We spent over a week in the wet tropics, mainly at Cape Tribulation. This was named by James Cook as it offered a challenge when they arrived. And to be quite honest it’s still a challenging environment in which to live. At the exotic fruit farm where we stayed, it rained every day. In fact often we’d find that leaving the farm and going to the beach, the weather was clearer. But on the edge of the rainforest the clouds were low, and the humidity was so high the bedclothes, towels and general atmosphere never dried out. Kieran and Rosemary who were looking after the farm for 6 months while the owners were hiking the Appalachian way said that they’d been advised not to bother with leather sandals in the wet season, as they just go mouldy.
We found the dampness difficult, and couldn’t imagine what the wet season would be like. We managed to potter around boardwalks, and didn’t get wet too much, but the humidity made for an oppressive atmosphere, and although impressed by the beauty of the vegetation, we weren’t seized by a desire to up sticks and move to the jungle.
However I was mesmerised by the sounds of the forest - frogs, insects, birds & bats throughout the night. I loved it.
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