North Queensland – Part II – Port Douglas, Daintree National Park , Cape Tribulation & SKY DIVING

So continuing on popular demand with part II (thank god for friends) the craziest activity I have done so far – jumping out of a plane. Well this is just a teaser cause after spending 12 meters underwater your body needs 12 hours to get back to normal (something we didn’t know while booking sky diving) but just thought we’d need a break and believe me you want to keep a day’s break between such activities.

So the day after the underwater in Cairns (June 2009) we head on a day tour through the national park to Cape Tribulation and back through the gorge. An excursion if you must further north. In a bus full of people, of course we are the last pick up and so get the crappiest seats right at the end, did remind me of school days when the kids at the back were the cool ones, why was that again? cause this was bloody uncomfortable. Anyways we were sleepy enough having to get up at 6.30 again that we did take a little nap before our first destination – the Daintree river cruise – the first place I saw crocodiles. Ok probably not as scary as seeing them roam around in the Northern Territory, but it was scary enough for me. We did see a baby one too and that was really cute, can’t believe 80% die young. Well it was a beautiful cruise and that got us across the river to the other side, our bus was on the car ferry crossing, is that what it is? oh well you know what I mean, so bus reached the other bank as well and we were off to take a walk in the National Park. Our guide/driver was really helpful with all the natural and indigenous remedies.

But I have to say the highlight was getting to the beach at Cape Tribulation. It is just so beautiful and quite and deserted. I wish we had more day, would definitely recommend spending one night there, totally worth it.

On the way back we had one main stop, the Mossman Gorge. This is where we went crazy. We had kinda decided that we would have a swim in the gorge, but considering the temperature of the water and knowing us, we were chickening out. Then obviously, anyone who knows my youngest sisters knows what she is capable of, so she takes off her clothes (don’t have ideas, we were wearing our swimmers inside) and jumps in, well I wasn’t far behind and so did the same, but what have you, my top slips off the rock and starts floating down the gorge and the sports athlete that Vrindaa is, she swims with all her might, slipping on the rocks, holding on to not get drifted by the current, to get that top back for me – ladies and gentlemen my baby sister! All this while I am standing there dumbfounded and thinking my parents are going to kill me if they ever find out, so shhhh.

Well that was our little adventure, not long after we had about 3 others jump in and it was the most refreshing dip. Exhausted from that, we just stayed in the bus, got off at Port Duglas and walked around. By now we were chatty with an American guy (J.D. how typical) and German girl (Elena) and so I was lazing around with them, while my sisters, full of energy as they were throughout the trip went a wandering around. Have to say, if you want a quieter holiday, definitely go with Port Duglas.

Well now have I built up the anticipations for the Sky Diving yet?

First off, there was no way I was going to do in Cairns, nope sorry, I aint jumping outta a plane to see trees. No I want a good beautiful view, especially when you’re near the barrier reef. So we head down south this time to Mission Beach. So we weren’t that scared cause yes your jumping with someone else so you’re not going to die alone. Maybe the wrong approach for the scared ones. Ok here it is, you just have to do it, I mean strap on a pair and get on with it. We had decided to go for the 11,000ft just casue 14,000 seemed too high up, but as most people get sucked in by smooth talkers, we got sucked into “you’re probably only going to do it once so why not from 14,000ft”. Unfortunately we 4 were in the plane (and by that I mean a not so stable looking helicopter) with 3 others who were jumping at 11,000ft. Now that part was a bit scary I have to admit. Sitting in there, seeing the door open mid-air and then these people just jump up and vanish, like they were sucked into a vacuum of some sort. After seeing that any person would be a bit freaked out. So getting to the edge of the door was the biggest challenge. Thankfully there the tandems are usually very nice and give you a gentle little push. You lean out, your thinking “oh my god what am I doing?” and then you are out, in the air, falling. I did not have a single thought running through my head during the free fall, it was just pure bliss of falling through thin air and the twirling can give you a bit of a head spin. But then, the parachute opens and it is amazing, I felt like I was floating, no wait wrong word, flying.

The view down below was divine, saw a turtle in the water, maneuvered through a cloud, saw a rainbow in the cloud, talked to my sister mid air, simply amazing. And whoever said you only do it once, hell I wil

l definitely do it again if I have the money.

Clearly we did not spend another ridiculous $150 on pictures/video.

So there you have it, the highlight of my trip. Didn’t actually get around to bungee jumping like my sister but heck I had to leave something for my next adventure filled holiday.