Adventure North Indigenous Tour

We started our Indigenous tour out of our accommodation in Port Douglas, North Queensland, Australia.  While I had heard of this tour, I had never experienced it for myself.  This was a wonderful tour and I would certainly recommend it.

Our driver/guide, Cavel, picked us up in a vehicle just 6 months old.  It was very comfortable and he was a supportive and great guide,  We really enjoyed his stories.

Our first stop was at the art studio Janbal to meet with the Indigenous artist, Brian "Binna" Swindley where we had a lesson in dot painting.  I discovered that I must have left my artistic talent in kindergarten, but I gave it a try and had a great time.  Brian also sells some of his art work in the studio.  He told us that starting April, 2014, the guests who visit the studio will be able to do their paintings on canvas instead of the dried nut we used and eventually made into a key ring.  All the paints were made from natural ingredients native to Aboriginal art.  Although Brian was born deaf, he has mastered both conversation and playing the didgeridoo very well.


Once we finished our painting "class", we were on the way to meet our Indigenous guide, Roy to do the Wander tour into the lush rainforest of the World Heritage Listed Daintree National Park - Mossman Gorge. This is the home of the Kuku Yalanji people.  We were able to experience one of the world's oldest and most beautiful rain forests on the planet. It was an easy going walk  across board walks, tracks and bridges protecting the delicate landscape.  It was a little too cold to swim so we didn't have any takers for this experience.  We did learn a lot about the Indigenous history, the education of their young boys and girls, marriage traditions and we were able to see how Roy was able to obtain soap from the sasaporilla plant.  Our tour was completed and we had lunch at the new Mossman Gorge Centre. 

Once we finished lunch we were on our way again to meet with Brandon to find out more about hunting and gathering......Off with the long pants and on with the shorts as we prepared to choose our spears and head out into the crystal waters (okay the tide was out so it was mainly the mudflats of Cooya Beach) to gather shell fish, mussels and whatever else could be found along the way and in the Mangrove forest.  Some were hunters, some were gatherers and a couple of us watched the tide come in.  After the exercise, we all gathered across the street from the beach where Brandon's parents have their home.  They are very gracious hosts and treated us to tea and muffins while Brandon cooked the catch of the day.  Those who eat shell fish based in the spicy flavor of the catch.  A great end to a meaningful and educational tour.

The Thoughts of "H"

A few years ago, while traveling in Queensland, Australia, I was fortunate to meet a wonderful poet named Harry Donnelly.  Periodically I receive an original poem from "H" and I'd love to share this one with you.  His poems are always thought provoking and this one seems to fit for me (and maybe you?)

the thoughts of ‘H’

(the cleansing)

#281

He decided on a spring-clean at his place amongst the trees,

a neighbourhood of animal and sweet bird-life if you please.

A dust up…not too fancy, though a clean out just the same,

when he felt a certain feeling which he couldn’t quite explain.

It was kind of like a nagging at his present state of mind,

so he sat within sweet nature just to feel what he could find.

Almost immediately his thought process became forever clear,

this spring-clean had to start within that space between the ears.

So he stayed amidst the peace and calming comforting surrounds

of Mother Nature’s ever soothing ever meditative sounds.

Piece by cluttered piece his mind began its letting go

of the countless insignificant collective thoughts left there to grow.

He was cleaning out the stuff that over time had gathered there,

slowly incubating to a point — too much to bear.

 In a process oh so gentle so as to leave no scar or bruise

he was in a state of ‘all to gain’ with ‘nothing left to lose’.

It was quite a special happening…gifted in sweet nature’s way,

on a heaven-sent type morning of a glowing springtime day.

This cleansing of the mind was flowing gently cross the soul

to a place of free and easy where contentment had evolved.

Then…amidst his relaxation something niggled at his mind,

a shift was taking place and carefree thoughts were left behind.

As angry storm-clouds burst above…his gratefulness was doused,

by the sudden realisation — still had to clean that bloody house.

Harry Donnelly

(265)

20-9-13

An Update from the Bush

Thank you, Janine from Echidna Walkabout in Victoria, Australia

Here's an update from The Bush about a very special lady!












Marpeang is a lovely mature brunette (koala).  She has a special man in her life - Benbo - and together they keep watch over the north-east of our koala research area.  They spend quite a lot of time together, more than would be expected just for breeding.

Then, in May this year, Wildlife Guide Martin noticed that Marpeang was not looking well.  She had what appeared to be a respiratory infection.  He called Koala Researcher Donna, who is also a registered Wildlife Carer, and she went out that day to check on her. Donna decided that she had to come into hospital to be treated.

Roger and I were away in Scandinavia, but that didn’t stop our team.

Wildlife Guides Martin, Scott and Koala Researchers Mary, Donna and Melinda converged on the You Yangs the following day.  But Marpeang had other ideas – she was very high in her tree.  You can’t believe how difficult it is to capture a koala high up in the gum-tree – some of our trees are 30metres (100feet) high!   They tried the normal method, but she wouldn’t budge.  Martin climbed the tree, she wouldn’t budge.  After hours they have to give up.  For the next week every Guide and Researcher monitored her.



















<Martin starting to climb her tree


Finally, a few days later she was spotted low down and Donna dropped everything and was there within the hour.  They succeeded in capturing her.  But that was just the beginning of a long saga.

Read how Marpeang was treated and finally released (and see some amazing pics including an Xray)... at our blog: How important is wildlife care? Marpeang's story

A trip to Keukenhof Garden

The Netherlands is knows for windmills, wooden shoes and flowers.  Yes, tulips to be more precise.  In the past 64 years, over 50 million visitors from every corner of the world have discovered the delights of Kukenhof garden, the former estate of a 15^th century countess, located  in the town of Lisse.  With over 800,000 visitors expected this year, my daughter, Julie Brandt, and I counted ourselves among those.  While the cold winter delayed the tulips from opening, when we arrived in late April, the fields were becoming a rainbow of color.  In addition to more than 7 million flowers on display, there are four pavilions showing a fantastic collection of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, orchids, roses, carnations, and many other flowers.  This year the theme is Great Britain - the land of great gardens.  hile Keukenhof is only open from mid-March to mid-May, if you visit, you will be overwhelmed by a spectacle of colors and perfumes.

Keukenhof is easily reached from Amsterdam and was one of the stops on our AMAWaterways Holland cruises.