Bashful says farewell to Australia

Well we have had a ball taking Bashful with us on holiday up to Cairns.
We tried to make sure he saw as much as we did and experienced all that the Northern part of our beautiful country has to offer…sun sand sea and rainforest.
I think he had a ball..this is the second time he has visited us and it was a long time in the planning!
In fact when we booked our holiday early in 2014 i spoke to Bacon and the plan was hatched! so we kept the secret for nearly a year..amazing for me!

This week the little guy will wing his way home..and i am sure he has many tales to tell..and i also believe he has a little explaining to do!! (more of that later 😉 )

So i have got a little group of pics to show as we bid our little mate farewell and say safe travels…

Bashful arrives for Xmas

We travelled from our home town up North

 

We stayed in Melbourne the night before..early flight the next day

 

Airport in the distance

 

On board the plane..morning tea

We arrive at our destination and head to the resort

We have a break at Cairns..Bashful at the lagoon

Resort arrival and Bashful is ready to relax!

We unpack and head to the pool

Bashful and i share a cocktail..let the fun begin!

Bashful met a Rhinocerous beetle

He had a chillax pool side

Met some relatives

Had romantic dinners with Fozziedad and i

He hit the beach

He enjoyed the warm temperatures

Loved the food

Dined alfresco

Loved the scenery out in the rainforest

Enjoyed all the rest stops

He didn’t eat the crocodile curry Fozziedad had

But nibbled my calamari salad!

Gelati by the beach

Pulled pork rolls poolside

Yep that Bashful loves to eat!

Prawn rolls beachside

Oh and cakes of course 🙂

Bashful really wanted to stay at the resort

And all the staff were sad to say goodbye to him

But all good things come to an end

Resting on my cushion on the plane

The ouchie toe needed some help when we got back..

So off to the hospital for me and Bashful for an xray..

So it seems fitting to say bye bye to Bashful with some fireworks..we sat on the beach on New Years eve..eating fish and chips and watching the fireworks over the coral sea..Bashful had a great night and so did we..so adieu my friend and let’s do this again!
Loves Fozziemum xx

Bashfuls New Years Eve day

Back we are with the travels of our guest Bashful
New years eve for us usually involves staying put at home with all the furries..of course we were away this time so we needed to do something a bit different.
We decided to spend the day at the Great Barrier Reef.
I have had the absolute joy of visiting this reef 4 times..this time we were at the top part of the reef so I was really looking forward to this!

The company we went with was http://www.silverseries.com.au and the catamaran we took was the Silverswift which left from Cairns.
The day started early in the morning..on board all drinks and morning teas were included and the lunch was a smorgasboard of salads and cold meats and prawns, hot meals and breads the whole works also afternoon tea, cakes and cheeses and crackers and we would be glad because with 3 different reef stops and a total of 5 hours in the water we worked up a huge appetite!
Please enjoy a snorkel with us as we show you our own beautiful Wonder of the world..and yes I noted some coral bleaching has occurred and so we must all play our part in being gentle with the environment ..as much as this Great Barrier Reef is Australian through and through it belongs to YOU to..it is there for the whole world and let us hope it continues to be.

I hired an underwater camera for the day as I was not keen on fiddling with settings etc and knew he camera would be already set for the underwater pictures..the photographer, continuing our small world discussion used to live in our state not far from hubbies uncle and was in the CFA there..small world..

Awaiting the catamaran for our departure at Cairns Marina

Looks like Bashful is ready for another down under adventure!

A perfect day for a reef trip

Fozziedad took Bashful in his special scuba gear so I could capture his day

The scuba divers bubbles look so pretty with the light reflecting off them

Crazy Fozziedad..him and Bashful photo bombing

Such pretty coloured fish

More cute fish

Reef structures

Elusive fish..followed him for awhle

The Photgrapher having a moment with the Maori Wrasse..he was a very inquisitive fish!

More beauty

Birds eye view

Near the surface and the fish all gather

The Wrasse back for more fun

Coral and colour

Hi there cutie!

A meeting place

Hey Bashful has the hang of this alright!

Imagine the fun of a big kiss from this guy!

Got to be quick to catch these guys!

Hi Bashful!

Wow what an amazing fish..i got to pat him and pure muscle! I have never been that close before!

And a great pic with our guest Bashful!

Day over and we head back home

Bashful thanks the catamaran pilot for a great day!

And I learnt that the ‘watch yourstep’ signs on the catamaran shoud be duly noted..5 times I stubbed this toe…ending up with a super sore toe that looked like an Eggplant!

I will continue with our New Years Eve tomorrow! have a great day xx

Travelling further in the Daintree

After our wonderful and relaxed walk around the Discovery centre we jumped in the peapod hire car and headed further up towards Cape Tribulation..the destination a little centre called the Snake House..it’s ok they did have snakes but I won’t show any pics..i know some peeps freak!

Here we signed some paperwork, filled in some forms and waited for our ride.

It came, a van driven by a super keen young guy full of enthusiasm who proceeded to load us all on and off we headed to our destination..not to far but up a steep road which became rutted and gave us the ride of our lives as we rocked side to side ..not much different in a way to our driveway at the moment hahaaha 🙂

Once we got to our final desination we were given a talk, measured up, harnessed up, and helmeted up.My camera was attached to a Carabiner ,Bashful was attached to hubbies Carabiner so i could take the pics of him, and we started our walk…straight up, in again hideous humidity…but the scenery …breathtaking..

I suppose I should explain something first…I have always been a bit of an adventurer..always a tomboy and still climb trees and jump fences. Having a love of capturing images to share has made me even more keen to go out on a limb..i want people to enjoy the same things I do..if even one person feels like they have been with me I get such a kick out of it..I know I have achieved what I wanted!
One day I hope to be able to sell my images so I can put more money towards getting out and showing the beauty and glory that is our world..lordie knows my equipment needs to start paying it’s way..hahahaha .

So with water running down my back and my calves begging for mercy we got to a platform..
We were going Jungle Surfing!

There are six treetop platforms of varying heights built around these magnificent ancient trees which according to our guide are stronger than steel! in fact steel would break with the movement these trees have..so they sway ..and they are just extraordinary!

At the platform where we were to head off is what they call the Hamster Wheel..a couple of people at a time get in and start the wheel by walking or jogging..this brings the ziplines back to the platform and the next people get their harnesses attached and start their surfing!

I must say the fact hubby and I were last was a blessing as I was still sweaty and a bit achey hahaah.

The guide at the hamster wheel

When our turn came we were attached to the zipline..we went together so I could grab pics on the way..

The platform guide

The measurements in feet as written in the guides are as follows:

150 ft..52 ft..141 ft..22 ft…180 ft..63 ft..255 ft..47 ft..147 ft…41 ft …82 ft..11 ft..

And off we went!

Bashful ready to go!

Such an exhilarating feeling..the air fresh yet that same ancient Jurassic type scent of rainforest mosses and foliage..this I could do all day! getting my self sorted with the camera was a tad funky but I did get myself organised! and at each platform we were welcomed by another guide who discussed the trees the environment and the wildlife, and unhooked us and reattached us to the next zipline..

What a great view up!

Another platform awaits!

I am sure Bashful was thrilled to finally get his Tarzan on!

Hubby and bashful flying through the treetops!

The second last platform had the most stunning views of the Coral Sea and the Barrier Reef..

Coral Sea

And yes we were all given helmets by the guides..go figure their choice hahahahaha..

Why? hahaah

The last surf we did solo.. I went first and when the guide said let go and hang..well I did..what a blast..upside down in the Daintree hanging from a harness and trying like crazy to take pics …none to successful as it was so fast!

Woo hoo solo !

Gorgeous!

My upside down shot! not to crash hot but see the platform up the top right hahaaha:)

Upside down down under

Last leg of the surf!

Wow..super fun and such a great way to be amongst the treetops!

We finished up at the Harnessing centre and were whisked back to the snake house the same rickety road but for some reason even wilder !
When we got back we were hot and sweaty and in need of a swim..so we spoke to the guy at the Snake house and asked where there was a safe spot to swim..crocs being a real problem..he told us to drive just down the road to this café ..behind it is a house and the owner is happy for people to swim on his property…odd but whatever here we go..
Sure enough behind this café was a beautiful house ..like an old plantation really…

The house behind the cafe

We got out and walked across an expanse of lush green grass and there in the middle of nothing was a metal pole with a tin attached and a sign said Gold Coin Donation..so we popped 2 dollars in and wandered to a bushy and tree lined path..
In to view came the most beautiful river..filled with cool water and giant river stones..after a bit of a wrangle to climb down in we went..there were a few people there also enjoying this mans generosity in sharing his wonderful oasis!

Beautiful and just what we needed!

It was cool and refreshing and the sweatiness soon was gone..of course I took Bashful for a swim where we got talking to a woman who was from Canberra and as I said before small world she works as a nurse and knows the Opthamologist that did my eyeplugs! small small world..

Chatting with us girls in the water..Bashful right at home

A lovely way to cool off..Bashful and I

After a lovely swim it was time to grab an ice cream and hit the road…where to? well all will be revealed 🙂

 

A huge thanks to the awesome guys from  http://www.junglesurfing.com.au for a day to remember !

Bashfuls visit to the Daintree wilderness

I must confess I have totally mucked my days up and am now posting our trip in no particular order..i think!
This day was the day we went to the Daintree.
To give you an idea of the Daintree I will give you some little facts..

The Amazon is about 7 million years old.
The Daintree is thought to be between 110-200 million years old! Wow..amazing.
From a total of 19 primitive flowering plant families on Earth 12 are found here!
These plants are known as Green dinosaurs.
I have much more information so if anyone has a question please ask and I will endeavour to answer as best as I can!

So to get to the Daintree rainforest system it is a gorgeous drive along the beach and through the forests from Palm Cove where we were staying through Mossman and on to Daintree Village where you drive onto a ferry and the cross the Daintree river..
Once across we drove to the Daintree discovery Centre to have a look around, grab a coffee and take in the spectacular views!
You can take a canopy walk which will take approximately 1 1/2 -2 hours and also climb the Canopy Tower.
The tower is 23 metres high and has 5 viewing platforms designed to withstand cyclones.
The walk is leisurely and easily achieved even with a wheelchair..i found the tower climb a bit harder as the humidity was insane but the views were well worth it..the canopy is alive with the sound of birds but I was unable to get any pics as I left my Brutus lens behind..not a good weight to lug around!

We loved this place and it did indeed feel like stepping into Jurrasic Park.

We could have stayed a lot longer but ‘other’ things were on our agenda that day as well..i will return again without doubt as the whole experience for photographers, gardeners,bird lovers,animal lovers was a dream!
When we returned to the café it was funny to find the lady behind the counter after a chat has a daughter that lives in our town! this happened with a few people as you shall find out later..when more of bashfuls Down Under travels are revealed!
I have a massive amount of photos and when I have finished Bashfuls holiday shots I will be more than happy to share ,so if any particular spot I feature interests you please let me know and I will post some more pictures.
Please enjoy Bashfuls day at the Daintree – Part One!

A quick stop to admire the scenery before we get to the Daintree

Arriving at Daintree Village to catch the ferry

Never smile at a crocodile!

Even our birds down under are dangerous!

All aboard Bashful admiring the Daintree river

Arriving at the Daintree Discovery Centre

The Canopy walk and tower guides

Bashful gets up close to a Cassowary! lucky it was just a model!

Reading up on the Wet Tropics with some beautiful scenery behind him

Bshful trying to get his Tarzan on!

Amazing growth on the trees

I wouldn’t be me if I did not have the luck to spot the wildlife!

The Canopy Tower..a great work out!

But the views were well worth a bit of sweating and puffing!

Bashful charming the ladies at the café..who made an amazing coffee! and us Melbournians are very much coffee critics! the lady holding Bashful has a daughter in our town!

Next Post will be Part Two of our Daintree experience..and things really hot up!!

Day two of Bashfuls vacation Down Under

Day two of our holiday of course was Christmas Day..
We woke to a humid and hot day…Bashful was very surprised at that..his last Christmas was with Misaki and it was in England so very different weather!

We really did not do much as we were preparing for some ‘busy’ days ahead and usually Christmas day I am flat out..so for the first time in 31 years I did NO cooking! Amazing..

So after a huge buffet breakfast it was straight to the pool..
Bashful of course was quite pleased about this..

Bashful chilling on the pool noodles

He was very enamoured of the giant colourful palms.as was I…

Beautiful colored palm trees

Wanting to head to the beach we grabbed our towels and Bashful and spent the rest of the morning enjoying the beautiful day..

Beach at Palm Cove

Fozziedad gave Bashful a hand as it’s a big body of water for a little stone!

There you go mate!

It was so nice to just sit and enjoy the world..no rushing in the kitchen no cooking and cleaning..i loved it!
The resort had Christmas trees everywhere and Christmas carols and songs playing..

Christmas still happens when you go away

We had pre ordered when we booked our holiday for a special Christmas lunch platter..and as Bashful slept (tired from the heat) our lunch arrived.

It was one of the most beautiful lunches, we ate in the outdoor undercover pool bar..surrounded by other Christmas celebrators..the air was warm the music gentle and Christmassy and the views of pools and palms all around.
This platter was huge..seafood, cold meats, salads,dips, cheeses,crackers, everything! including little individual mince pies with ice cream and a huge Christmas cracker..

Food to die for

And of course Cocktails!

After lunch we went for a swim and started to plan the boxing day trip we were taking..as the next days were going t be full on!

We ended up in bed super early even Bashful was still tired..so I shall continue our trip in my next post..wait till you see what we all got up to!
Loves Fozziemum
Pee ess we are safe here at the moment with only a few small fires started by lightning nearby..dark clouds have threatened but no rain..so rain dances would be appreciated 😉 Hugs Fozziemum xx

Bashful’s Holiday travels Down Under

Well as you all know we had a guest not only for Christmas but to go on holidays with us..yes Bashful..all the way from the U.S of A..
Bacon and I made arrangements about this time last year! so pretty good to keep a secret for a year!
The little guy had a great pre Christmas with our family and we held a beach theme..to get ready for the big trip! so all the tables and food was relaxed and beachy!

I decided on a beach theme for our early family Christmas

We left home on the 23rd, dropped the pets off at boarding and headed to the city for the night..an early flight Christmas eve morning for us all.

Bashful needed a quick coffee and muffin on the plane to wake up..

Seat 1A Bashful has some brekky

It’s a reasonably long flight to Cairns but we arrived and it was hot! and humid! and fantastic…..
We grabbed our little pea pod sized hire car and headed to Palm Cove..we arrived and straight away Bashful was off for a look around..

Bashful at the Sea Temple Resort Palm Cove

We found our room and headed up to unpack..

Bashful ready to relax..think he was hinting at a dip in the pool!

Bashful soon found that the Pine-Lime Splice Cocktail was a perfect fix for the heat..remember the little guy is used to a cool winter!

It’s okay..i made sure the little guy didn’t drink to excess!

We dried off and headed out..off to Barron falls..nothing like a bit of an explore..The fall were lovely not running with a lot of water as the rains had not been yet..seems everywhere we are waiting for rain! you see this is Far North Queenslands wet season..they are tropics..so wet and humid is how they roll!

At the falls..not far from Palm Cove

The stunning paths inside Barron Falls Gorge

I had some camera and sweaty eye issues the humidity was crazy…so sorry for the blown out shot of Bashful with the falls behind him..many of my pics did not turn out well at all..the humidty was making me nuts! I have to say my worst day ever at taking pictures..

Barron falls and Bashful

After a good walk around we left and headed to Kuranda and the Butterfly Sanctuary..and another humid zone..what was I thinking!!

Bashful arrives at the Butterfly Sanctuary

Somehow I lost Bashful and Fozziedad as I sweated my way through the butterfly house..but what a lovely sight..we have some stunning Butterflies in this country.

Lovely

The interior of the house

Hiding

Look at them all..stunning

At the feeding station this sweet one has a feed

Beautiful

We left and heade back to the resort to spend the rest of the day swimming and relaxing and then had a lovely dinner..i had the Salmon and Fozziedad had a risotto..both divine..but of course sweets are always my fave..think Bashful likes them too!

Bashful sharing our meal.

I had a lovely chocolate sour cherry brownie with micro herbs and Fozziedad had a deconstructed Toblerone parfait…..yummm

Christmas morning we woke to see Santa had been..he had left a gingerbread man and some chockies on our doorstep..we wished Bashful a Merry Christmas and headed down for brekky…and the day began..next post is our Christmas day with the little guy.
Hugs Fozziemum 🙂

Floating gracefully into 2015

Well folks Happy New Year!
Our much needed break has come to an end and I must say that Cairns and the surrounding areas have been a tonic for this tired and worn out land gal.
So many highlights and so many things to share.

When you have a long held dream and it finally becomes a reality it boosts your spirit..gives you that much needed lift and when I say lift I mean lift!

Many moons ago I was terrified of flying, quite literally would break out in sweats at the thought.
Gradually I became less scared as I realised the end of a plane trip meant a vacation!

I love flying now, the sensation of power and the feeling of looking down on the world from a different perspective.

So much of what I photograph is from lying on the ground of our property..maybe climbing trees to capture shots of roos or birds at eye height.

I still find myself staring skywards..looking for that Wedge-tail Eagle and soaring with him as he surveys us from above, the whole time I now find myself soaring with him as he catches the thermals and effortlessly covers the acreage in minutes…I have envied that power and grace.

When we arrived in Palm Cove I saw the brochures for http://www.hotair.com.au/cairns/
Now Hubby has never been afraid of flying but Hot Air Balloons …well that was a different thing!
Kudos to him he wanted to be with me when I took a flight.
So 3.30am we got up on the 30th of December and off we headed..
We were picked up by Merv the coach driver, a guy who despite the early hour was full of smiles and also a great guy to chat to, Merv was a great source of info and straight away I knew we had chosen an awesome company to fly with.
We arrived at the site and I was so excited..the sky was still hiding most of her glorious colours and balloons were in different stages of inflation ..awesome!

I was busting to get out and start snapping away and toting a vast array of lenses I was in danger of becoming a hunchback! my big boy lens Brutus was ready to roll!

Ground crew were just as great as Merv and sadly I cannot remember any names as I was in a Photographers Buzz…the sound of the gas jets blasting the smell of crisp air and the chance I had been waiting for for so long!

We were all briefed on the way to enter and exit the basket safely and it was clear concise and incredibly simple..it was wonderful to see grandparents with their grandchildren, young couples and families and even middle aged thrill seekers such as moi 🙂

You know I have to say I was feeling more like a kid in a lolly shop.Hubby looked a bit apprehensive but luckily he chilled pretty quickly as I kept the poor guy busy passing me lenses for my camera.

All I can say is WOW…I cannot believe how graceful and calm the whole flight was. Being carried with the thermals like those Wedge-tail Eagles and feeling a freedom and tranquillity my soul badly needed after such a frantic few years on the rocky ground we call home.

I am a girl that loves the environment..you all know I love nature and the beauty I see around me. Anyone who follows my bloggies knows this is what makes me tick.
This has just opened a whole new love for me, to see the clouds gently touching the mountains and the sun waking up to throw her colours around the landscape ..breathtaking! and at the same time to be able to look below at the landscape in all it’s glory..patchwork farm lands of varying crops, and I know the work that has gone in to those farms…if only they could see what I saw maybe they would have a new perspective too.

The day ended as gently as it started..and an hour of my life had been lifted to a place I must go again..

I will leave you all with some pictures of our morning, we have arrived home exhausted and I hope after the next few extreme fire danger days to be back to some regular blogging and catching up……yep again I am behind…same old me 😉 …

 

Merry Christmas from up North Down Under

I want to wish all my beautiful bloggie friends a wonderful Christmas..I have been awol and with good reason..we have been busy having an early Christmas as Fozziedad and I left the state on Xmas Eve ..morning ..at 3.30 am we were up….urghhhh we dropped the pups and kitties off at our fave boarding kennels…a 3 hour drive from home..then stayed in the city and yep up 3.30 next morning..you see we have a special ‘guest’ with us ..yep Bashful!

Bacon let us take the little guy with us on our trip to Far North Queensland..so we are in Palm Cove and plan on taking him with us to all the good stuff!
So with internet being on/off we have been kinda in limbo!
The Sunday we had Doc to the vet with a pancreatitis attack again and were just a whisper from cancelling our trip..then the Monday I was set for tests o my gallbladder…everything was really piling on.

I will get around to see everyones blogs as best as the intermutts lets me..i feel so rude but I just needed you all to know this is why I have been all over the shop..and scattered..i am sure the pups and kitties are most unimpressed with us but they are in terrific hands and we have sheepie sitters so all sorted.
Yesterday was a wipe out..by 8.30 pm we were in a coma…
So I love you all..i hope your day has been amazing…I so wish you all the very best of love health and happiness for the coming year.
I head off to beddies after a huge day again..but not before I show how Bashful enjoyed his Xmas day…Aussie style….on the beach of the Coral Sea…
Love to you all..Fozziemum xxx

I decided on a beach theme for our early family Christmas

Christmas Dinner at our house last Saturday..Bashful enjoying a cocktail

Bashfuls beach day

Silly Seagull Saturday

This seagull cracked me up…what a personality…I had been watching him with my sister when we went on a girls holiday last year for 5 nights in Broadbeach Qld.

Like me she has a thing for the poor creatures that blend in with the scenery…he had one leg..common to seagulls from fishing line tangles.. and yet amongst all those seagulls he held his own.

We sat there wondering how he coped, had he been in pain and dealing with his leg problems for a long time, did the others pick on him did he spend his time alone..did he have a friend a mate had he fathered seagulls…on and on we went…depressing ourselves even more….we do this my sister and I ..we ring each other if we see something upsetting and become quite morose together…we are not made of strong stuff..

So we postulated on the life of the gull and how we all fitted into this crazy world ,ate our fish and chips and  threw chips to the birds.. always making a big squawk and a rukus …all seagulls do and us making sure this little guy got just that bit more..we then went down the path of comedy as we do to make our moods lift…did he really have one leg? was he just fooling for better food, was he in fact a horrid little thing that made no friends and was nasty to the others…we are idiots my sister and I…our minds ramble as much as our mouths!

While this drama ..both in real life and in our rampaging imaginations was unravelling the seagull looked up and i took another of a heap of pics  I had taken of the flock already…this one is my fave….seems he is just as silly as my sister and I….I wish him well and thank him for a great memory of a day on the beach with my little sister.

WARM WISHES TO OUR WINTER FRIENDS