Russ&Suzie

Trip Log
2002-09-14 10:34:58 (UTC)

Rain forest today

This was a prearranged tour that commenced at 8:30 this
morning. We traveled to the little town of Mossman where we
learned of the large amount of sugar cane produced up and
down the east coast so that Australia is a close second to
Cuba in such production. ONly in the past 15 years has it
been mechanized enough to make labor a more manageable
cost; exploitations in the past have been unfortunate from
our guide.

We had great opportunities to walk a boardwalk through the
rain forest that is supposed to be the oldest in the world,
Australia having broken off the original Gondwanaland and
sailing an individual course apparently with parts in the
tropics since then. Hence all kinds of marsupials developed
in an independent fashion with the later evolving mammals
only later invading the country, such as rabbits and
(learned this morning) pigs; apparently a mating couple of
pigs escaped Captain Cook's camp after his ship ran into
difficulties on the barrier reef near Cape Tribulation
(hence its name) and now millions have spread throughout
the country.

We were rained on at Cape Tribulation but that was the only
troubles that we experienced: took pictures in the rain
(and in the cloud and sun as well; many). No leaf-cutting
ants such as I saw in Brazil but many other features were
similar to there: buttressing roots, vines that either
ascend or descend from towering trees. Wonderful ferns and
palms. Lots of difficult plants and poisonous snakes (more
than anywhere else) and insects that sometimes get rather
large. The casowary from the bird kingdom is endangered and
a large fruit eater of the region.

A narrator, MIck, illustrated the Australian dialect, and
the driver, David, were both splendid hosts; quite informed
and knowledgable although if Nick had been a bit more
academic, I think I would have enjoyed it more. But no real
complaints. Some of our fellow passengers were quite nice,
especially Nicole Smith from Newcastle and Gaylene and
Richard Massey from Sidney. A just retired electronics
specialists who has done much wiht the sensors of
automobile air bags (name not caught) were really nice. Got
to know them over lunch especially where they served
steaks, fish, vegetarian and dessert of native fruits of
which I'd never heard, such as the chocolate pudding fruit.

Enough for now! Russ





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