Daintree Rainforest

I took my good old time getting ready, which was only putting clothes on and walking out of my room.  It was super rainy but when I got outside I wasn’t expecting what I saw; water flooding onto the sidewalks and there was nowhere to escape the water.  I found my driver no problem and was happy to be in a car away from the wetness.  The driver picked up three other people (a Canadian) and then we spent an hour driving to another hotel to get a family of four.

Our first stop was an aboriginal art studio where we learned how to paint using a bamboo stick and what the different colors of paint mean.  Red is for earth, sandy yellow is the sun and white is water.  We got to paint right away, even though this was a different way of painting it was cool to put paint on a canvas and make it tell a story.  The family of four was very interesting to listen too and I knew I wouldn’t like my time with them.  There was constant bickering but the Canadian lady and I just kept to our paintings that actually turned out really nicely, I can’t wait to paint like this at home.  After the painting we thanked the owner, looked around at his art (not allowed to take pictures of it) and then headed out to the Daintree rainforest!

Like my new style of painting?

The rain had stopped but it was still fairly muggy when we arrived.  I went on an aboriginal tour of the rainforest, learning what plants do what and hearing all these incredible stories of our guide Moot.  He started his walk-a-bout when he was 6 years old and went all across Australia.  There are sand frogs that are filled with water and when he was thirsty he would find them, poke a pinprick into their bellies and drink some water.  He said he has never tasted fresher water in all his life.  There were all these stories of him using meditation and visions to find lost people in the forest, taking people out for months at a time with nothing but the clothes on their back.  This was a pretty amazing place to be but I felt like at times the rainforest didn’t want me there.  After an hour we left to have tea and scones at the tiny little hut in the forest.  This is where I started to like the family of four, they were so interested about my trip and amazed that I was doing it by myself.  Loading on the compliments is probably why I started to like them so much.  After tea we all headed back to the guide center for a yummy lunch. 

A special smoke ritual to welcome us to the forest.

Unfinished house

Took me a while to spot the lizard..

The water looked so inviting.

The sun, earth and water paint on his arm

Where ceremonies are held

While I was walking around outside I noticed a plant I hadn’t seen since I was about 6.  Here in Australia it’s called sensitive weed and when you touch the tiny leaves they close and surround themselves with thorns.  This was so extremely exciting because I knew they were in Australia and I was dying to find them, now I finally have!

So cool!

After lunch we headed off to the beach to learn how to spear fish with two very famous brothers.  We threw a spear at a coconut for a while and then headed into the mudflats to catch dinner.  Halfway into the walk I realized I wasn’t wearing sunscreen… oh well, I didn’t get burned don’t worry.  After lots of walking through murky waters that could have crocodiles in them as well as box jellyfish one of the brothers spotted a mud crab and called me over.  This was probably the funniest thing to watch because I kept stabbing sand, I wasn’t ready to kill something living quite yet.  We continued to walk and finally I caught myself a crab, I can now provide for my family when I get home.  A brother caught a stingray… we let it go but took its stinger off and I got to keep it.  After spearing we headed into the mangroves to find periwinkles, mussels, and more crab.  This was hilarious because the other kids were complaining about all the mud and getting mad if they got it on their clothes.  I covered myself in it to keep the mosquitoes away, what children they are.

So many spears

The hunter...

Don't worry, we didn't eat it and it is not dead.

I am now the hunter in my family

Look at those muscle I don't have.

Mangrove time!

Quite the trek

I t was filled up by the time we finished in the mangroves.

I didn't realize the dirt on the lens yet...

A tree all on its lonesome.

We made it through the mangrove with a bucket full of food and trekked back home, I was pretty excited to eat what we had caught.  One of the brothers took us to his house where he prepared all the food in a special recipe he has perfected over many years.  It was finally time to eat and we all dug in getting our hands filthy and tummies full.  The crab was delicious and I’ve never tasted crab that delicious before and the periwinkles are the most delicious shell creatures I have yet to eat.  A friend came to join the feast and played the didgeridoo for us, first time I have heard it being played… hopefully not the last.  Finally it was time to head back home… I wanted to learn so much more but I guess that will have to be another trip.

Soooooo yummy!!!

I slept the ride home and packed the moment I entered my room.  It was very exciting knowing that my adventure would now start to continue.  Out of nowhere I got a message from Phillip asking if he could take me out on a pizza date before I left for my flight… this is the first date I have been on before.  I should’ve figured he would ask me at some point cause he wouldn’t accept my wingman skills at Gilligan’s, I am just an irresistible catch.  Just to clear up things at home though Sarah’s brother does not count as a date!  He picked me up in his AMAZING car; it is a four-wheel drive with the exhaust pipe going up the side of the car.  

I went onto his profile just to show you how awesome this car is!

I want this car so bad after seeing it and couldn’t stop saying how awesome it was.  We grabbed pizza and headed to the beach to eat it in peace.  Talking with him was surprisingly easy and I wasn’t feeling nervous at all, which is weird cause I am always nervous around guys.  We talked about home, Australia and how amazing it feels to be underwater because there is nothing like it.  I did have a flight to catch so him and I could only have a 2-hour date at the beach but it was pretty special nonetheless.  Now I am not going to lie… I gave Phillip a kiss goodbye and he wished me the best of luck on my travels.  I was sad to see him drive away in the car I wanted though.  I did my happy dance when I got back to my room, which consists of me jumping up and down making squeaking noises.  I pulled myself together, grabbed my things, said goodbye to my roommates and set forth on my new adventure!

When I got to the airport I waited on the floor with two full beer bottles I wouldn’t dare part with.  I wasn’t alone though, I made friends with a guy from the US that lives in Seoul and shared a beer with him while we waited. We talked about our many adventures that we have had and our one in Australia, he was only here for New Years though.  Finally we lined up to get our tickets and when I went to get mine the lady asked if I had any lighters in my checked bag… I said yes and she asked me to remove it.  I had to go through my bag in front of everyone and dig through my things to find a lighter… how stupid is that?!  Good thing she didn’t ask if I had any shells or feathers in my bag, I would have been I trouble after that.  I went through security, easy as pie cause all I had to do was smile at the security guards and act like I wasn’t carrying explosives.  While I waited for my flight to start boarding I got called to the front desk, I honestly thought I was going to get in trouble for carrying feathers and shells into Palau.  It was something completely opposite, there was no seat number on my plane ticket; it read *** where my seat should’ve been.  So the question is… did I make it on this flight or have to take another one?

To Be Continued…