Monday 4th January (Lini’s Journal)

Brindabella's Web Diary
Simon Williams
Fri 15 Jan 2010 19:49

 

   “Quick”, shouted Si, “There’s a mooring buoy free by the bat cave”. Sleepily I dressed and stowed and while CJ slept on we motored the short distance across the bay. Reluctantly Si paid out yet again as a man in a boat had raced over to hand me the pick-up loop which I was ready to grab with the boat hook. With bags packed for our day out Si eventually contacted Joi to tell him we had moved and shortly after our water taxi arrived. After firstly saying there was ‘a problem’ with the price he’d quoted and he wanted another 20ECD for organising things he motored up close to the bat cave where we could see hundreds hanging from the cave roof. We then went ashore where Columbus awaited us by his taxi. With a Red Riding Hood style, cloth covered picnic basket on the front seat we set off into the town where we were to pick up more fruit for our lunch. This didn’t materialise but at least we saw some interesting sights. I yearned to take photos of Rastafarians smoking spliffs on street corners, crumbling beautiful coloured wooden houses with carved fascias and balustrades, tables selling home grown vegetables along the pavements and chickens pecking around in the potholed streets, but I thought it would be intrusive.

   Our first attraction was the ‘Sulphur Springs’ a World Heritage Site, where boiling mud and steam escaped from the earth. Our guide gave us a brief explanation and finished her tour under the sign which read ‘Gratuities are Accepted’! The Rasta selling necklaces at the entrance was somewhat more pushy and wouldn’t leave without us buying something. We then drove on to the waterfalls where warm water was directed through bamboo into pools of varying temperatures. We wallowed like hippos and I luxuriated under the bamboo as pounding water massaged my poorly back and achy neck. Oh what bliss.

   Very conveniently we stopped at a viewpoint where probably an auntie was selling an assortment of touristy items. I cringed. We bought some supposedly home grown coffee and a bracelet for CJ. Columbus was then heading back when we pointed out we’d paid to see the Diamond Botanical Gardens Waterfall and Mineral Baths as well. He hadn’t been told. Once there beautiful tropical flowers led us to baths  which were originally built in 1785 funded by Louis XV1.  The baths were intended to revive weary soldiers and it is claimed Napoleon’s Josephine had bathed there. Apparently the ticket purchased for us didn’t include a dip in these therapeutic waters and Si’s wallet got an airing again. CJ wasn’t really interested in the gardens or baths and it was lunch time anyway so we headed back to the beach for the lunch. I spread my sarong on the sand and with tummies rumbling and great expectations Si whipped the cloth off the basket. We must have looked like children who had just lost the tops off their ice creams. Our ‘beautiful picnic’ consisted of three crispy bars, a grapefruit which CJ doesn’t like and a tangerine. We shared the Chateau Sarsons with Columbus and Joi who had rejoined us then to complete our outing one of their friends joined us selling his wares. CJ was now the proud owner of a bamboo necklace and we of headaches from the wine.

   We cooled bodies and sour thoughts with a swim in the afternoon where we discovered we were in a prime spot for snorkelling. Over dinner we agreed on a day in the water tomorrow.