Forest From A Different Angle
Consider a tree.
Most people highly underestimate what a complex lifeform a large tree is. Just think how it can survive dry seasons that last months without drinking water (compare to how much you can last without water); or how it can stand the changing weather conditions and continue growing day and night, year after year, in the most harsh environments.
The skyrail tour between Cairns and Kuranda gives you a whole new perspective about trees.
It is a 6.8 kilometers skyrail (RAKEVEL), which goes over a very rich rainforest jungle, just above the canopies of trees, some of them going up to 50 meters and more. You really get to estimate how the trees fight each other to get the light and to survive in the forest. You get a whole new idea of how desperate they can get, always trying to get higher more fast than others - even if they have to strangle other trees to do it. You don’t see many wild animals (I spotted just a few parrots on the canopies) but you can see some really nice vegetation.
It is worth noticing there, that the vegetation does change with height: from the small eucaliptus forest of the lower slopes, to a much richer forest upwards, and again to pines (hoop pines, giant Cauri pines) even higher. On the way the cabins go over a large river and some waterfalls, which add to the general experience - looking at a rainforest from a totally different angle.
We took the skyrail only on the way down, from Kuranda to Cairns, because it is quite expensive; on the way up we used a public bus (much much cheaper), but since we missed the first one, and on Sundays they don’t have many buses, we really didn’t have time to see Kuranda - which is a pitty, as it looks like a really nice city. It was also too bad for Roey, who didn’t appreciate the forest like I did; and was pretty bored at this ride.
Tomorrow I am taking with him a day tour to the Outer Barrier Reef, where we will do some dives - I hope he will enjoy these more…
I want to thak all the people who sent me (privately or publically) comments about my PNG plan. First, I want to emphasize that although it might look scary, I am not afraid to go there - actually, I’m really anxious to, the detailed plan is just the way I work, as those who’ve seen me working know. Second, Arik is totally right and my plans will change accordingly - expect some updates pretty soon!
