Monday, November 11, 2013

Mission Australia 2013 - Day 05

Perth – Cairns 
Cairns – Kuranda Rainforest 
The overnight flight was the least comfortable flight for us on the entire trip, simply because Ayana could not come to terms with the tight space on the low cost carrier. Fortunately, I & Neha could keep our temper in control and it was only for 2 hours that we could assuage our baby’s troubles into sleep. The arrival, though, was on time and our aircraft pulled into CNS Airport at 0410 hours sharp. Adjusting to the 2 hour time zone difference was not so easy and as I thought about relaxing a bit while Neha took bath at the excellent shower room at the Terminal, the sun shone very quickly and very brightly. It suddenly seemed that we were late but relaxed myself when I looked at the watch. I stretched my back a little more before Neha could give me a go ahead after bathing Ayana. I always felt glad when Ayana felt comfortable playing in the open Airport spaces. Reluctantly, so I got up and had a wonderful experience shaving & bathing at the Airport, for the first time in my life (In the US, after red-eye coast-to-coast flights, I had always just changed clothes – never really shaved or bathed).
Relaxing while my Family freshens up 
Ayana playing in the Airport open space while I yawn

Finally, set to go, a van was waiting for its turn & as it turned out to be – was being driven by an Indian. It was a very quick ride & checking in at Ibis was very smooth. It took me some energy to explain why we would have our today’s breakfast complimentary rather than the last day since we would leave early that morning. With the “breaky” done, we got the room and after freshening up; we waited for the pickup for Kuranda Rainforest. A Canadian couple thanked me profusely when I advised them that the Train was off today due to maintenance so would have to use the Coach whereas the return via Skyrail would be a good experience.

All of us slept through our ascent of Kuranda and frankly, we found it to be a waste of time & money when we reached the Kuranda Village. What a shame in front of our local Indian or Himalayan villages – Alas! Anyway, we drudged somehow through the entire village with Ayana on her Stroller and kept looking at the watch so that we could go to the Skyrail sooner. We thought it would be better to go back to the bed early today and rest well for the active next day at the Reef.

Ayana playing at Kuranda Centre

Skyrail from Kuranda to Cairns

The experience of the Skyrail was quite better than any other we had travelled in India. It was quite long and quite high above the forest. On reaching back, we rested while Neha suggested go see the town. We wandered through the dark streets, getting haggled by the aboriginals and reached a convenience store not far from the lagoon and quickly made our way back juggling through the chairs of outdoor cafes. The beds at Ibis were very comfortable helping us end a pretty much uneventful day (apart from the native-hassles).