We’ve just spent a long weekend in Far North Queensland…
It was an opportunity to catch up with a friend I haven’t seen in many, many years.
She’s currently travelling Australia (on the most amazing trip!) with her daughter.
It’s always fabulous to catch up with friends… especially those that once you start talking and laughing… it’s like you’ve never been apart.
And it’s always wonderful when you see people immersing themselves, enjoying and appreciating the country you live in.
We’d hoped to do the Skyrail (cableway and steam train) experience with them… but unfortunately the rail part was cancelled due to maintenance.
Mind you, judging from this photo Michael snapped of me and my Dad on the train back in 2008, maybe that’s a good thing…
What on earth do we look so worried about?
Anyway we had a great time at the weekend doing the cableway up and down…
Stopping off to do short walks in the rainforest as we changed gondolas at each station…
There’s something really special about being able to share these sorts of experiences with friends.
The next day Michael and I decided to visit Josephine Falls…
We’d done this walk back in 2012… and all I could remember about it was how humid it was…
Well it is in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area!
We seemed to be following a group of young people who were out to enjoy the swimming holes.
We followed them from the Babinda Boulders to the Falls…
But I don’t think they looked at the actual Falls at all!
We had the top viewing spot to ourselves…
It was wonderful…
But no less humid than before…
We were both drenched… and hadn’t been anywhere near the swimming holes!
That evening Michael and I were on a sunset cruise… and another British couple were also sharing their enthusiasm for what they’d been experiencing in Australia.
There was another group from Perth on the boat, and when we said we’re heading there next year – they were so fantastic in sharing their ‘must do’ ideas…
Everyone was so positive!
What a fantastic vibe.
Personally, I love travelling to soak up the natural scenery, wildlife, architecture, people, food, new experiences, culture, creativity…
Everything!
I just love to stop and look around… breathe it all in…
To appreciate and be grateful for this extraordinary planet…
And also grateful for the many tourists who want to come and explore.
We were staying in Cairns which has become a tourist mecca… so much busier than when we’ve visited previously.
In our hotel alone, we lost count of all the different accents…
And it’s not lost on me that we still sound very English – so most people probably assumed we were visiting from overseas too.
I’m completely okay with that – we were tourists afterall…
And I love being a tourist at home!
Ann 🙏