Tropical Mum

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Sunday Session: Imelda May

My search for tunes to share on this week's Sunday Session led me here, there and everywhere. I started out looking for something soft and mellow, but somehow ended up with a rock-a-billy styled song by Irish artist, Imelda May. I just never know where I'll end up when on the lookout for new (or new-to-me) music. At any rate, I'm so glad that my efforts turned up this little gem. Here's Johnny's Got a Boom Boom:

And just to prove her versatility, here's a slower one, with 'Kentish Town Waltz':

What do you think? Doesn't Imelda May have a unique style and talent?

Linking up with Cate at Life Behind the Purple Door for Sunday Session.

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Monday, April 29, 2013

We're on a Roll: A Day at Behana Gorge

Well we're on a roll. Two 5+ km bushwalks in two weeks constitutes a roll for this family.

This Sunday, we got out our trusty Tropical Walking Tracks guide, closed our eyes and flipped open to this week's bushwalking experience. Actually, no we didn't. I'm not silly. Walsh's Pyramid is nestled amongst those pages, and I'm not going to risk landing on that particular doozy. Nah, we selected this week's bushwalk carefully, weighing up level of effort, time required and distance from our home. We settled on Behana Gorge and we are so very glad we did.

Behana Gorge is located just south of Gordonvale. You turn off on the Behana Gorge Road, follow it to the end, where you will see a gate blocking vehicles from going further. Pedestrians are welcome, but no pets.

The walk is 3.2 km each way, and does include some pretty steep climbs, so it'd be tiring for littler legs. Our boys at ages 7 and 9 handled it without any problem. I don't know if I can say the same for us.

We faced a challenge from the outset when Will's backpack lost its straps. He ended up having to carry his heavy bag, by what remained of the straps, for the entire journey. It had our food and drinks in it, so we couldn't leave it behind. Oh well, he soldiered on, and we appreciated it when it came time to eat lunch. He appreciated it when the heavy food and water was transferred to our tummies, and his load was lighter on the way home.

Hiking with a broken backpack--not so much fun.

We brought four bottles of water, and we drank three of them just on the way in. The hills were thirsty work, but it was so worth it, when we were greeted with views such as this.

We walked all the way to the end of the track, and we all made sure we touched the fence at the end of the road, just to say we did the whole walk. Then we picked our way across the rocks down to the water. We found a shady place to set up our picnic of barbecued chook, potato salad, marinated mushrooms, french stick, olives and fresh tomato (don't you love the supermarket deli for those days that you can't be bothered making sandwiches for four?). But not before taking a family pic. Funny, looking back at this lot of photos, someone is always messing up the shot, either by sticking his tongue out or by scowling or by sticking hands over faces. I was lucky to get these photos at all.

Family shot, complete with tongue; View from our picnic blanket

Here is a photo of the falls; they're called Clamshell Falls. You can actually feel the spray if you stand close enough.

Clamshell Falls; A view further down the Gorge

Of course, we didn't plan for swimming so the boys did the whole 'I'm just going to dip my toe in' routine. Shorts were hiked up and everything, but you know what happened don't you? Of course they couldn't resist mucking around and one fell in, so we let the other have a dip also. We didn't let them go too far though, as some parts can be treacherous for swimming. We were in a very calm spot (don't worry Mum-in-Law) and they were always in our sight and within arms' reach.

Going through the motions of keeping dry

They were so refreshed after their swim that they both were full of energy on the way back. I have a few gnawed knuckles as a result of the carefree abandon with which they hurled themselves down the hills, but they made it unscathed.

We had a wonderful day out, and the paralysis I felt this morning, when I tried to get up, tells me that the exercise did my muscles good.

Stay tuned for next week's adventure: Walsh's Pyramid! No, just kidding, but we will try to get out and do another something that doesn't require an electrical outlet.

What did you get up to this weekend?

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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Sunday Session: Michael Franti and Spearhead

The other night on Facebook, I shared an amazing video of a YouTube-er, named Rachael Lust, showing us her proficiency with the hoola hoop. I thought she must have practised for years, but her bio says that she first started in July 2011--not even two years ago! Not only was she very talented with her hoop, I loved her taste in music.

So I thought it would be good to share in this week's Sunday Session. I Shazam-ed the song she was playing in the video and found out it was from Michael Franti & Spearhead. According to Wikipedia, Spearhead is a band who "blends hip hop with a variety of other styles including funk, reggae, jazz, folk, and rock". Whatever they're doing, it sounds pretty good to me! Both these songs make me wish I was on holiday in some (other) tropical location with not a care in the world, my toes in the sand and a cocktail in my hand.

First, here's The Sound of Sunshine:

And finally, here's the tune that was in Rachael's video, Say Hey I Love You:

If you missed Rachael's video that I shared on my Facebook Page, here it is again. See what I mean? Excellent!

Linking up with Cate at Life Behind the Purple Door for Sunday Session.

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Thursday, April 25, 2013

A Day Trip on the Tablelands for About $20

Over the weekend, on the back of my recent resolve to move more, we decided to do the circuit track at Lake Barrine. This is 5 km, which thankfully the boys are able to do without complaint. There were fights about who got to walk in front, but eventually Will and I agreed to let the boys take the lead.

Clockwise from top right: Mystery find - is it eggs or seeds?;
Rest break; Another rest break; Posing at the end of the 5km track

The weather is glorious here in the far north. The sun shines all the time and the humidity is receding. The temperature is dipping below 30 degrees now, which is a nice change.

At Lake Barrine, you're always going to see wildlife, and this day was no exception. Straight off we saw a group of cormorants sunning themselves on a branch.

Then we were greeted by this pelican on the search for some tasty morsels of fish.

We bucked convention and started from the end of the track and made our way to the beginning; not that it mattered, considering it was a circuit. This means that we got to save the best for last, these two towering kauris are magnificent to behold. It is thought that these trees are over 1100 years old.

When we were all done with our walking, we settled at a picnic table near the lake to eat the sandwiches I had prepared. Some uninvited guests dropped in, looking to share our lunch.

We left Lake Barrine, and because we never usually take the time to do so, we stopped at the Curtain Fig. We've not really seen it since the boys were very young, and now they are old enough to appreciate it.

Here's a little info regarding how the Curtain Fig came to be:

"A seed was deposited in the host tree's crown. It germinated and the first root descended to the soil.

Enriched by the soil, the fig developed aerial roots which encircled and eventually strangled the host tree.

The host tree then fell into a neighbouring tree - a stage unique to the development of the curtain fig tree. Vertical fig roots descended from the fig's trunk to form the curtain-like appearance.

Eventually the host tree rotted away leaving the free standing fig tree."

On our way home, we stopped at the Peanut Palace and tried a bag of hot peanuts--curry flavour. Yummy, but we could only eat a bit at a time, as they were very salty. Next time I want to try the Chilli flavoured ones, and then the Garlic.

Also, we finally managed to try the Emerald Creek Ice-Creamery. We each had a different flavour: Chocolate Caramel Swirl, Coconut, Apple Pie and Espresso. I had the Espresso and it had ground specks of coffee beans throughout. I was in caffeine fiend heaven. Will enjoyed his Apple Pie ice cream so much that he got this grand idea: "You should make a different pie each week!" I'll keep that under advisement thanks. The great thing about the ice creamery is that the scoops aren't exorbitantly priced: $3.50 for a scoop, instead of the highway robbery that you'll experience in other ice cream shops, where you'll spend $5.50 for a scoop of ice cream.

Going down the Kuranda Range, we stopped to have a look-see at Rex's Lookout. Pretty spectacular huh?

The aim of our Sunday was to get out for some exercise and scenery whilst spending as little as possible. So, apart from the extra petrol used to get to the Tablelands and back, we spent less than $20. A good result I think. I can't wait to do something similar next weekend.

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Thursday, April 18, 2013

Getting Back on the Treadmill

This time last year I gave up exercise, because I feared for my safety. There were a few attempted abductions of women in the area. Freaky stuff. Although the attempts were made mainly on young women twenty years my junior, my fear caused me to spend our non-existent cash on a gym membership and I gave up the daily morning walk/jog outdoors that I cherished so. I traded in pink sunrises and the smell of blooming jasmine for a view of the backside of the gym patron in front of me and the smell of sweat.

Oh, I attempted to go to the gym many times throughout this past year, but I just hated it. I found it so mind-numbingly boring to walk on a moving conveyor belt instead of on the footpath of my neighbourhood. There was nothing to look at, no real goal and I felt like a hamster in a wheel.

The clothes I bought a while back, a size bigger with the aim of avoiding unnecessary muffin top exposure, are now too tight. No expanse of fabric will cover my tummy anymore, all garments hug it and show it off for all the world to see. I used to have nice legs, but now I have nice ankles, because the thighs and calves have begun to resemble cottage cheese. I am the heaviest now that I have ever been, not counting pregnancy. It is simply not acceptable.

So, on Monday something snapped. I started with trying to cut out the junk and eating more salads. On Tuesday, I crossed the threshold of the gym after many months' absence and got back on the treadmill. I was cautious because I didn't want my toe injury to flare up again, but I took it easy. It was good, and I did it again yesterday and today. I plan to go tomorrow too. I still hate the gym, but I find that if I close my eyes I can pretend I'm not there. I can listen to my music and I don't have to think about anything. It's like an active meditation. Free your mind and your feet will follow.

If I can keep it up between now and when my gym membership expires at the end of May, I will keep the membership. If not, it is a sign that the gym is not for me, but I will find another way to fit exercise into my schedule. Exercise is not optional, it is a must for a healthy body and a healthy mind; I just need to remember that.

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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Tiny and Perfect Stowaways

Taking part in Wordless Wednesday at My Little Drummer Boys.

Swallows stowing away in the lifejackets on a riverboat cruise

Swallows stowing away in the lifejackets
of the Kuranda Riverboat

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Sunday, April 14, 2013

Sunday Session: Smokey Robinson

I'm feeling like soft and smooth music today. I've had Smokey sitting in my music favourites folder for a while, and it seems a perfect day to have a little listen to this legendary artist. Here's Tracks of My Tears.

And Cruisin':

Cate is posting the linky later today, so visit her blog in a few hours to join in the Sunday Session link-up.

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