"tropic explorer" tropicrd's Profile

Hi everyone,the above pic of the succulant/cacti is called a rose ball and was given to my husband (Rex) from very good mates for his birthday,I loved it so much I had to share it with VT members.It looks like some fantastic planet from outer space haha.I just love taking pics of all kinds of stuff and I never used to like taking pics until I joined VT and now it is an addiction. Anyway! I invite you to visit my pages and hope you enjoy them.

My recent trips 2011

Cape Tribulation,QLD August 2011.

Maryborough QLD,July 2011

I have travelled around Australia quite a few times in my life,including Tasmania (of course)

My husband and I went to Europe in 2007 and want to return as we had a wonderful time and met some lovely people.We both love travelling.

We have travelled to:

Malaysia
Thailand
New Caledonia and Isle of Pines
Singapore
Turkey
Greece
Italy
Britain
Netherlands
Germany
Switzerland
France
Belgium
Indonesia
Fiji

Every state and Territory in Australia.

I love cruising and being out in the middle of an ocean.

I really love driving and have driven all around Australia,I also love long haul train rides and planes--I look at them as being part of my exploration and who knows what may be around the corner.

I also adored horse riding,especially the 3-4 days/nights trail rides camping out under the stars,my older body does not appreciate this anymore.

We have three adult children and five grandsons who all live interstate but it gives us the opportunity to visit them each year --and vice verca .

Living in Cairns has been a dream of mine ever since I came for a holiday 25 years ago--we moved up here from Sydney in 1995 and adore the place.
If you would like to know more about Cairns and area please contact me or look up my travel pages to see what I have added.

Oh by the way I love red wine and my husband likes his beer and a chardy--love going out to lunches and dinners and the occasional breakfast.
Fav food-----anything from the ocean. Pasta.
Fav persons---my husband, and family-- the only time we really argue is when our footy teams are playing against each other.
I barrack for the Mighty magpies --(Collingwood ) and husband barracks for the Hawks--(Hawthorn ) in AFL. We both barrack for Manly (NSW) in rugby league.

My 1st VT meet.

The Downunder meet at Airlie Beach 2009.
I have hosted quite a few mini meets in Cairns.

The next VT meet I am going to is at Mooloolaba QLD,2012.
I am looking foward to seeing old friends and meeting new vt members so hope you can come.
You will find this on the meeting calander if you are interested or contact vt member stevemt for information.

Cheers,
Dorrise. pronounced (Door-reece)

Cairns Esplanade boardwalk looking north

This is a popular place for locals and tourists,the boardwalk and the lagoon are just fantastic with lots to do including a water playground for children called Muddies, lots of free BBQ areas and plenty of shade trees,exercise stations for fitness,marked klms to time or pace running or walking.Keep going north along the boardwalk and you will find a skateboard rink,volley ball and tennis courts and of course a cyclists lane .
The mudflats are an opportunity to watch birdlife,mudcrabs and other mud creatures and viewing platforms are strategically placed along the boardwalk. Opposite the swimming lagoon are plenty of restaurants and eating places to suit all budgets or just do as I do and sit with a coffee and people watch.Anyway this is our home town and we love it here.
Oh and remember that Cairns may have what you call a beach but it is not for swimming--many tourists have been caught stuck fast in the mud and have needed to be pulled free much to the amusement of us locals.

Looking toward the Pier and Trinity Inlet

Looking toward the Pier and Trinity Inlet

Bike lane along the "Nard"

The bike lane runs all along the "Nard" and is very popular with locals--on a sunday morning it is busy with families and a great place for children to learn how to ride in safety.The shade trees provide cover from the tropical sun.

The Herd

These sculptures are called the Herd--by using your imagination they could be a herd of any creature--they are positioned at the main entrance to the swimming lagoon in Cairns and they can be seen going out to sea or coming in.I like to call them the Du-gong Herd which are known as gentle sea creatures,they are whale like mammals of tropical seas but some of our indigenous friends say they can be very dangerous.I believe them.

Male sunbird nesting on our patio

Bird watchers travel from around the world to hopefully get a glimpse of this little bird--we are so lucky as they nest under our patio.They are only found in Queensland Australia and mostly up in the north.
Hope you enjoy the pic.This is a male.

Roslyn Serico with one of her paintings .

I love Indigenous artists and their story telling.

In Aboriginal mythology---Dreamtime:
the time in which the earth received its present form and in which the patterns and the cycle of life and nature were initiated; based on allegiance to a totemic ancestor.

I am so priviliged to have some indigineous artists as my friends and also had many indigineous clients during my career as their therapist/counsellor.
I also welcomed indigineous people into my art therapy groups as a way of healing and closing barriers through visual art.It can also be a strategy for surpassing culteral barriers to create communication.
I am known by the aboriginal community in Cairns as the 'Bat Lady' and was presented with a red bandanna as a sign of respect.
Bats are considered very special creatures that fly into the rainforests spreading the seeds of trees that can only survive in the forests.Without bats then the forests would die.I know I am very loved and respected by many and if I want to know anything about their home and culture then I have permission to ask. I am a very lucky person.If you want to know more about Roslyn and her artwork please check out my Cairns pages and my personal pages where I have shared her Platypus painting and story.
I have also written about 'Fire-Stick' burning on my Australia page.