Day 8: Surfer's Paradise

Day 8 (7/17/02): Surfer's Paradise

A lot of people got to sleep in today. Those who went to the 4 wheel drive tour of the rain forest left the hotel, Mercure Resort Conalia, at 8:00 a.m. We took off west towards the continental divide , occasionally stopping to see breathtaking views or animals such as kangaroos, wallabies (very similar to kangaroos but with different habits, as was explained to me).

Abby Haystead and Terrell Miller overlooking the Great Australian Divde

We stopped at an Alpaca ranch. The animal looks very similar to a llama and has fur that is seven times warmer than sheep's wool. The prices at the boutique also indicated this.

Later, we had tea at another great view. Tea, coffee, or juice was served as well as fresh banana cake and cookies. 

We continued on to Lamington and Mount Tamborine National Parks to see a rain forest. One was high up in the hills close to the continental divide. I had not realized that rainforests can be in many different altitudes. The type of fauna and plants just differ. 

We went above the rainforest in a "tree top" walk on bridges supported by cables. We even got to see some strangler fig trees. These seeds grow above in the bough of a tree and sneak roots to the ground. Sooner or later it competes with the tree for the same water. The fig covers the host tree completely with ruts and eventually wins, killing the other tree. The tree decomposes and all that is left is a hollow "tube" that goes up through the middle of the fig.

Our guides grilled meat and fed us a homemade lunch. We got to see kookaburras, magpies and a butcher bird eye us. The guides told us that these birds have been known to grab meat from the table from unsuspecting people. While we waited for our meals, Another guide had a boomerang and demonstrated how to throw one. Of course, they had boomerangs to sell afterwards.

Gus rogers testing out a boomerang

We went to see another rainforest afterwards. It was lower to sea level. We walked through a trail and noticed the lack of water through the riverbeds. It was obvious that we were here during the dry season. 

We also visited a place where we could find some exotic parrots. The place gave us birdseed and these birds were tame enough to eat it out of our hands. They were brave enough to land on our shoulders and heads also.

On the way back, we talked to our driver and got him to share his views. He had been to the U.S. and seen a lot of the west and Alaska. He commented on how the Americans were nice and recounted some stories about how some had a hard time with his accent. He also expressed concern about how the economy and media served to give the U.S. a lot of influence in Australia and all over the world. 

The Australia news focuses a lot on the U.S. government (and George W. Bush) and what's going on there, as it affects Australia also. He believes that the U.S. is exerting so much influence that Australia's identity will be swallowed up.

We got back to the hotel around 4:00 p.m. The others either shopped in Surfer's Paradise, relaxed at the hotel, or took part in beginning lessons on how to surf. (Melanie, Adam, and Lauren did it). The group shopped or supped, enjoying their last night in Surfer's Paradise. It was an early wake up time for tomorrow.