I'm so envious. Would love to be joining you in Cairns and on the tour of the Tablelands, and I'm always up well before 6:30. Never mind, I will look forward to the report/s of the weekend, and enjoy it vicariously.

Thanks, Bokhara, but coffee won't help. I've just been deprived of tea for 40-odd hours for a medical procedure - and was starting to get homicidal!

I'm interested in animals, bush and just about anything.

Not a friend of snakes!

margo_oz, should I try to introduce you to some so a friendship can blossom?

Actually if we do the morning cruise on Lake Barrine there is a good chance that we could see a large Amethyst Python on the bank from the safety of the boat.

Alan, I've met enough snakes, thanks, and we just don't seem to click. The fact that they are poisonous (and killed 2 cats) brown snakes - and I'm a fraidy cat, means its unlikely to be a good combination.

Like Margo - It is a complete impossibility to have a blooming friendship between moi and a snake!

I get ill just seeing them even on TV! (But I totally respect their right to be here)

But I loooove crocodiles!

I also love anything to do with water, so Lake Barrine sounds good, despite the snake!

Margo - you don't have to look at the pythons, Lake Barrine is lovely, turtles and ducks, and some amazing eels with astonishing travel arrangements, am sure Alan will wise you up on them.

Of course you have to look at the pythons, Pat!

Someone will say "Look at those pythons".... and because I'm such an obedient, timid soul, I'll look at the pythons...and there you are! It's all downhill after that!

I think I took my aunt to Lake Barrine...is there a restaurant / cafe there?

Yes, there is Margo - you probably did take your aunt there - Lake Barrine Teahouse - www.lakebarrine.com.au - freshly baked scones with jam and cream are the best. To take your mind off the pythons!

Margo, I didn't see any pythons at Lake Barrine when we were there in 2003, but I do remember the lovely scones, jam and cream, the beautiful setting, and the tranquility. I was fascinated with the turtles in the water.

Those turtles were probably python food! ?

Does anyone coming to GTG have any preferences as to type of cuisine for Sat night, 28th May? Right now am looking at Bellocale (Italian seafood) www.cairnsdining.com/935/bellelocal - its in Cairns city and am advised it can be noisy on a Saturday night unless you take table on footpath; (Cairns has wide footpaths) obviously no views, is this important? There's a string of restaurants on boardwalk behind Shangrila hotel, all overlooking harbour.

Also looking at Fratelli's on esplanade at Trinity Beach, front tables have ocean views, I haven't been to either of these, both are quite new and come highly recommended by locals.

Hi Pat,

Thanks for organising our dinner venue. I would be a little worried about a noisy venue. Our GTG is all about meeting, chatting, talking about our travel etc so personally, that would be a bit of a priority for me.

Having said that I am happy to just go with the flow of course but I do think it is important that we can chat to one another without a whole lot of noise.

Views are great but I am more than happy to leave the decision up to yourself or Alan and will be delighted with whatever you choose.
Once again thanks for putting this time in for us.
See you soon
Stormbird

Hi Pat,
I agree with Stormbird - we want to be able to chat, so I'd go for the quieter place. Other than that, more than happy to leave it to you.

Hi Stormbird and Bokhara - agree, we don't want noise (still remember that noisy Italian place at Newport, Bokhara - made it hard to talk) - maybe we should keep away from Cairns CBD on a Saturday night and just go to a quiet suburban place. If everyone's OK with Thai food, we have a good little Thai at Stratford - Siam Orchid Spicy, attractive restaurant with semi enclosed verandah and friendly staff. No views though, apart from trees. Just a thought.

Sounds good Pat!

Sounds OK. Think I've been there.

Wow! A comment removed from a GTG thread !

Pat, the Thai restaurant in Stratford sounds good to me.
Regards,
Alan

Controversy!! I'm not sure why they would have done that.