G'Day To All from Australia

G-day mates!! We are now in the land of the down-under. We traveled all day yesterday (getting up at 4 AM, I might mention) and hit the ground running when we arrived in Cairns at 4:30 PM. There was another time change so it's all very confusing until I get my head around it.

We settled into the hotel and then went out to walk down to the Esplanade (the street running parallel to the water). It was getting dark so was very picturesque as all the lights started coming on. We walked along for many blocks after leaving the sort of board-walk that runs right along the beach. It seems like all of Cairns is out in the evening, either running, walking dogs or children, or drinking in the bars along the streets. Jay said I spend too much time talking about food so I won't elaborate on our meal last night. It was nothing special anyway -- just seafood fare. Our hotel is very modest but in a great location - just 2 blocks from the water and near most downtown sights. After collapsing in bed -- early once again -- Jay got up at 5 to call the local Skyrail for tickets today. If we couldn't get on the package deal, we'd have to take a taxi to another town to catch the train to Kuranda, to small village that houses a butterfly sanctuary, koala gardens, and bird world. The idea is to take the Sky Train one way and the Skyrail the other; that way one gets to see the huge waterfall (that is famous in this area) more closely as the train goes right by it but the skyrail goes over the rain forest - so the sights are very different. The trip is several miles. Will post about that later.

Jay reminded me that I didn't mention the island trip we took day before yesterday while still in Fiji. We went to South Sea Island and the weather did not cooperate very well. It was very windy and was subsequently hard for the smaller boat to dock to the catamaran that we took to the island. In fact it got a little scary at times. We did go on a semi-submersible in order to see the fishes around the reefs that encircle the island. That was neat but VERY cramped and I actually started feeling claustrophobic, a first for me. I tried to concentrate on all the varied fish, an incredible amount among the different types of corals. I imagine it's just a taste for what's to come with the Great Barrier Reef, which is tomorrow.  We also had a cooking demonstration on the island of "cooking" fresh fish with just vinegar and salt. Then he used several fruits and veggies and topped it all off with fresh coconut milk. Yum. Of course, it helps if you have all those ingredients to hand!

Well, we're off in just a few for the all day train/rail ride. I'll post -- hopefully with some pictures -- later. Our computer is running extremely slowly here so we'll need more time. Keep your fingers crossed that we get good pictures with our new under-water camera!!!! It was baptized in Fiji but only in the pool!