OriginalTextbyRetnoBintarti, executivesummarybydarmansjah
QUESTIONapparentlydifficult to answersimpleshort."What do you think of the manyplaces yousee, thepeople of Indonesiawouldmost likewhich one?"
Sothe questionof theQueenslandTourismTracyFarras we werewalkinginKurandavillage, Cairns.
That afternoon we had just tasted the scenery in the woods of the skyrail along 7.5 kilometers. For those who enjoy the atmosphere of green, this place is definitely interesting. Add interesting when listening biological richness and a collection of birds and butterflies that are still enjoyed it. "If you're lucky. You will see a blue butterfly glittered on the trip, "said ranger escort us. And indeed, butterflies are very beautiful-ulysses-four three times seen on the way to and from.
Forest green scenery for us who come from forest-rich country is not at all something that is full of surprises. However, when will we be able to enjoy the forest from the top of the cable car that runs quietly. What is interesting is precisely the story of how the cable and stations were made.
"It took seven years to build because the government will not allow no forest clearance to build it all. For environmental reasons, there should be no forests are sacrificed. Tools and workers descended from helicopters, "said the ranger. Pictured in our minds how simple it was skyrailthe development process. Installing stake, pull wires, set up station stops.
Cairns is one of the destinations on our way for a week in Queensland, Australia. As a Host, Tourism Queensland took us to various places in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Cairns. "We really need to make the program difficult when only three days on the Gold Coast," said Director Executive Destinations. "It's nothing, too many places of interest here, three days is not enough at all," he reasons.
We comebeforesummer.Whenlanding inBrisbane, the trees'Jakaranda' spreadfascination withlushpurpleflowers. Parkon the banks ofthe Brisbane rivermade usfeel at home torelax beforewe were takendown theriver byboatspinningCityCat.
Airballoon
Perhaps because ofthe limited time, we are notallowed toadjust the time. Before werest, our guide, hadwarnedthat wewent to bed.
"Tomorrowyou will bewoken up at03:15..MorningCallsecondat03:50, "the messagesaidguidereminded us towearwarm clothinglight.
The airis not toocold whenour cars andbusesare alsoanothergroupofPalazoVersacemovedto a placewe do not knowexactly. (Oh yes, PalazoVersaceis oneof twoboutiquehotelsinthe world, designed by the latedesignerVersace). Eyes stillsleepy. The streets arestill quietwe've been through, andit wasthe pointwhere we were headedwas quitefar away.
Hodges, hadparked his car. We thinkwe willairballoonridearound the parking lotthereis. Apparently, we've had to take aminibusagain. Busdriveruniformkhakidrillthat willexplainourballoonrideandsafety rules.
Within about20 minutes, wearrivedin aclearingthickgrassrepose. Twogiant balloonstill on the groundin the positionshown beingpumped. Aspassengers, wecould seethe crewwerebusypreparingeverything beforethe balloonwas flown. Smell thegasfrom where we stoodwithinabout 30meters. "Big balloonisequal to415,000basketball," said Blake, "pilot" blimp.
Rattanboxfor apassengerstandingmeasuring only aboutsixsquare metersso that, except forthe camera, wecan nottakeanybaggage. Standinga littlepacked intwo boxescontaining a total of20 people. Weslowlystartedtaking off. Movementballoonvery slowly, with noturbulencesofor those whohaveimpairedairsicknessnot beguaranteednausea.
The morning sun looks a little sketchy because the weather was a little foggy morning. We crossed the hills to an altitude of 3,000 to about 6,000 feet. The atmosphere was really relaxed and refreshed.
However, the roar of gas with a temperature 95 degrees Celsius, limiting us to be able to chat during the flight. Blake occasionally play something that makes noise suddenly became silent. It feels comfortable once without background noise. We can enjoy the scenery, and enjoy the quiet of nature in the middle of a vast field almost uninhabited.
Hard landing.
After about anhourin the air, the balloon starting slowlydown. Down here seenhundreds ofcowsgrazingin groupswithout ashepherd. Animals thatdid notseembotheredby thetwogiantballoonsthat flyabove them.
Before youhit the ground, Blakeexplains whatwe should do.We wereasked toleanbody,clutchingthe edge ofthe boxbypressingthe foottoward the front."Bang!" Rattanboxtouchedthe grass. We wereasked topositionbackto the ground. Boxlifted,as ifwe willshed.From there, oneby one,we weretold to get out. Apparentlylandingwasnotunusual,but itwas intentional.
"As it isif thecrashlanding," said Blake.
Affairsare stillnot finished. We wereasked to standin rows,tworows. Blakeexemplifiesa certainmovementand we were askedto follow. From start toend, the balloonwas onthe groundtrimmedinmutual cooperation. After that, there areotheradditionalploy, rollickinginserta balloonintoa giantsack. Prettytough, butfun. We alsoshareda sackballoonwastransportedby truckto the highway, whereour car waswaiting.
Still early days followed by eating breakfast in a typical villa has Killowen architecture with a veranda overlooking the vineyard. A waitress greeted us with glasses of red wine. Breakfast with the standard menu-fresh bread, croissants, muffins, various flake, scrambled eggs, sausage beef-be was doubled delicious as served at the precise moment when the stomach is already hungry and it was held in a beautiful nature. Top!
Horse Shows
Outback, Australia-style spectacle
Outback said, sounding quite familiar. The word was reminiscent of the restaurant steak from Australia. However, the Australian Outback Spectacular is not the name of the food, but shows in Gold Coast, which features dozens of horses, which comes packaged in a story with music and song and combined the sophistication of special effects.
Bare sand arena is under. Spectators watched from the seating arranged as usual has stairs we watched a sports game. Where the place has capacity 1,000 visitors reportedly designed many years, the construction cost of 23 million Australian dollars, or nearly equivalent to USD230 million.
That evening presenting Australian Outback Spectacular show titled 'Spirit of the Horse'. The storyline is easy to follow, interesting setting, Plus with interludes of humor makes the show almost two-hour time almost imperceptibly passed. Australian horse tradition that has now started marginalized as presented back in a show that can be enjoyed by all ages.
The story this time is special to honor the racehorse Phar Lap was legendary, even regarded as a national hero. Phar Lap who has repeatedly been a champion race horse, it was hailed fans. Phar Lap is still very calculated when he suddenly died while going to race in America. The mysterious death caused a stir millions of admirers. Major newspapers put Australia at that time the obituary on the front page.
The night was Phar Lap presented through documentation in the form of a large screen display. Described how great the black horse in the race and how the animal treat champions. Residents of Australia experienced a deep sadness to hear of his death. Performances brought the audience into the atmosphere, with an upbeat music and narration so.
On the other hand, the show wowed when the acrobatic competition between cowboys standing around and not fall.
Cowgirls who came later, was not only able to do these scenes, instead they throw myself aside and do the rounds in the state of the body facing up just a foot resting on the link in the saddle.
Wow! Horses run fast and the women then got up again and stand on a horse. Only trained people who can do such scenes. And certainly, too, the horses were ridden by riders had a major role in the acrobatics show.
While the show progresses, the audience was treated to dinner, with a menu of 'tenderloin steaks' smothered in gravy, equipped mashed potatoes, carrots, and bean stew. Coffee and hot tea repeatedly offered by the waiter. Also cold beer. Specialties, pavlova, cake wrapped the whip cream and sprinkled with berries, a dessert that is very dear to miss. Treat night complete.