Tribulations and Celebrations

So a few weeks had passed and we felt it was time for our second trip out of Cairns. We booked a few days off work and headed up the coast to Cape Tribulation, the only place in the world where two world heritage sites exist side by side, as the rainforest meets the reef. On the trip up we encountered crocs on the Daintree River...did you know that a croc can survive on as little as one chicken per month and that the biggest croc on record was a lengthy 8m? We saw two baby crocs, but unfortunately it was a little too hot for the big Daddies as they wallowed on the riverbed to escape the heat. Incidentally, they achieve this feat by cutting off the blood circulation to their tails and other limbs and slowing their heart rate to one beat per minute in order to stay under the water for long periods of time. The crocodile is surely a fine example of evolution at its best. Astounding.

Erin having a lovely time at Cape Tribulation

We headed on to the Daintree National Park where we wandered among the rainforest and mangrove swamps. Our ecological education continued as we learnt about the resourceful nature of the mangrove trees. When their salt content gets too high (due to proximity to the sea) they filter all the excess salt into one unfortunately leaf which becomes sacraficed for the greater good of the plant. Marvellous.

One massive spider

After a strenuous day of learning we checked into PK's Jungle Village for some R&R. This was only mildly disturbed by the presence of a spider which made Leeroy Gustafer Pickles (of Asian fame) look like a friendly money spider. Alarming.

We spent an afternoon exploring Cape Tribulation and its lookout points, where its possible to stand with one foot in the reef and the other in the rainforest. En route home we began to wade through a creek. Some shouting from a local fisherman alerted us to the presence of a 4.5m croc in the vicinity. After a quick team talk we decided we didn't fancy becoming its next 'chicken' and found an alternative route home. Phew, close shave.

written by

Murph, Tay, Colly and Erin on October 16, 2006 from Cairns, Australia

from the travel blog: The Smug Adventures Down Under

Send a Compliment

Happy Birthday Granny!

Hey Erin & girls its Vegtibbles! Erin, it was so good to hear from you again. It seems a hundred years ago we were working (rude word) for that wonderful (!)company we call Barclays. Anyhoo, ive just been reading your blog and you seem to be having as mch fun as me (if not more sometimes, im sure its sencored, gotta do it for the parents, ay!).

Im actually in Sydney now, been very lax on the blog updating but slowly getting there. Am planning on heading up the East coast from Monday, may well bump into you guys on the way up! Would be great to catch up, send me an email if you fancy it. Vegtibbles@hotmail.com.

Take care girls

Love Laura AKA Vegtibbles xxx

written by Laura Jane (Veg) Tibbles on October 19, 2006

Informative, educational, witty - what else do we expect from a blog!! Keep up the good work and keep the blogs coming - as always, we cant wait for the next instalment!!
Save travels to you all,
mummy and daddy Murphy

written by Liz on October 22, 2006

comment on this...