Our naturalist guide Alan Gillanderes who will take care of us for the next two days picked us up. Our first stop is a visit to the Cairns Swamp. Here we get an introduction to the area plants and birds. Our first spot was a beautiful Blue-winged Kookaburra.
[caption id="attachment_832" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Blue-winged Kookaburra"]
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Later we came across a green ant nest. So, naturally, the thing to do was to pinch one by the head and bite off the abdomen. They taste like lime. Maybe we should pocket a few to go with drinks later!
[caption id="attachment_833" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Green tree ants (yum!)"]
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From here we continued to the Mossman area for a rainforest walk with Robert, a member of the Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal tribe. The word 'Kuku' refers to the main tribal name and 'Yalanji' refers to the language spoken by a particular group. The tribes are divided geographically by language. Robert showed us how his ancestors used the plants in the rainforest and how they made paints. He also told us about the initiation for the boys, what happens when someone did something viewed as wrong, and how women used a cold stream during labor.
[caption id="attachment_834" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Dreamtime walk"]
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After a tea and damper (Aboriginal bread) break, Robert showed us the four different techniques used in playing a dijeridoo.
After a quick lunch, we were on to the Daintree Rainforest. We stopped at a few spots for a view over the Coral Sea. We had a few really nice hikes through the forest identifying plants and birds while being on the look out for the elusive Cassowary.
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Later we came across a green ant nest. So, naturally, the thing to do was to pinch one by the head and bite off the abdomen. They taste like lime. Maybe we should pocket a few to go with drinks later!
[caption id="attachment_833" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Green tree ants (yum!)"][/caption]
From here we continued to the Mossman area for a rainforest walk with Robert, a member of the Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal tribe. The word 'Kuku' refers to the main tribal name and 'Yalanji' refers to the language spoken by a particular group. The tribes are divided geographically by language. Robert showed us how his ancestors used the plants in the rainforest and how they made paints. He also told us about the initiation for the boys, what happens when someone did something viewed as wrong, and how women used a cold stream during labor.
[caption id="attachment_834" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Dreamtime walk"][/caption]
After a tea and damper (Aboriginal bread) break, Robert showed us the four different techniques used in playing a dijeridoo.
After a quick lunch, we were on to the Daintree Rainforest. We stopped at a few spots for a view over the Coral Sea. We had a few really nice hikes through the forest identifying plants and birds while being on the look out for the elusive Cassowary.
[caption id="attachment_835" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Cassowary Crossing"]
[/caption]
We checked into the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge and walked to dinner. It was nearly dusk and as we walked down the street, I suddenly saw a huge bird fly overhead — oh wait! It wasn't a bird; it was a bat! The Spectacled Flying-Fox group were heading out for their evening forage.
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We checked into the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge and walked to dinner. It was nearly dusk and as we walked down the street, I suddenly saw a huge bird fly overhead — oh wait! It wasn't a bird; it was a bat! The Spectacled Flying-Fox group were heading out for their evening forage.
