Kuranda

      After being on the road for almost 6 month, I've learned that travelling is incredibly influenced by the marketing of certain locations.  There are some mediocre towns that have been heavily talked about, and some beautiful villages that we stumble upon and enjoy despite having heard nothing about them.  Because advertising shapes travelling so much, I think stereotypes are created about certain areas. Before travelling here, when I thought about Australia I thought of beautiful beaches and red rock, not rolling green hills and lush forests.  When I thought of Cairns, I thought of the Great Barrier Reef, without realizing that the highlight of the area is the tropical rainforests.
      Today is the day we explore the beautiful rainforest around Cairns, specifically travelling to the village of Kuranda (think Banff, but hotter).  The weather could not have been more perfect, with ominous clouds draping the tree-covered mountains threatening rainfall.  This brought along a pleasant respite from the typical heat of Cairns, cooling the air to a pleasant 27 degrees with 80-90% humidity.

      The train station was quaint and well layed out, showcasing beautiful flowers and rustic stylings.  The vintage train, however, faired a little worse.  The train offered tiny windows that barely opened to the forest outside.  While feeling adequately vintage, I would have expected to be able to see the scenery on this "scenic train".  I ended up standing between trains for most of the trip, hanging out of the train with one hand while taking photos with the other.

      Kuranda felt full of life, with two large, bustling markets and four different zoos.  Everywhere you looked there was kangaroo leather, indigenous art, and didgeridoos.  We stopped for lunch at a place called Frogs, eating goat and crocodile curry.  Turns out crocodile is actually delicious!

      We only had 3 hours in the village itself, and we took the time browsing the markets and buying souvenirs.  There are some beautiful rainforest walks in the region, however our time was very limited as we had tickets to the skyrail on the way back.  So after a quick browse of the shops, we boarded a gondola and rode back to Cairns.

      Kuranda felt like a touristy village showcasing aboriginal art and culture, but there is nothing wrong with that.  As pleasant as it is to get to know the locals, and get off the beaten path, it can also be pleasant to simply be a typical tourist on occasion.  Check out all the photos in full resolution: https://flic.kr/s/aHskvWhFsQ