Running Through (and to) the Rainforest

For all of those who know me well enough, you know there are few things I hate more than being late to something. I don't like the associated feelings that come with it: panic, doubt (that you won't get there on time), anxiety. So because of that, I set my alarm early for things, plan outfits the night before, pack my bookbag hours beforehand and double check bus times. Maybe the only thing I really do like about being late is that I get to run fast.

I went on a Rainforest tour this past Saturday and although they carted us around in a tour van, we had to get to a specific train station that wasn't within walking distance from Uni. We relied once again on the public transportation system here and at 7:33am, we needed to be on the 748 bus to catch a train to the designated pick-up, train station. I woke up well in advance thanks to not being able to sleep and I was ready well beforehand. But, somewhere between picking up my friends at their rooms and walking to the top of campus to the bus stop, it turned 7:33 and we weren't at the stop. Thankfully, a couple of our friends had walked in front of us and called to tell us that the bus had shown up and we needed to get there now. Cue running while screaming, "Hurry! Hurry!." We hopped on the bus to see two of us were missing: one of the guys had left his discount bus card in his room and had ran back, another was waiting for him. The bus driver asked if we were all here (she had so kindly waited) and we said there were two more but that we didn't expect her to wait. The kind soul she is, waited. We had quite the laugh seeing the two of them bolt to the bus but made it after only a few minutes of waiting. But, did I mention we had to catch the transfer train that wouldn't wait for us like Ms. Bus Driver?

We got to the first train station when it turned 7:53am, the time the train was leaving. I softly told everyone, "Okay, we need to run as soon as she stops." The brake engaged, we jolted back a bit from the stop, the doors opened and everyone (well, so I thought) ran. Through the passage barriers, jumping down the flights of stairs, the train was on the platform and my heart was racing! I slid right into those doors and into a seat with only about 30 seconds to spare. Problem. The same two who we waited for were missing, yet again. One of the guys had somehow lost their wallet on the bus. This time, no one waited for them. The doors shut and they were out of luck. They didn't have phones for us to call. And we weren't even sure they even knew the name of the pick-up station to take a cab to. We were helpless and stuck. We arrived at the pick-up train station a short time later and waited in anticipation to see if they would get there before the 8:15am leave from there. With a couple minutes to spare, the two of them strolled up out of a cab and we were all together again. Too much anxiety for that early in the morning!

Our first stop was a place known as Natural Arch. This was of course after a very scenic route through the back-country roads and pretty scary winding/steep ones at that; I felt like our van was going to die out about six times. Our tour guide, Nev, showed us poisonous roots and plants, deadly spiders and trees known as Strangler Figs that grow around another tree and eventually "strangle" that tree to create a hollow inside and very neat design of roots.

We hiked some more and reached a spot that was like nothing I'd ever seen before,

 The spot is named Natural Arch because if you see, there's a natural made arch that opens way to the waterfall. Inside there is a cave that houses bats but thankfully we weren't able to see any! Which now that I think about, might not have been the most reassuring thing. Anyways, we snapped our photos there and made way to see the top of the waterfall. Our tour guide said that when he was mid-teens, he would jump from a little cut out at the top into the bottom. But, strict rules have since prevented this but it's still scary nonetheless!

The grass area is the little cut-out my tour guide used to jump from. They would Spiderman the wall to get there.

We finished the rest of the hike there and then headed to one of my top 3 favorite things I did on the trip: feed wild parrots! We drove to a privately-owned land by a person who allows groups to come to. After you walk through a souvenir store, you are welcomed by one of the prettiest birds ever,

These are in no way held captive. They're wild and just stick around because there's constant food and people feeding them snacks (sunflower seeds). I was a little freaked out at first because you can literally hold your hand out and a bird will fly to it. Their claws didn't hurt that much, it was just a little poke when they landed right on your hand but it was such a surreal experience that I wouldn't have even minded if it hurt. They chomped away at their seeds while I gazed in awe.

When I thought it couldn't get any better, we were brought to an underground cave (so dark in there!) and were able to see thousands of glow worms. I knew there was such an insect but never really thought about what they would look like or even what the glow part was. Simply put, I don't really remember what he told us about them but I do know it was so cool walking through the "glow worm alley" and just seeing specs of neon. We were able to see the fishing line the glow worms have to capture flies and it resembled a thin piece of string about the length of an index finger; the glowing was at the top of that. It was one of those things I never thought I would do, but glad I did. It always fascinates me how many things I have done so far, that I never thought existed, let alone that I would do, and have completed it having an Aha! moment. Knowing that I needed to do that. So, thanks glow worms!

Next on the tour was Springbrook National Park. The drive there was even more scenic than before and I couldn't help but notice the tucked-away houses in the mountains and wild animals just grazing the fields. We even passed a section of houses/shacks that were designated as the Theosophical Education and Retreat Centre spaces. I think I could reach Enlightenment if I had retreats in those places. We started off at Springbrook with a lunch at the picnic area and continued onto the two hour hike. We saw the Twin Falls Circuit, although there was only one twin there since it has been so dry in Australia. A little irony in that?

See the rainbow at the bottom? If it rains more, the second twin will be to the left.

I became one-with-nature when I drank straight from the Spring. This water is so clear and free of any metals or toxins; it was probably the freshest water I've ever drank. I was amazed by that considering it was coming from the ground!

People always talk about moments taking their breath away, well, I finally had one of those moments when we walked up to the Canyon Lookout and saw nothing but majestic views.

I got to walk along this sight for the whole hike. Although, per the title of this post, I should write, run along this sight. My friends and I were so keen on getting the perfect photo opportunities that half the time the tour guide would leave and we would stick behind until we were satisfied with the pictures. After, we would scramble to catch up to everyone else.

I think it's worthy of note to mention that the day was 90 degrees. But we were relieved of that heat given that we were in the rainforest, but also because the whole day was just build up to the best part: swimming in a waterfall! I fought back and forth with myself whether I was going to do it or not. Nev told us it would be the coldest swim of our life and I really didn't want to be sitting in a wet suit for the rest of the trip back. But, once I saw it, I couldn't resist.

The picture of Katie and I perfectly captures everything. When you were under the waterfall, the pressure of it was so strong that it actually hurt. We were laughing but crying, happy but in pain. All about the photo opportunity, once again. It was funny because it hurt. And it was also funny because we couldn't move away from it fast enough. The rocks were so slippery and you literally had to hold on for dear life with whatever you could in order to move around. The water was full of them too so whenever we walked, you either stubbed your toe or sunk right down and submerged yourself once again in the frigid water.

After about ten minutes of it, we were done. Dog-paddled across back to dry land, dried off, and finished the rest of our hike.

This kind of day was right up my alley on things I love to do. I would choose hiking and national parks over five-star restaurants and Broadway shows any day. The power of nature and its beauty should never cease to amaze anyone. Or maybe not necessarily the beauty of nature, but what you take out of it. I guess there's waterfalls and wild parrots and ice-cold water in the States but being here in Australia makes these places so much better. Being who I am here, makes these things so much better. I appreciate things more, I stop and smell the flowers, I try water from its natural form and voluntarily freeze my body for the experience. But hey, when in Australia...