AndrewDavid

As wonderful as our adventure at the Tully River was, it cut into our time up on the Atherton Tableland. Instead of one night and a day and a half we were limited to a short day. Leaving Innisfall, we headed up to the Tableland via the Palmerston Highway.

Golly it was beautiful up there. Green rugged landscape reminiscent of Hawai?i as the sky above filled with rainbows. We hiked down to Ellinjaa and Millaa Millaa Falls scattering wild turkeys as we walked. I suspect they must shoot car advertisements at Millaa Millaa Falls ( like they do at the Golden Gate bridge) because it is so gorgeous.

With our appetite increased by our hikes to the falls we headed into Millaa Millaa town for a late lunch. We choose the general store cum cafe and were treated to the thinnest chicken salad sandwiches in the world. If these aren?t in the reverse Guiness Book of Records, someone should nominate them.

I have to admit coming from the land of Dagwood and Blondie, (adjusting to italian panini took some stomach shrinking), but these sandwiches were ridiculous. As a 57 year old with the appetite of a 17 year old I had 4 of the thinnest chicken sandwiches in the world. Little did we know we were dining at the fabulous Garden Room that evening.

Our next stop was Lakes Eacham and Barrine, 2 beautiful crater lakes. We saw a rare type of turtle while walking about Lake Eacham and then after a smashing Devonshire tea at the lodge at Lake Barrine took a critter spotting tour during a soft misty rain on the lake. Our entertaining guide took us about the circumfrence of the lake and we saw lots of birds and amythest pythons. One could do a nice hike around the lake but given the python population I was glad to be on the water.

We headed down off the Tableland towards Cairns on a twisty road in the most spectacular deluge of our entire 5 weeks down under. Luckily we were behind a tour bus that was cutting the waves washing over the road bed. It was a white knuckle trip, but as we reached level ground the sky cleared we had another show of rainbows and after a few wrong turns found ourselves at the wonderful Lilybank B&B and a warm greeting from Pat, Mike and their poodles.

We were given a beautiful and extremely comfortable 2 room suite trimmed out in lovely woodwork. Lilybank is a gracious old Queenslander w/ a cottage in the rear garden and a small pool in the front. It is located in the leafy suburb of Stratford away from the bustle of downtown Cairns, but just a short drive away.

That evening Pat suggested we walk down the road and try The Garden Room. There is a rather complex story about why Phoebe is now in charge which perhaps Pat might recount as my memory is fast fading. Regardless this was a dinner worth waiting for. Sri Lankan meets contemporary world food, the freshest of everything and the hottest (spiciest) shrimps I?ve ever eaten (and I eat green chile w/ my orange juice every morning!). We dined outdoors and went back the next night . (We would have returned for a third dinner, but they were closed the evening we returned to Cairns). Now if only Phoebe would vacation in Santa Fe and bring Pat and Mike w/ her.

We were up early the next morning and Pat and Mike laid on a feast for breakfast in their garden room. We were off to the reef that day. The weather was slightly overcast, but we were able to do an introductory dive as well as some snorkelling before lunch. John did another introductory dive that afternoon while I snorkelled and took a ride in the glass bottom boat. As the weather had kicked up, visibility was not as clear as we experienced in the Whitsundays for snorkelling. However the ships?s photographer managed to produce a nice photo of John kissing a stuffed nemo and a good time was had by all.

Next Up: Cassowaries, Cape Trib w/ moldy pillows and a night of sheer terror.

Can we please have the Australian election results, mates

AndrewDavid

pat_woolford

Andrew David - I'm sorry, I know this will disappoint you, but Liberals/Nationals (Coalition) retained government - there's still some postal votes to count but looks like they've actually gained more seats. Main reasons seems to be concern about likelihood of interest rate increase under Labour and Latham's inexperience.

Many thanks for your great report - don't forget your Cape Trib experience.

Phoebe's still doing wonders at Garden Room has extended her menu so as well as the extraordinarily good Sri Lankan (her Mum's recipes), Vietnamese, Indonesian and Thai classics, menu also includes delicious crabcakes (more fresh crab than cake) with fresh scallop and coconut dressing, salt&pepper squid, Singapore chilli Moreton Bay Bugs (as you know, bugs are small shovelnosed lobsters); many daily specials, swoonable soups of the day and has retained your blazing hot Piri Piri Prawns. Her very talented chef husband does the cooking, (under Phoebe's eagle eye). When the Garden room opened about 12 months ago, Phoebe was only one of 3 partners - not being on the tourist track the restaurant had a lot of teething problems (locals being notoriously hard to win over) - the other 2 partners (including a very talented Indonesian chef) found the going too difficult and opted out. But happily, its well on track now.

Jane_47

John Howard/Liberal won with an increased majority in the lower house.

Sorry you had thin chicken sandwiches. What you should do (note down for next trip) is buy some fresh bread rolls from the vietnamese run bread places (about 20c each) then a quart or half a chicken from the take-away food shop. (Americans should have in your bag a jar of mayonaisse from home as we make awful mayonaisse).

So for less than fiver big fat chicken sandwices for 2!

margo_oz

Well, AD - I did the vote early, vote often thing for you - but Mark Latham didn't get up!

It was an interesting result - although there is huge opposition to the war / Bush cowtowing thing - it wasn't enough to bring about a change of government, when all other things were considered.

wlzmatilida

Ohmigawsh....Jane47 has obviously seen me with my mayo packets on the side of the road, or in a picnic area!

That's pretty much EXACTLY what I do when in Oz...I confess that I've been known to stop into a fast food restaurant before a trip and only go in for indvidual packets of mayo and mustard.

In Europe, it's stopping at a market, preferably street market, getting salami, cheeses, a baguette and some fruit for a picnic at a pretty spot!

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

Neil_Oz

Andrew, some of us would prefer not to discuss the election results, thanks. This was the first election day I've spent outside of the country, and monitoring the results from Shanghai I could only gnash my teeth in impotent fury that I'd deserted my country when it needed me most. Next time I'll stay home and try to keep the buggers in line.

I have to report that the People's Republic of China dismissed my request for refugee status and I'm currently in discussion with the New Zealand High Commission here in Canberra.

Jane_47

I don't advise to talk politics on this forum. It is over 100 degrees in Sydney today, I may do a Latham and go troppo.

pat_woolford

Hi Jane - that's astonishing - was talking on phone with someone in Sydney today - it was 38C where she was - that's 11C higher than Cairns today, where one would expect it to be hotter in October. Hope the bushfire preparations down there are in place, bad news in SE Qld.

Welcome back to Oz, Neil - will be watching your posts on Asian board for China - and there's Alan off to India. And Liz is languishing in the Dordogne Tossing up for next break - right now its China, India or Turkey but I'm afraid Italy keeps calling - again! Having read the posts generated by Liz fairly recently on why Americans come to Australia am now feeling guilty of not seeing more of my own country. So there's another option.

Neil_Oz

Jane, we've had a lot of laughs talking politics on this forum. At least, I have, and I suspect that Andrew might back me up on that. But I'm happy to move on to religion if you like. Anyone know any good pope jokes?

Jane_47

Pat

Should cool down again tomorrow arvo, hottest October day since 1859 !. I am not bushfire prepared !, suspect we will be busy bees this weekend. It doesn't give a good vibe for the coming summer. It was real ugly today, Sydney is not nice in ultra hot weather.

Neil,

I heard this on last week on the tele.

They had being having a political joke of the day on this morning show everyday leading up to the big day and the last one before the election was.

What is wrong with political jokes?

Punchline: Eventually one of them will get elected.

I laughed anyways

Religion lol, isn't it the same as politics? Everyone quotes from their respective bible and what it tells them to believe and what bad sinners they are?

But now we may have Family First to add to the oddball entertainment. Will be fun.

AndrewDavid

We always travel w/ our pet chicken and since she doesn't like mayonnaise and I'm watching my cholesterol numbers we always leave the mayonnaise jar home. Henny travels well and enjoyed meeting Dinky.

AndrewDavid

PS welcome home Neil; now our election is the only (distant) hope

Neil_Oz

Jane, scrutinising the count one election night years ago I saw the following line scrawled across one citizen's ballot paper: "The only bloke who knew what to do with f****** politicians was Guy Fawkes!"

By the way, Canberra is positively balmy - not barmy, Parliament being in recess. Green, with spring blossoms everywhere, and after weeks of north and east China's pervasive smog, the crystal-clear skies are a sight for (literally) sore eyes.

Andrew, reading of your pet chicken reminded me of a particularly fine poulet aux fines herbes avec pommes frites I consumed the other day in Shanghai's French Concession district... not to mention an excellent Sichuan-style chicken dish prepared with dried chillies at the opulently-decorated Mei Long Zhen restaurant in Nanjing Road ... OK, OK, I know this is the Australia/Pacific forum.

AndrewDavid

Neil, Doesn't the experiences of an ozzie abroad count as australiana?

Jane, The US presidential debate tonight is being held in an auditorium in Tempe , Arizona, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright ( often referred to as Frank Lloyd Unusual in polite architectural circles). IHowever it wasn't originally designed for Tempe rather for King Faisal in Bahgdad before he was assasinated.
Can we read anything into this? How are the chicken sandwiches in Iraq?

AndrewDavid

margo_oz

AD - did they build the thing in Baghdad and ship it to Tempe (something else left at Tempe Tip - for those Sydneysiders!), or was it an Arabian dream that happened to become real in Tempe?

All you travelling people are making me quite unsettled - I just have to go somewhere soon or become as barmy as Canberrans!

I hear the call of Italy, France, Portugal, Sweden and England, but ....and it's a while since I've been the the Reef......

I got a pay rise this week - and I think it'l cover the cost of a ferry to Manly, though!

Ho hum! My closest friend and occasional travel partner is in New York this week - and he's having a ball. Rats!!!!

Jane_47

Yes Tempe in Sydney is famous for it's rubbish tip (though long gone, can't shake the image) Do we read anything into this? lol

Anways I will venture to say something of a political nature. I was reading that Australian elections never register internationally yet somehow this one did. Some see it as support for the war on Iraq and Bush..however it is a bit different than that.

I don't believe Iraq really figured as an election issue. Kerry has been very outspoken from what I have heard that he was against it. We never had the opposition here say anything like that. It was really a concession to the anti-war movement by promising to bring home troops by Christmas and basically that was it. Many even those who opposed the war thought this was a bit idiotic a stance and hollow. So essentially many believed the opposition would have followed same track as the government on the Iraq war. So there wasn't a real moral choice offered for those who wished it.

Also I know a significant number of people who were against Bush going to war but seeing he did they were resigned to feeling that we had to also. This stems from a feeling of isolation in western world I guess and thinking a coalition with the US is worth preserving. (we don't have many friends)

But one thing I will say is that I have never heard one person in support of Bush so how our election result was read that has surprised me. I think it more a support for the US as an ally whoever is in government. This support may drop if Bush in fact is returned to power. One day history may prove him correct but agents of change should never stay around long, not in private enterpise nor governments imho.

As they say just my 2c worth.

wlzmatilida

Must chime in to this interesting political / travelling debate to offer that Margo, yes, I'm going to be one of the travelling bunch as well -- off to NZ next Sunday, AND (here's the political tie-in....drumroll)...I'm voting Absentee Ballot. Oh, and just as another note - I was in the Dordogne myself last year (during the HEAT WAVE)!

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie and FRANCE Specialist

AndrewDavid

Fodorian politicos.

Apparently the line for early voting at the Santa Fe County Courthouse is as long as the anticipated line at Sat AM free flu shot clinic at our local hospital.

AndrewDavid

margo_oz

Melodie...et tu Brutus!

Neil_Oz

Yes, Iraq was a non-issue, apart maybe from Latham's ill-judged "bring 'em home by Christmas" policy. There are only about 200 Australians in Iraq after all, none of them front-line, and we haven't had a single fatality. By the time Vietnam became an electoral minus for the Liberal government 30+ years ago, over 500 Australians, a lot of them conscripts, had died - a different matter.

I think this election proved the old saw that oppositions don't win elections, governments lose them, and whatever their bending of the truth and gradual eating away at the principles of social equity that (in theory) Australians have long held dear, the Howard government hadn't accumulated the smell of death needed to guarantee its demise and was able to trade on a long period of economic growth and low interest rates. The fact the reforms of the Hawke and Keating Labor governments laid the ground for this situation in the '80s and '90s was no help at all to Latham -the punters have a notoriously short attention span.

The American situation seems very different, with increaing poverty, unemployment and lack of access to decent health and education opportunities, all the result of a deliberate federal government agenda aimed at making the already rich richer. Under the circumstances it's worrying that the race is being billed as neck-and-neck; we'll see what happens next month.

Neil_Oz

On a parochial note, let me report that the Australian Capital Territory has just returned its Labor government with a clear majority (a difficult task under the rather complex modified-Hare-Clarke-multi-electorate-preferential-proportional-representation-voting system we use here). Canberra bucked the trend with a 5% swing to Labor, and overall the combined left-of-centre vote is exceeding the conservative vote by a margin of about 2:1. I suspect that had we not had compulsory voting the margin would have been even wider.