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Saturday, June 16, 2012

Cairns-Kuranda Railway & Skyrail Rainforest Cableway










If ever in the Queensland area of Australia, a neat experience is the Cairns-Kuranda Railway which was built for passenger traffic back in the 1890s and now used as a tourist train run since 1936. As you take in over 1.5 hrs of historical rail ride (37 kms-23 miles) just think back how man labored to build by hand 15 tunnels and 37 bridges through this dense rainforest and steep ravines plus an elevation that rises from sea level to over 300 meters. Once you finish in the town of Kuranda do yourself a favor and ride the Skyrail Rainforest
Cableway that takes you over the canopy of the World Heritage designated Tropical Rainforest site and spectacular Barron Gorge, a must see for any of you nature lovers!


Transporting the workers back in the day to add length to the track
In closing.......a final look of the old and new Cairns- Kuranda Railway

Friday, June 15, 2012

Moroccan Snickers Bar Tour






This being my third trip into northwest Africa and Morocco i knew not to have anything that was washed in the local water ( fruit/salads) also to be careful of ice cubes in drinks or any other beverage that aqua would be added too as our stomachs haven't built up a resistance to it as the locals would. Well all my fellow travelers were warned on the bus by me and then they asked what i was going to eat?  I pointed to my backpack and said  i had a four day supply of protein & carbs.....called Snickers Bars lol. Well as we rolled into Marrakesh (3rd largest city in Morocco with over 1 million citizens and located near the Atlas Mountains) our guide took us to the old part of the city (called the Medina) and to the Berber Market (souk) where you will find everything for sale but very dirty, cramped, plus vendors grabbing at you all the time to buy things. So it wouldn't be a place for everyone and our guide knew that so took our group into a private room where we were given a showing of Persian Rugs and other local wares. Then a meal was brought out that was right out of an Indian Jones movie....a bowl of black soup that you could see your reflection in and at this point i dug out a Snickers (haha)....then later said no mas to the rug (it would be shipped to your address after you paid for it) but did manage to pick up a brass/copper vase and left happy. Well found out later most of my travel mates didn't heed my advice and were sick for the next few days from the soup and other things from the market. Feeling bad and wanting to do something to pick up their spirits during the Christmas Season ( not recognized in a Islamic Country like Morocco) i made up a bush tree with ribbons from rags, beer plastic streamers and of course presents with the names of each of my bus companions with their OWN Snickers Bar lol











Another day gone in Western Africa
My poor attempt of a Christmas Tree with adult beverages and Snickers below hahha