there way to you as we speak.....
After tea we hoped on the boat and went crusing down the river, it's a bit murky to say the least but the guide tells us to look out for crocs and snakes. Okay, just crocs then as snakes don't exist. We head towards the banks of the rivers as this is where the crocs hang out. We pass the hundreds of fruit bats in the trees, see a couple of tree frogs and then wave at the train that is chugging by. Train? Yes there was a train sailing down the Daintree River - random! Suddenly our guide nearly wets herself as there is a huge croc on the bank. We don't see it at first as he is the same colour as the bank! Then he moves slowly towards the water and there is no mistaking him as he gets closer to the boat. We all hang over the edge as far as we can, almost tipping the boat, to take pictures and just when we get close enough for a good shot the guide tells us that they can jump, using their tails, and would probably be able to join us on the boat no preolem. Funnily enough we are all back in seats and are ready to move on. We spot another huge croc and then a baby croc which, whilst I was zoomed in as far as possible, decided to make a mad dash into the water, he was so quick my heart nearly jumped into my mouth. You never really appreciate how fast crocs are until you see them in action in the wild, you wouldn't stand a chance. The myth of running in zig zags will not help you, the croc will already have eaten and partially digested you before you could even think of making pretty running patterns!. The cruise was cool, but after my earlier fight I was now dying for the loo, as there were none around I decided to go behind a big bush. Everyone went one way so I decided to go another so as not to be seen. It was then I came across the 'warning crocodile spotted in this area' sign - on second thoughts I'll hold it! We head to the lookout point at Alexandra Range and take in more scenery, and then off to the Ice cream shop. The shop is part of a plantation where they grow lots of fruits - most I have never heard of, and then use them to make the most delicious ice cream I have ever tasted. This shop is the only place in the world you can but this ice cream, which is insane as they would make a killing.
We headed onto to our home for the night - PK's huts, I sat back and enjoyed my ice cream whilst taking in the scenery. PK's is apparently the party place - uh oh, here we go again......
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