Monday, July 11
Well it's Monday and we're experiencing a slice of paradise called Dunk Island. Unfortunately, paradise (and at least in the parts of Australia we've been in) is a bit behind the times. There's no internet access except for these 2 strange coin operated terminals that are on a dila up connection. As a result, as much as I want to show you some pictures of Dunk Island, I have no way to.
We arrived on Dunk yesterday afternoon via ferry after catching a shuttle bus from Port Douglas. The day before (Saturday) was our all day tour through the Daintree rainforest. Again, you'll need to wait on those photos but it was pretty spectacular. We were split into two 4-wheel drive vehicles, drove a ways (saw a monument to a wayward Japanese that missed its target by maybe 10 miles), stopped for tea and after riding up the croc-infested Daintree River, we reconnected with our vehicles and headed into the heart of the rainforest.
The vehicle I was in with Lisa and Meredith (and a honeymooning couple from Australia) was drivin by Ric, our guide. Ric's personal story was almost as intersting as the tour -- former aeronautical engineer turned ecologist and lover of crocs -- his best tale was of being bitten twice by one of the many poisonous snakes in Australia, being in the middle of nowhere, self-medicating with a fine bottle of scotch (thinking he might as well enjoy it if he was soon to die) and waking two days later to discover he was still alive.
There are so many interesting ways to die (or get hurt/maimed) in Australia and Ric helped point quite a few of them out during the course of the day -- from the leaves with sap that will blind you, to another leaf that will insert tiny needles into your skin making you wish you were , to the flightless bird that's a cross between an emu and one of those veloceraptors from Jurassic Park that have been known to attack and slice you wide open with its claws. Turns out this bird is protected nto only because it's nearly extinct but also because 150 species of trees rely on it to eat their seeds, digest and in the words of Meredith poop them out.
The Aussies are also very nonchalant discussing how people (tourists typically) simply disappear hiking through the mountains of the rainforest -- usually at least 1 per year head out on a pleasnat stroll and are never seen again.
We saw trees that were about 2500 years old, Cape Tribulation where Captain Cook ran aground before claiming it for the Brits (did you know the French missed out on claiming Australia by 1 day?) and just some of the most stunning views and beaches where rainforest meets the ocean and coral reefs.
It was a long and extremely bumpy day but everyone loved it.
After that it was back to Port Douglas for one last night and a great dinner a locals favorite seafood joint. The next morning we had one more Full Brekky (breakfast) and bid Port Douglas goodbye.
Dunk Island: Words can't describe this place unfortunatley. It's a single resort with multiple beaches, holds about 500-600 people but you'd never know it the way it's set up, the restaurants and bars are open air looking out over the beach (lined with beach chairs and hammocks) and there are dozens of activities for all ages -- Madie and Meredith are both attending the Kids Club, two sessions each day (9-noon and 5-9 pm). They -- and their parents -- are loving it!!!
This morning, our first full day here, we got up (Meredith finally slept past 5 am thnaks to the Kids Club last night), had another mammoth brekky (oh my how easy it is to fall victim to the evil vacation tapeworm -- after a month of this we may all need new pants) and split up. Lisa and Jeannine ventured to the beach chairs for some reading, Barbara caught up on some nap time, and Don, Mark and I gamely decided to get our first bout of exercise in a week or more by climbing Mt. Kalookokooko (or something like that). 2 1/2 hours later we think we may have been a bit too overzealous.
OK -- my coins are about up so I'll sign off for today. One thing I look forward to tonight is checking out the stars -- they are amazing.
G'day!
We arrived on Dunk yesterday afternoon via ferry after catching a shuttle bus from Port Douglas. The day before (Saturday) was our all day tour through the Daintree rainforest. Again, you'll need to wait on those photos but it was pretty spectacular. We were split into two 4-wheel drive vehicles, drove a ways (saw a monument to a wayward Japanese that missed its target by maybe 10 miles), stopped for tea and after riding up the croc-infested Daintree River, we reconnected with our vehicles and headed into the heart of the rainforest.
The vehicle I was in with Lisa and Meredith (and a honeymooning couple from Australia) was drivin by Ric, our guide. Ric's personal story was almost as intersting as the tour -- former aeronautical engineer turned ecologist and lover of crocs -- his best tale was of being bitten twice by one of the many poisonous snakes in Australia, being in the middle of nowhere, self-medicating with a fine bottle of scotch (thinking he might as well enjoy it if he was soon to die) and waking two days later to discover he was still alive.
There are so many interesting ways to die (or get hurt/maimed) in Australia and Ric helped point quite a few of them out during the course of the day -- from the leaves with sap that will blind you, to another leaf that will insert tiny needles into your skin making you wish you were , to the flightless bird that's a cross between an emu and one of those veloceraptors from Jurassic Park that have been known to attack and slice you wide open with its claws. Turns out this bird is protected nto only because it's nearly extinct but also because 150 species of trees rely on it to eat their seeds, digest and in the words of Meredith poop them out.
The Aussies are also very nonchalant discussing how people (tourists typically) simply disappear hiking through the mountains of the rainforest -- usually at least 1 per year head out on a pleasnat stroll and are never seen again.
We saw trees that were about 2500 years old, Cape Tribulation where Captain Cook ran aground before claiming it for the Brits (did you know the French missed out on claiming Australia by 1 day?) and just some of the most stunning views and beaches where rainforest meets the ocean and coral reefs.
It was a long and extremely bumpy day but everyone loved it.
After that it was back to Port Douglas for one last night and a great dinner a locals favorite seafood joint. The next morning we had one more Full Brekky (breakfast) and bid Port Douglas goodbye.
Dunk Island: Words can't describe this place unfortunatley. It's a single resort with multiple beaches, holds about 500-600 people but you'd never know it the way it's set up, the restaurants and bars are open air looking out over the beach (lined with beach chairs and hammocks) and there are dozens of activities for all ages -- Madie and Meredith are both attending the Kids Club, two sessions each day (9-noon and 5-9 pm). They -- and their parents -- are loving it!!!
This morning, our first full day here, we got up (Meredith finally slept past 5 am thnaks to the Kids Club last night), had another mammoth brekky (oh my how easy it is to fall victim to the evil vacation tapeworm -- after a month of this we may all need new pants) and split up. Lisa and Jeannine ventured to the beach chairs for some reading, Barbara caught up on some nap time, and Don, Mark and I gamely decided to get our first bout of exercise in a week or more by climbing Mt. Kalookokooko (or something like that). 2 1/2 hours later we think we may have been a bit too overzealous.
OK -- my coins are about up so I'll sign off for today. One thing I look forward to tonight is checking out the stars -- they are amazing.
G'day!
posted by Big Daddy at 1:25 PM
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