MAGNETIC ISLAND

One of the good things about being this far away from "home" is we can actually explore the places we have only heard about. One such place is Magnetic Island. It is a very popular touristy spot, not far from Townsville. We stayed 2 nights in Bungalow Bay - in a wooden tent (an A-frame bungalow with a bed and a fridge, no windows and air-conditioning). I suppose they make them like this so you don't stay inside all day/night.

We definitely got out and about, and as usual managed to rack up a few kilometers of bush walking up and down the many hills of the island. Andy got to see his first koala in the wild. We also got to swim at Balding Bay and Radical Bay with no stinger net or suits, in the company of at least two mature aged people who were cossie challenged.

On the whole, the island is a good place to kick back on the beach and watch the world pass you by.

Bowerbird

There is a great bowerbird bower in our back yard. I have been watching the progress of the building done by these interesting birds. They have some weird ideas on decoration..
I have included some pics of the progress of the bower. Not sure how long until it's finished, but I'm sure we will find out soon enough.

I will put up some more piccies of their building progress at a later date.

I like how some people think..

I haven't really been posting to this blog as often as I imagined I would. Anyhow, I have some more piccies of our travels up north when Andy's folks came to visit for the weekend. We managed to drive all the way up to Port Douglas and back, as well as a day trip around Ingham and the surrounding areas. It was our first time way up there, and I'm sure we managed to see about 90% of the waterfalls in the area... :) I will let the pics tell the story. Just will leave you with this pearl of wisdom found on one of the paths to a waterfall lookout.... Love the way some people think.. I hope you think the way I thought when I saw this..

Mission Beach


The famous Milla Milla falls

The Atherton Tablelands


Somewhere between Cairns and Port Douglas

Port Douglas (have no idea what the beach name is.. )


One of the hundreds of butterflies in the butterfly
sancturary in Kuranda


Josephine Falls (thanks to Brett for the heads up about the name - I had it as Johnstone.)

Mount Bartle Frere

My attempt at macro photography using cheap
extension tubes - notice the really narrow depth
of field!! This little creature was buzzing around at the
lookout at the top of Wallaman falls.

Wallaman Falls, showing a rainbow

Mausoleum in Ingham cemetery.

Wallaman falls and there abouts....

Some photos from our trip to Wallaman falls yesterday. And maybe one just in there cause I like it, underexposed and all!!

Getting used to the new camera...

Did a bit of photo taking again around the yard. Was using the 55-250mm lens again just for fun..
I will put up a few of the pics that I think sort of worked.

Washing the dishes sucks!!

If I wasn't already married, I would marry the guy (or girl) who invented the dishwasher. If only I took the one from our old house and dodgied it into this kitchen I wouldn't be saying this!!!

Freakin dishes, bloody dirty dishes. So many of them for so little people. Why oh why do I have to do this crap........ Arrgghhh, rant over.

Weekends go so fast!!!

Since I have started working full time again, the weekends never seem to have enough time to do everything I want to do. But I suppose I will have to get used to it, at least for now.

Yesterday we went for a drive to Cardwell, a little seaside town about 1/2 hour north of Ingham. First thing I noticed was the feel of being more tropical. In Ingham, you can't really sense the northerness, but in Cardwell you can, I think maybe due to the hundreds more palm trees that are planted everywhere. This is the furtherest north that we have ever been. How exciting!! :)

We stopped for a bite to eat and sat close to the beach. There are signs everywhere warning of estuarine crocodiles, which still spins me out, as I can't for the life of me imagine a crocodile swimming in the sea... I really want to see one now....

We went for a walk on the jetty, the water was a bit mucky and brown, so no nice clear blue water. You can see Hinchinbrook Island with it's humongous mountains. Someday we will venture our there. It was overcast and a yucky day, so I wasn't too keen on getting the camera out.

Once we got back to Ingham, we had a brief look at the cemetery. It is definitely different, as there are many many mausoleums, something you don't often see.

I got home and took a few piccies with the camera. I will post one up that may be passable. I was using my longer lens, just trying it out. I'll get the tripod out one day..