Iconic chapter in the travel journal of Australia

It was the most memorable and wonderful experience and what the lovely time we had and I am really thankful that I was able to have this incredible holiday.

It was class apart and so scenic and astonishing time and so beautiful it was.

Don’t think that I have lost my marbles but just the memory of it brings out the entire adjective dictionary in me to try and do the justice to the beauties that I am going to mention to you now.

Now let me begin this with a beginning…

Jack was living in Cairns during those days and I was visiting him on holidays. He had planned some trip for us to go and which did not include any of the stunning beaches of Cairns. I was struck with a lightening as I wont be able to get a chance to wear any of those new beachwear bikini’s that I had shopped and all the exercise I did before coming were gone a waste! Now how am I going to flaunt my new slim figure? I tried persuading him to change the trip plans but he was adamant on it. He said he was waiting for me only to take this fantastic journey (and he was really right it was fantastically fantastic) and that he has done all the bookings. I had some two days and he has booked the trip of that same place for those two days.

Well as you already know it was awesome! But why it was so cool and superb will tell you now.

The First Day…

To the world’s most beautiful rainforest experience:

Just some fifteen minutes drive, we went to take Skyrail Rainforest Cableway which is ranked first in eco-tourism for it gives the amazing experience of Australia’s World Heritage Listed Tropical Rainforest.

A wonderful experience of such pristine tropical rainforest with diverse botanical fascination on earth spanning 7.5 kms in the gondola cabins. Gliding a meter above the canopy of rainforest, it was such an intimate experience when you feel the touch of the aesthetic of Greenery and verdant rainforest. The panoramic view of stunning scenery of Cairn’s tropical region and sparkling water of Coral Sea was really so much enjoyable.

We alighted at the two mid stations i.e. Red Peak and Barron Falls, where we were allowed to explore forest floors on the boardwalks and such extensive scenic lookouts and immaculate Rainforest Interpretation Center. The whole experience was truly unique and I know this much no other place could provide for such spectacular beauty in such a manner. No doubt it has been voted as Australia’s Best Major Tourist Attraction and has won multi awards.

Australian Butterfly Sanctuary:

I loved this place so much and was so excited to be there, I was giggling and laughing with Jack, completely bowled over by my Jack-Lee (lol!).

We went to Australian Butterfly Sanctuary after our cable ride, its in North of Cairns in village of Kuranda. The Daintree Rainforest a world heritage site which is the habitat of some 200 varieties of butterflies. Its is the largest butterfly flight aviary and the sanctuary displays some of these exotic butterflies which includes the most alluring butterfly the neon blue Ulysses and the largest butterfly of Australia the Cairns Birdwings.

Its home to 1500 tropical butterflies which are hand reared in atmospherically controlled greenhouse replicating the setting of tropical rain forest which has waterfalls, creeks, sandy beaches, ponds and hundreds of brad leaf plants which are the food for the caterpillars and butterflies.

We were given a guided tour and there was a session which explained how butterfly lays eggs-comes baby caterpillar- gets big and more big then cocoons itself and then whoa! We get another butterfly, cool isn’t it. Also while touring the aviary a butterfly came and sat at my shoulder. Oh how much I loved that! Also we were given cool stuff of knowledge about their protective mechanisms, physiology to anatomy, mating rituals and flying habits. They told interesting facts about the place and its butterflies, like birdwings wat about 5 km of Aristilochia vine per year, 30,000 approximately caterpillars are bred in their lab and some 24,000 are released in aviary each year ( its good that they don’t need to name them, phew!)

The second day…

We went back to same place to Kuranda but took a different mode of commute.

We went via Kuranda scenic railway 21 mile switchback journey; Adam had planned the trip very well! As the train signaled passengers to alight the train and it started moving from Seascape Cairns through the marvels of en-route to Kuranda village. The train whistled and screeched and entered the lush jungles. The trip in itself is fantastic journey, where you can see the mighty mountains and view coastline far below as you the journey of train gives you some spectacular views. As you are journeying through the train the trip will provide you with the informative narration of how the narrow gauge train was used earlier to serve sugarcane industry and also for shuttling the passengers between the towns. The Kuranda Scenic Railways opened in 1891 which passes through 15 hand-dug out tunnels with some thirty seven bridges.

The train takes route from Cairns to Kuranda via Barron Gorge. We clicked many photographs of Barron falls, Red Bluff and Glacier Rock before we got down at glorious station of Kuranda.

Kuranda- “The village of Rain forest”

Nganydjin-da Garran Ngundalna: Welcome to Kuranda.

Kuranda is almost hidden with its lush green verdant forest. Some 25km northwest to Cairns. It is picturesque mountain retreat, which has come long way from its history of its initial origin to markets, cafes, restaurants, hotels and bars. Yet it has the feel of its past, the laid back and serenity with sophistication and style which set it class apart. Historic buildings now house some up market restaurants and the place has good accommodation where you can get some cozy bed and breakfast, camping park, some old time hotels which brings you to 1920’s, superb resorts and backpackers too. Kuranda’s markets and shops have the exotic handicrafts and goods of aboriginals of the land, their artifacts and goods. Find the handmade jewelry for your outfit and gems here are price give away cost. You will find every gift and souvenir you are looking out for your grandmother to your friends. Jack bought me one fine necklace. The shopkeepers are friendly and will go out of their way to assist and help. Its good place to stay for few days in such a great village ambience.

Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park

The most amazing thing of Kuranda, it shows the indigenous culture with show case of theatrical performances and engaging people in interactive activities of their traditional customs and culture of Tjapukai people. They show how bush food was used to create medicinal remedies; give you chance to play didgeridoo and you can play safely by throwing boomerang and spears.

Kuranda Rainforest Amphitheatre

Kuranda is the birthplace of Australia’s first Aboriginal dance theater where Tjapukai people perform their traditional dance which tells the story of their culture which they been rehearsing since 40,000 years. It is a very powerful performance with artist showing song, dance, humor and tragedy too.

It was astounding to hear pulsating tune of didgeridoo, their traditional instrument which is made from hollowed out log making a deep drone sound when player blows into it in the darkened and quiet theater and has it breaks through the silence. A narrator begins, “In the time of the Dreamtime, the time before the time the oldest man can remember, the rain forest people walked this land, Tjapukai land.” It tells story of a warrior who fights battle against devil spirits from whom the aborigines fear, and how he becomes an outcaste as he kills someone dear to him because of some act of sorcery and tricks by spirit. Their sagas and chronics are mimed or chanted or sang in the performance and caste members explain during the play to tell the audience what is actually happening then and how it is getting related to the world today. The immense display of emotions and sentiments of conflict, loyalty, misunderstanding, courage, melancholy and always triumph of good over bad, good over evil. The tjapukai paint their bodies and give such dramatic effect taking the viewers on roller coaster ride of emotions and passion.

Kuranda Amphitheatre is considered to be beating heart of Aboriginal community, a beautiful place in the jungle whose quintessence is peace and tranquility. Just discover the magic of ancient time and fall in love with it.

I had such a wonderful time in those days with my camera filled with those astonishing moments, splendor of village, and beautiful sites of natural scenic beauty. Next time I am going to Cairns to meet Jack, just the beaches wont be my place I would love to come again and again for I have intimate feel for the rainforest which is can sense by seeing, hearing, smelling and as though we too become the part of it. I am in awe of the aboriginal people as how they have adapted to new modern custom and yet surviving and thrilling in their past.