Go West to head North

After last Sunday's drive south to Mission Beach, we decided yesterday to take a different route up north via the tablelands which lie to the west of where we live.  

The tablelands is a very different landscape to the coast, but rest assured there is still masses of sugar cane!  We even spied out of the car window it being slashed.  

The road and landscape, minus the sugar cane, makes you realise that you honestly could be anywhere along the east coast of Australia.

This roads leads up north to Cooktown and also across the 'Top End' of Australia.  There are road signs on the road warning of 'Road Trains' - trucks carrying in excess of two or more trailers.  We were passed on the other side of the road by two B-Double trucks.

The road heading back down the 'Molloy Range', the scenery changes very dramatically.  It is lush and green and the road recently has been blocked off by many landslides.

I think in the photo below, the lush green covering on the hillside is actually a weed.  Still, I thought it looked lovely.

The road leads you to an intersection between Port Douglas and Mossman.  We headed into Mossman, but I'll blog about that next time... ;-P

Tropical Gardens

On the spur of the moment, whilst driving past the Flecker Botanical Gardens, I pulled into a car park so we could go for a wander around the tropical gardens.  It is truly gorgeous in there with so many tropical plants.  It is soooo green and lush and magical with little paths leading here and there and trying to spot (and unsuccessfully trying to photograph) Ulysses butterflies.  

Since we left Cairns in 2008, there has been built a new fan dangled visitor centre and cafe, located just outside the Gardens themselves.  I remember reading that a lot of people were disappointed with the final building which is totally mirrored on the sides, due to the number of 'kamikaze' birds.  I can see now what they mean, but I like the way it reflects all the colours around it.  

And they make a mean milkshake in the cafe.

If you ever find yourself in Cairns I do highly recommend a visit to the Gardens, especially if you are not from the tropics.

The girls entertained themselves for a good twenty minutes on the storm water drain cover.

There are so many species of plants and trees located in the garden of all shapes and sizes.

Lily was thrilled when she collected a handful of seed pods.

Monet got a bit paranoid when I kept pointing out these wonderful Golden Orb spider webs dotted through out the gardens so when a leaf fell on her head she would've sworn it was a spider.  (Poor girl!)

I love the flower below.  It had 'colour blocking' all sorted before it became a fashion trend.  How lovely is the pink and orange together in the same flower?

Only a handful of days left in the school holidays up here in Queensland.  Not sure what we will get up to tomorrow but I know that Lily and I will return to these Gardens again down the track...

The Advantage of Living in FNQ in Winter

MrL and I had decided on Saturday evening to go for a drive the following day, down to Mission Beach, so the girls could have a paddle and a run around.  

We had forgotten that Mission Beach is a good two hour trek south from our home.  

Last year's cyclone Yasi tore through the area and we had noticed a big change in the canopy.  The road leading to the area was no where as shady and overhanging as we remembered.  But green?  Oh it was green....

And the beach was as delightful as I remember...

The girls had a blast, splishing and splashing.  The shallow water was warm and the waves were small. That's Dunk Island in the middle of that photo below.  We had stayed there before but the resort was wiped out last year, (thanks to the cyclone) which is really sad...

After a good hour enjoying themselves we went and treated ourselves to some fish and chips, but all Lily was after was a 'Rainbow' ice-cream.  (To be honest, it was the lure of the ice-cream to get her out of the water!)  All her dreams came true as she enjoyed one...

The drive home seemed quicker than the road down there, but maybe because I snapped images outside my passenger door window and windscreen.  It is sugarcane slashing time around these parts.  (Once the sugarcane flowers it is time to harvest.)  We have visited the foot of the mountain in the photo below - you can read about it here.

Below is Pyramid Rock, just outside of Cairns which stands at 922 metres.  I love how it looks like it is balancing a cloud on it's pointy tip.  ;)

Both girls napped on the way home (no wonder) so Lily and I had a bit of a late evening, but it was worth it.  Think we're going to go on another beach destination drive next weekend!

Feeding the 'roos.

It has been school holiday here for the past week and the girls and I have done a few things together.  Yesterday, my girlfriend and I thought we'd meet up at the Cairns Tropical Zoo with our children for an hour or so.  (The zoo isn't that big, but entertaining enough for little children who think it is 'the pants'.)

Now Miss Lily has decided that feeding the kangaroos IS the GREATEST thing ever.  I'm pretty sure Monet (now supporting a shorter 'do') thinks the same, and I can see why.  It is a pretty special thing...

There are other (mainly) native animals in the zoo, but I have to admit, the kangaroos are the favourite animals with us.

It is always nice to see joy in your children's faces.  Even if they are posing with their head in a billboard.

Lily has turned into a little terror the last couple of weeks and has really found her feet.  By saying that I mean if she sees a space to run, she runs!  Oh my.  Not long after this photo was taken with her and little A (both born in the same week), she was off!  *sigh*

As I said before, the zoo isn't that big and is easily done in an hour.  I am planning on taking the girls again next week to see the Crocodile Show which runs in the afternoon (we went in the morning yesterday.)  The zoo is home to loads of them so it'll be a change to see them active than the usual lazing about.

Back Where We Began

So, after arriving back in Australia in January, staying in country Victoria with family for six weeks, heaving our suitcases up to a furnished apartment for four weeks in the suburb of Cairns we once called home, finding a rental property in that same suburb (which are as rare as hen's teeth) and moving in there, 10 weeks later we found ourselves back where our hearts belong....back in our own apartment.  

I broke the lease of the house we called home for a short time, when we found out that the tenant in our apartment had given notice and was moving out.  As luck would have it, there is such a shortage of rental houses up in this neck of the woods, that a new tenant was found after advertising for one weekend, so I didn't feel too bad. 

We moved back 'home' last weekend.  (Yeah, we are expert packers and movers.)

It feels great to see all our stuff back in the place it belongs...

It is a bit cold now for the pool, but the complex pool still looks very inviting....

The view from our balcony has changed somewhat - the trees have grown a lot over our three and a half year absence.

But my kitchen is still the same and I love it.  The family have been getting some half decent meals for a change! *heehee*

We are happy here, in the meanwhile, until the next adventure (whenever that shall be), begins....

Winter is Definitely Here...

But winter in the north of Australia is much different to the winter in the south of the country!

To us in Far North Queensland, it means cool mornings (of around 15 degrees) and beautiful sun filled, blue, cloudless skies and the temperature steady at 25 degrees.

It is also the time of year when the Coral Sea changes from a murky, sandy brown (due to continual rain and rivers flowing into the ocean) to beautiful sea greens and blues.

It also means you can eat ice creams without them melting instantly.   But you can still get them all over your face given half a chance.

I can't stand being cold for too long (I get sick of hearing myself whinge) so I think living in the tropics suits us all...

Iron Man Triathlon

We went to go on a 'Sunday drive' yesterday but as soon as we left, we remembered something as we got stuck in slow moving traffic...

The Iron Man Triathlon.

There were something like 3000 competitors who attempted the course - though there was a half version (photographed here by me!) and a full version, which started and ended in Cairns city via Port Douglas up the Captain Cook Highway.

Yesterday the gods were truly smiling as it was the most beautiful topical day, after a week of continuous 'grey' and rain.

You really have to admire the men and women who do triathlons, in fact any form of strenuous exercise for such a long period of time.

Monet wanted to know if any of the competitors would spew in the car on the way home, like she did after her School's Cross-country run.  (I had to giggle at that and said 'yeah, probably!')

You can read more about the event here.

Traveling The World In Skirts

I love the series of skirts I have made involving travel.  Many (many) moons ago (ahem, about 10 years ago), I vividly remember seeing this woman in Chapel Street (in Melbourne) wearing this gorgeous A-Line skirt which was covered in 'Dublin Doors'.  

(Thanks to Google Images)

(I'm always on the hunt for the same fabric so if anyone knows where I can purchase some, point me in the right direction can you?)  When I wear my 'London' skirt I think of the skirt that initially inspired me. 

I love wearing my 'I Love Paris' skirt.  It reminds me of the times we have visited previously.

I am yet to wear this skirt, 'New York, New York'.  I love it too, but I haven't ventured to that city (yet) and feel a little hypicritical if I was to wear it.

I too love this following skirt, but as I haven't visited NY, I feel I can't wear it.  Silly, I know, but I might actually make myself one in this fabric because it is striking.  (And I love anything a little different.)

I do wear this one, 'Return to Sender'.  I love me a bit of blue. =)