Mother of all flowers comes to Cairns

Yesterday I visited the Gardens to see the Titan Arum

A report from the today's Cairns Post

THOUSANDS of people have flocked to the Cairns Botanic Gardens to see one of the world's rarest flower blooms, with the titan arum wowing green thumbs across the region.

Having gone into bloom late Tuesday afternoon, Cairns Botanic Gardens curator David Warmington estimated about 3000 people had come to observe the rare phenomenon.

"It’s attracted a wide range of people," he said. "There’s been mums, dads, kids, tourists, workers … a cross-section of the community."

The high visitor numbers have topped last year’s estimate of more than 1500 people, with this year’s titan arum only the 138th in cultivation worldwide to bloom since it was first recorded more than a century ago.

"I think some people have probably been in awe of the size of it," Mr Warmington said.

Volendam NZ Christmas Cruise 2011 Part 6

Monday 2 Jan 2012

Sea Day.

I chatted with folk for a while in the Lido after brekkie then did my walk. I caught up with Wayne for lunch in the dinning room and met some great people we had not met before happy hour. After lunch a long nanna nap and nearly missed. We had the evening meal in the lido.

I had an early night after a night cap in the Crows nest.

Tue 3 Jan

After Brekkie I got out the laundry for washing on this final day on board. Today is a day I hate most of all on cruises as I have to pack and have the bags outside the door by 11.30 pm.

It is just a fantastic clear calm post card perfect day as we cross the Tasman Sea (The Ditch) between NZ and OZ. It is anticipated we will arrive in Sydney at 6am tomorrow morning so it will be great if sea conditions remain like this. I have spent the morning downloading some of my photos to other folks USB memory sticks. I will to catch up with Wayne for lunch.

 In the arvo I went to a meeting and drinks with the Hotel Manager and about 20 other 4 Star Mariners. It is to give feedback on the cruise experience so I hoped there would not be too many negative people there. As usual with all my cruises I am very happy by the service I have received. The meeting went very well and smoking was the main complaint, but on the whole the majority were very complementary about the ships officers,crew and services.

We just went to the Lido for the 'Last Super' and then to the Crows Nest for a night cap before an early night. It was sad to say goodbye to our excellent Crows Nest bar staff

Wed 4 Jan

I had an early shower and went up for brekkie in the Lido and for the sad goodbyes to kids that had looked after me so well over the past few weeks.

It was a fantastic morning on the Sydney Harbour and after doing the Bridge Climb before the cruise the Bridge takes on a new meaning for me.

After brekkie I got a cab with Wayne to the airport. It was a quick 15 minute ride and the traffic was not too bad at all.  I write this final update from the Qantas Club while having a coffee and catching up on our emails.

I arrive home in Cairns at 3.30pm this arvo.