Week 9 January 18th to 24th January

Cactus flowering only at night

Crocodile fed a fish head from the crab

fishing boat.

On the edge of the cyclone

Fish viewed through glass bottomed boat

Brian all set for scuba diving

Coral as seen through submersible window

On Monday we were up early to catch the cruise boat out to Green island on the Barrier Reef. It took an hour on a very calm sea. Green Island is a large coral cay which also has a rain forest on it. It has become a popular resort for snorkelling and scuba diving into the coral reef. I was hoping to go down to the sea bed wearing a large diving helmet, to experience the fish and coral, but I was not allowed for medical reasons. I was disappointed as I had been looking forward to the experience. We went on a glass bottomed boat which was quite amazing seeing all the fish and turtles swimming below us. The organised day then consisted of sailing for another hour on to a large purpose built pontoon from where you can snorkel and scuba dive as well. Brian had booked a scuba dive session. I went on two half hour dives in a large glass walled submersible which was even better than the boat. The coral formations are just breathtaking and there were so many varieties of fish from tiny Nemos to very large fish including basking sharks. Most of the fish seemed to swim in shoals. The colours were not as brilliant as you see in photos of the Barrier reef because there was little sunlight that can penetrate through the water. It seems professional photographers use very strong lights to show up the natural colours. But the shapes and sizes and variety of designs are truely incredible, and to think it is all living animals.

Brian thoroughly enjoyed his second attempt at scuba diving and has a certificate to prove it.
On Tuesday we decided to drive north to Daintree and Cape Tribulation. We travelled the same road as on Sunday . We were within 30 km of Daintree village when the heavens opened and we were in a tropical storm. The roads were beginning to flood, so we turne around and returned to Cairns. A cyclone was threatening. So once again we missed visiting the World Heritage site.Next time we shall have to come at a different time of year.

We went for a nice meal at the Cairns yacht Club with an English couple who have been in Australia over 30 years.

On Wednesday we took a picturesque drive up over the mountain to the Atherton Tablelands which lie in the hinterland behind Cairns. It is a long windy road but once there the scenery is stunning. The land is green and lush - such a contrast from the dry coastal plain. Dairy farming, coffee plantations, sugar cane and vineyards abound. We called in to visit a coffee plantation where the morning coffee was delicious and we purchased some coffee beans for gifts. We visited Malandra where we knew there was a dairy museum attached to a large bottling dairy. We were too late to go on an organised tour of the dairy, but Brian persuaded them to allow us a visit and spent an interesting hour talking to the chief engineer. Brian found it most interesting. We returned to Cairns along a different route maaking a complete circular tour. That evening we had a very good meal at the local RSL - returned servicemen's league. These are rather like our British Legion clubs, but offer excellent restaurants at low prices and are open to the general public. They are subsidised and make most of their money from the "Pokies" the fruit machines which are so popular among all Australians.

On Thursday we went crab fishing on a small boat owned by a Vietnamese man called Henry. We went with Debbie and Dave, an Australian couple we made friends with while scuba diving. We were hoping to catch large mud crabs but the crab pots were empty. Fortunately Henry had brought some live crabs with him which he cooked for us on the boat. These were delicious.There ten of us and we all tried to catch fish with rods, but were not very lucky. We did however, spot a crocodile swimming near the boat which we fed with a fish head.

On Friday we were up early to return our hire car and get to the airport to catch our flight to Brisbane.

We had a good flight to Brisbane, picked up a hire car and were at Susan and Richard's house in Eight Mile Plains within the hour. It was very good to be with them again.

It was Australia Day Weekend which is a popular public holiday and the last weekend before the children return to school.As Richard and Susan were going away for the weekend we spent the weekend with Lorraine and Bryan at their house by the sea in Kingscliffe. Kingscliffe is just South of the Gold Coast and over the border in New South Wales. Lorraine and I have been friends ever since we lived in Brisbane 41 years ago. It was so good to catch up with them. They took us out and about in the local area and we enjoyed some lovely walks and view beside the sea and further inland. They have a huge cactus bush in their garden which is full of tight buds, but after dark the buds open to reveal beautiful flowers, which are closed again by morning.