Stinger Season

Our introduction to Cairns life was interesting. Really we didn't know much about Cairns to being with - which was why we wanted t go. We were expecting it to feel different from what we have seen so far in Australia. But what really surprised us was the proliferation of poisonous and lethal plants and animals. We were nervous about snakes and sharks when we got to Australia, but after a few weeks learned t relax and not let them get in the way of our fun. We learned to step around the deadly snakes on trail, brush away te spiders, bring alon a phone when trail running just in case ... But for the first time we are letting fierce creatures dominate our plans. We had no idea that we were heading up north during 'stinger season' and that entering the water means certain death. This time of year there are about eight different types of extremely venomous jellyfish in the water. I had heard of the notorious box jellyfish, but the others were new to me. But we like other things that aren't the beach, so we could still have a good time on Jakob's last day of holiday. We rented a car with thoughts of jungle hikes, but as we began looking up trails we started to get scared and hesitant. We could hike out to that great swimming hole but sometimes crocs eat people in it. We could hike into the jungle, but beware of cassowary attacks ("be cass-o-wary!"), leeches, and a version of stinging nettle that causes agonizing pain for days and then recurs for months. This last one really astounded us. If there is stinging nettle around I usually end up getting stung, our Tova makes a point of picking up every leaf she sees, we don't even know this plant well enough to recognize it. And so while the crocs and cassowaries and leeches and snakes sounded frightening, the stinging plants made us think twice. Really we could go a couple of weeks without a hike.

We ended up on a very popular short jungle walk which had the advantage of a wide paved trail. the only animals we had to fend off were swarms of mosquitoes. The hike was so docile and short that it was barely morning at the end, so we decided to risk the beach. We chose a beach with a stinger net to be safe. Turns out the stinger nets keep out the box jellyfish, but not the second-most venomous jellyfish - irukandji - which are transparent and the size of a thumbnail. Anyhow the beach was closed because an irukandji had been found the day before. And to boot the signs leading to the beach also warned not to go anywhere near the water's edge as there were crocs in the area. So the kids played in the playground and we looked at the peaceful but deadly coast. Then we watched a young lifeguard slosh back and forth with a net trying to test the water for safety. Watching him wade in his bright red and yellow stinger suit and anticipating what he might have caught was probably better than swimming anyhow.

We were starting to fear northern Australia. It just seems like nature is out to get you at every turn. It is all so peaceful and beautiful and enticing and that just makes it all the worse. But we went out and bought bags full of mangoes, litchi, papaya, watermelon, passion fruit and coconut, and all of a sudden Cairns is looking pretty great.

Just in case you missed the other two signs

Fierce creatures of Australia

They really mean it!

Jungle girl