Yep .. that's me .. photo taken Friday in the rainforest.
Today is coming back after a Friday,Saturday weekend off. Saturday was a little more leisurely with a trip into Cairns, a wander around the "tourist district" and along the Esplanade where there was a craft market. I bought a few things as gifts for the family, but don't tell them - I want it to be a surprise.
I then headed up to the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, just north of Cairns, where I viewed a history video detailing how the local forest clans were slaughtered for sport and minor misdemeanor, relocated and forced to be fringe dwellers and beggars. The Tjapukai have worked hard recently to recover their cultural stories and language and this centre appears to be one way they are attempting this recovery. I also watched a telling of some of their clan creation stories, followed by a number of traditional songs and dances. One of the women talked about local bush food. It was an intense time of learning and observation.
On the way back home I stopped off at the local seafood market for some fresh local-catch fish for the next three meals, some fresh banana prawns which I cooked chili style to have with some steak last night, and some barramundi fillets for today.
I don't know when my next time off will be, but I will be talking to the local admin about what they can arrange for me in the next week or so. I will also be providing feedback to both Queensland Health and the locum service about how a signed contract accepting a 10 day fortnight has not been honored.
There is still good work and staff at Babinda to keep life interesting so its not a drag to be here - no regrets, just a lesson learned that what might appear to be on offer does not necessarily reflect the reality. More clarity will be demanded for future locums.
Catch you later this week .. won't necessarily post simply to say today is the same as yesterday and the day before, but I will keep a little chatter going on anything that seems worth making a diary note on.
ps .. I am out sitting in the car sending this in, found a spot in town where the 3G net connection is reliably 4/5 bars ... its pouring rain !
ps .. I am out sitting in the car sending this in, found a spot in town where the 3G net connection is reliably 4/5 bars ... its pouring rain !
3 comments:
Hi John - sounds like you are eating well and thoroughly enjoyed tripping around during your weekend off - we are finding the blog so interesting - even tho you have to sit in the car, and in the pouring rain, in order to send it!!! Keep blogging - Cheers Ros and Charles
I have sneak preview that you will get next weekend off too!! wonder where you'll go - we're all waiting!!
love from all of us!
Lesley
Hi, John, Auntie Eileen here. I'm just catching up with more of your Blog and finding it all very interesting. This one telling of your visit to the Aborigine Centre especially. I've developed a real interest in Aborigines and in their 'dreamtime' tales etc. Would love to be able to visit a centre such as this one. Keep the write-ups going, they are very enjoyable. You sure feed yourself well, so no worries. Uncle Royce sends his love too. LYH. xxooxx
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