G'Day, G'Day!: The Rainforest

So last night we decided to go out for a nice dinner in Cairns and I had checked Trip Advisor and the we chose the Waterbar and Grill down on the Marina. They are renouned for their Ribs and Steaks. I called for a reservation and the earliest they could get us in was 8:15. It is 6:00 and we are hungry now so I ask how long for a table if we wait at the bar? About 45 minutes so we immediately catch a cab and head to the Marina thinking of Steaks, Baked Potatoes and Ribs.

When we get there the place is almost empty and we ask for a table and the Maitre D says he has nothing till 8:15. Joan reminds him of the conversation we had not more than 15 minutes ago and he shrugs his shoulders and replies “Chinese New Year. All the tables are reserved. “. Irritated we ask about tomorrow and make a reservation for 6:30. Now we have to find some place not overrun with Chinese to get a bit. Cairns is pretty happening place every day of the week and settled on a pub and grub and order Pizza. Tomorrow we’ll have Steaks and Ribs.

But back to today where we are taking the Karundara Rail Road up to the rain forest where we will visit the Rainforest Station, ride an Army Duck, and see Australian animals. Then we will take a Gondola ride all the way back to where we caught the train skimming across the top of the Rainforest.

Our bus picks us up precisely on time and it is a 30 minute journey to the train station. While there there is a small (smaller than you think small) Museum, a gift shop, and snack bar. It is 8:30 am and already hot and humid and we aren’t even in the rainforest yet.

The train arrives at 9 am and we have assigned seats and cars. It seems a sthough the only cars being loaded are in the rear of the train and every seat is full with us an a few thousand of our closest new Chinese friends. A conductor comes on board and ask if anyone would like to switch to the first two cars which are completely open. Like Speedy Gonzalez Steve, Fran, Joan, and myself fly off the Car number 8 and are the first to board car number 1 and stake out two rows for ourselves. Eight others join us and collectively we all breath easier as there isn’t any air conditioning on this train. Only the hot air that blows through the open windows when the train is moving.

The train ride is relaxing as it slowly climbs the mountain up to the rainforest. It is a 90 minute trip and has stunning views of Cairns down below and of the the thick forest which block most of the views. We pass through 8 tunnels that were blasted out and carved by hard labor in the late 1800’s as Gold had been found in the hills of the rainforest and transportation was needed for men and supplies. There are also many bridges to cross the most impressive which is where the Karunda Falls are just off the tracks.

When we leave the train at Karunda Station, we have only enough time for us to quickly stroll through town to catch a bus to the Rainforest Station. But there is always enough time for ice cream or gelato and Steve and Fran get cones of the cold delight.

It is a short ride deeper into the rainforest to get to the Rainforest Station. First up we get a tour guide to take us through the wildlife exhibit. We immediately encounter 3 Wallabies and watch them hop around. Wallabies are the smaller version of the Kangaroo. On to the Tasmanian Devil which has the jaw force 20 times that of a Pit Bull. It can in one bite seperate a man’s leg in two. And ugly to boot.

Dingo’s are the wild Australian Dog that many Aborigines made pets. Then there is the Cassowary which is a smaller but meaner version of the Emu or Ostrich. It has a three toed claw foot that is like a steel knife and can jump 6 feet in the air and attack a prey by kicking out is legs catching its prey and disenbowling it as it takes it down to the ground. Vicious.

But the Wallabies are cute and running around freely.

Florida has Alligators, Australia has Crocodiles. And they are big. This one is named Jack the Ripper as he killed and ate the 12 different females they tried to mate him with.