Cairns, Australia - Day Five

THE WEDDING . . .

was so beautiful, held on a beach under palm trees. Honestly, we could have been on some tropical Island somewhere in the South Pacific.

My brother Phillip and his new wife Nik (Nicole) are one of the nicest couples I know. They both have really dry, wacky senses of humour. All those sayings like, "salt of the earth", "what you see is was you get" "straight as the day was long" etc etc apply to these two. I love them so much!

My new sister-in-law blew us away. She is a tomboy, I have never seen her in a dress, with a hair do or with make up and look what she walked down the sandy beach path in . . . a vision in white, the veil, diamantes, hair and make up. She looked so gorgeous. True to herself under that gorgeous bride doll dress she had on a pair of silvery grey jandal/thongs/flip flops!!!! I did laugh when I saw them peeking out!!!!

The ceremony was beautiful, very personal and meaningful with humour thrown in!

Introducing in this photo, Nicole and Phillip , the newly wed bride and groom, with their 18 month old daughter Georgia Mary and our 14 year old nephew Taila. Oh and under that gorgeous dress is a 4 month pregnant tummy. We do things back to front in our family on occasion!!!


Here's the Princess, Taila and me holding Georgia Mary!!! Because I know you will all scrutinise this photo (well I would!) I have to say it is a foul photo of me. The heat made Mum and I blow up so much regardless of the huge amounts of water we drank. The Chinese Cheongsam dress ($30 at an Op/Thrift shop) acted like a tourniquet around my arms!!! It was a beautiful fit two days prior to the wedding. Natasha if you are looking at this you will see I am wearing the Prom hair clip you made!!!!


the Princess took this photo of Georgia Mary, Gorgeous!!!!


The reception (photo taken by 5 yr old Princess) was further down the beach. Such a magnificent setting.


Tables beautifully set, fabulous food, lots of seafood. The Princess filled her plate with her two faves, 6 huge pieces of fresh pineapple and a pile of shaved Parmesan cheese!!!

Beautiful wines, lots of bubbles and a nice selection of good New Zealand wines. A nice touch!


And at the end of it all, one completely exhausted little girl!!!


Thanks for all the lovely comments I have been getting about our holiday posts!!!

It was sad to come home to wet Auckland but really good to sleep in our own beds, the Princess and I had been sleeping on a swag, you Aussie girls will know what I am talking about!!!

The Princess immediately got an ear infection the minute we got home and a tropical skin infection on a grazed knee. Tom our Korean home stay son broke his ankle at soccer and is in plaster for 6 weeks. Between those two we spent all last weekend at medical centres or hospitals.

I now have a chest infection . . . I tell you!!!!

Otherwise all good here, happy and motivated!!!!

Rachaelxo

Cairns, Australia - Day Four

My Mum arrived on the fourth day of our Cairns trip and brought with her a huge surprise, my 14 year old nephew, Taila!!! My youngest brother couldn't be at our brothers wedding (the reason we were all in Cairns) so Taila was sent with Mum to represent his side of the family.

Having Taila there was the best surprise!!! My Princess loves her big cousin, he is her "best cousin eva". She totally monopolised his time and he is so good with her.

So on the 4th day we did a family trip to a crocodile farm!!!! We spent all day there, it was amazing!!!!

Saw 100's of crocodiles, they are very scary in real life, very prehistoric looking with the coldest meanest eyes you have ever seen!! Some of them had names like . . . Bart and Paul . . . cute . . . not!!!!

We went on a crocodile feeding boat ride, saw a live snake show, a crocodile show, fed wallabies and spent ages watches a Mama Koala and her baby.

We started our visit off with lunch. From left to right, my Mum, Gamma my mother in law), the Princess, Taila and Gamma's partner Gary!!!


Followed by a boat ride to feed the crocodiles . . .


actually, you sit in your seat and watch them being fed chicken heads dangled from a very long bamboo pole. They come swimming from all over . . .


and leap out of the water and SNAP!!!!


My 5 year old Princess took those last two photos of the crocodiles, she's a budding photographer.

The cousins feeding tame, cute and non jaw snapping wallabies,


and finally Mama Koala Bear and her gorgeous baby. Precious!!!


Last Cairns post tomorrow which will be of the wedding and then back to regular posts about craft, thrifting and the complete house decorating redo I have planned.

Oh and an update on the physical well being of the various members of our home!!!

If it doesn't rain it pours and believe me it has been pouring here (literally!!!).

Nite Nite for now

Rachaelxo

Cairns, Australia - Day Three

Are you getting bored yet??

Day three saw us take a trip on a Sky Rail. It travels up a mountain, over a rain forest and is very, very, very high off the ground.


There are two platforms where you can get off and walk about in part of the rain forest and look out over the Barron Waterfall.


Hopped back into our car, just got off the platform and we STOPPED!!! A voice came over the speaker saying due to a TECHNICAL PROBLEM there would be a slight delay until the technicians came up from the bottom to fix the problem!!!

Let me OUT!!!! Gamma and I both assessed the situation in our minds and worked out we were not that high or that far off the platform that we couldn't be 'saved' if necessary.

As for the cars above us . . . dangling in mid air, not moving, very, very high off the ground . . .


By the time they had explained the technical issue in every language in the world we were on the move again. The journey just didn't have quite the same feel to it though!

At the top of the rain forest mountain is an amazing village called Kuranda. Its very touristy but very arty.

I loved the seats made out of railway tracks that were along the pathway leading to the village.


Some very eclectic looking shops selling ethnic clothing and jewellery.



Fabulous Aboriginal Art mural on a wall.


A sign that warms a girls heart . . .


as did the inside of this divine shop.


and to finish our day in Kuranda, a trip to the Butterfly Sanctuary, gorgeous, we love butterflies!


Then back to the Sky Rail (oh yahee . . .) before going down the mountain to Cairns.

Rachaelxo

Cairns, Australia - Day Two

First of all I have to tell you that I am not in Cairns anymore but actually back home in wet Auckland!! I wasn't organised enough to post daily when I was away, although I did think about it!

Secondly, to explain the 12 hour travel day we had. Cairns is a 5 1/2 hour direct flight from Auckland, its actually quite a long way away! We left Auckland at 7am, had to be at the airport two hours before that !!! We were doing 'cheap' flights so traveled by air to Brisbane, Australia which was a 3 1/2 hour flight. Then had a 4 hour wait in Brisbane before our next 2 1/2 hour flight to Cairns. It was the longest day ever and I will not be doing that again!!!

Anyway . . . Day Two in Cairns. We went to Port Douglas, about 40 minutes North of Cairns. Gorgeous drive, lovely beaches and scenery.

We went to Habitat which is a bird sanctuary. I have to be honest and say "I hate birds". Well maybe not hate, but they terrify me and they know it! I have some harrowing bird stories!!

Habitat was cool though, the birds were well fed and just sat on their branches and did not dive bomb or swoop down at me. Many birds had the most beautiful colours and I did have urges to do a bit of 'feather plucking' for future craft projects!

There were other animals to enjoy such as the kangaroos and wallabies (little kangaroos) which free ranged. Here the Princess is feeding a wallaby.


This huge nest belongs to a stork. You can just see the one egg sitting in it.


We came across this beautiful little old church. I fell in love with it.


Inside was so cool and light, the window at the back opened onto the sea. As I was taking this photo a Chinese Junk sailed past!


We went to a cafe called Soul and Pepper for lunch. It really appealed to my sense of humor.


The trees were full of toy monkeys!


I liked this sign! I attended to the Princess at all times as I was not sure what the storage rates would be!


Food to die for, my seared prawn salad and we shared the huge platter of fresh fruit.


I bought the Princess quite a lot but hardly a thing for myself. Did get this cute heart though at a gorgeous little gift shop on the way back to Cairns.


There ends Day Two in Cairns Australia.

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Belated Birds and Bonnets Swap Show and Tell

I participated in the Birds and Bonnet swap hosted by Beth and Karla. Thank you to the ladies who's panels I have received.

Side One
Side Two
Gorgeous!

Beth whose gift wrapping is divinely unique, (much too unique to be shown to the world in general!) sent me an extra parcel of vintage wall paper and cards. Wallpaper of which I have not seen the likes before.


Thanks Beth:)

Rachaelxo

Cairns, Australia - Day One

The Princess and I had a fabulous time away. Leaving cold and wet New Zealand to go to the hot tropics of Australia was just what was needed.

It was so nice to see the sun, feel warm, have no rain, spend lots of time with family, play tourists, relax and eat delicious food. The seafood was to die for!!!

After a long, 12 hour day of travelling, two flights and a four hour wait in Brisbane Airport we were totally exhausted when we finally arrived in Cairns.

Gamma (Babes mother, my mother-in-law) knew this, so on our first full day there she took us to a really cool playground called Muddy's down by the Esplanade. It was great, fresh air and the Princess was able to run around and let off some energy from being cooped up the day before.

Muddy's is the biggest playground I have seen, kind of like an adventure playground, lots of wooden and rope climbing frames. We had fun!!!


Here is the Princess taking a breather!


Gamma then took us to the "Bat Maternity" hospital which is situated behind the library in the middle of Cairns City. Its true, it is the Bat Maternity Hospital. They go there to have their babies. There are signs up around the base of the trees that say if you see a baby bat hanging on its own or has fallen to the ground you have to call the "Bat Ranger" who will come and rescue it!!!

There were 100's of bats hanging from the trees. Fascinating in a creepy kind of way!!!


Gamma made us a delicious dinner that night, Calamari (squid rings) big fat prawns and Morton Bay Bugs which are kind of like a mini lobster. Yummy!!! Gamma and her partner Gary introduced me to a Sparkling Burgundy wine which was delicious. Not as heavy as a red wine or as heady as a sparkling, a wonderful light combination of both. Very addictive!!!


And there ends Day One in Cairns. More tomorrow:)

Rachaelxo

Awards, Absences and such . . .

My friend, the immensely multi talented Barb at 123 lavender lollipop lane gave me this award. Its actually quite appropriate for me as it is called the Wlyde Woman Award!!! I feel a bit wild on most days!!!


WYLDE WOMAN AWARD

The rules of this award are:
1. You can give it to one or one hundred or any number in between - it's up to you. Make sure you link to their site in your post.
2. Link back to this blogsite (http://www.tammyvitale.com//) so Tammy can go visit all these wonderful women and remember the Purpose of the Award: To send love and acknowledgment to women who brighten your day, teach you new things and live their lives fully with generosity and joy.

These women continually bring joy to my life through their encouragement, humour, inspiration and talent. It is with great pleasure that I award the "Wylde Women Award" to:

Brittany - Adeline's Shabby Cottage
Natasha - Artistic Creations by Natasha Burns
Karin - Creative Chaos
Sherry - Esprit*d'Art
Beth - Gathering Dust
Heather - Jewelled Elegance
Karla - Karla's Cottage
Connie - Living Beautifully
Bethany - Love from my Studio
Gail - Originals by Gail and Tony McCormack
Heather - Pretty Petals
Jessi - Scrappy Jessi
Kerryanne - Shabby Art Boutique
Karla - Sugar Bear Designs


My next Oscar, I mean award came from my friend Brittany at Adeline's Shabby Cottage. Brittany and I share the same sense of humour . . .

This award is given for brilliant photos and text.


Such a dilemma on who to award it to because I currently have 219 subscriptions in my Google Reader and obviously you all have brilliant text and photos or I would not be reading your blogs!!!

So off the top of my head ...
Louise - Beachys Cape Cod Cupboard
Cheryl - Confections
Dolly - Dollybelle's Peepshow
Sherry - Espirt*d'Art
Amy- I Love Retro Things
Katrina - Katrina Chambers
Muriel - Muriels diaries
Jen - My 3 boys and I
Jerusalem - my little life
Linda - Somewhere in Time
Diane - The Desperate Diva
Cielo - The House in the Roses
Melissa - The Inspired Room


My erratic blogging and visiting blogs is due to being so busy selling all my excess shop stock on Trade Me and getting my website up and running. Its full time and some at the moment and will be for a couple more weeks and then I promise that I will post and visit on a more regular basis!


In between this The Princess and I are going to have a little time away, we are going to Cairns, Australia from 12 to 19 August. My brother Phillip is getting married so it is very exciting. Unfortunately Babes can't come with us, he is away at a work conference during that time.

So until then, take care, bye bye

Rachaelxo