ROAD TRIP DIARIES # 14
We had been to Little Crystal Creek earlier in the day, which turned out to be a pleasant spot for a picnic and nature photography, so we reckoned we might as well check out Big Crystal Creek while driving around Paluma Range National Park. It was still too early to find a camping ground so we drove north of Mt. Spec towards the popular Paradise Waterhole. The camp ground here was lovely and it was just a few meters walk from the swimming hole, but in the end we decided to camp at Jourama Falls which was closer to Ingam, the next major town up north.
After stuffing our daypack with swim wear and towels, we walked the paved path through the eucalypt forest towards Paradise waterhole. I was quite excited to try its inviting deep pools hoping I could finally brave the cold water. After all, it could be my last chance to stop myself setting a new record of “no shower” for 3 days.
Just as we were nearing the waterhole, the faint droning sound which I thought I heard earlier became clearer and louder. It was actually the sound of a didgeridoo being played by the young couple who was having a picnic near the river banks. According to Charles, this long wooden flute-like instrument is apparently considered one of Australia’s icons, like the boomerang, billabong and even the kangaroo. Its rhythmic sound resonating through the tranquil scenery was so fitting, it sounded just like one of the calls of nature. You could possibly guess that after this we ended wanting to get one, if only it was easy to lug around.
A didgeridoo is possibly the world’s oldest musical instrument.
Paradise Waterhole
After a bit of pondering, Charles finally jumped in the water, lasting only for a few minutes before emerging shivering with cold. Not a good sign. I guess I would have to set a new record this time. I was starting to suspect only two things now were stopping me from enjoying the numerous swimming holes we had visited. Cold water and crocs… but that will be another story 
Side Trip at Frosty Mango
On the way to Jourama Falls area, we stopped by at Frosty Mango, a roadside ice-creamery serving 33 flavours of ice creams and shakes including exotic fruits like jaboticaba (a tree grape), sapodilla (looks like chico to me), coconut, and mango, of course. I was quite thrilled to see some familiar fresh produce here like papaya, jackfruit, small coconuts, and other tropical fruits that I just realised then we were indeed at tropical North Queensland already. It was supposed to be warmer now as we move further up north, but I guess we had been spending most of our time in the mountains so I hadn’t really noticed the change in temperature, which I had been looking forward to since escaping the cold winter in Sydney.
Parang Pilipinas lang
Camping at Jourama Falls
It’s now the 15th day of our road trip and camping in national parks had become one of the highlights of our day’s adventure. It’s cheap, usually about 5-10 bucks per head, and we seldom see here those huge and fancy caravans and trailers huddled in private caravan parks and camping grounds near major towns. There are only basic amenities like toilets and shared kitchen with hot plates and a place for barbecues. There is no electricity and usually no place for shower, which wasn’t so bad after all, considering there’s always the swimming holes or the water falls to choose from in lieu of a hot shower.
Love the set-up of these 4-wheel drives.
Typical caravan towed by 4-wheel drive.
I prepared our dinner early while there was still light and brought all my chopped veggies, spices and pot of rice at the shared kitchen. A chatty gray nomad came by and was rather amused by what I was cooking which seemed to be an elaborate meal for him while everyone else was having the usual pasta and ready made sauce. I also met an amiable couple from Denmark and in between cooking my stir-fry, I found out they had started traveling from Melbourne and would be going around Australia for a year.
Shared kitchen at the national park camping ground.
Perhaps it was just me but I noticed campers tend to socialise more when they are disconnected from the world. The absence of mobile signals, electricity or the luxury to indulge in using their high-tech gadgets for hours make people go out of their tents or camper vans and somewhat push them to strike up a conversation with another soul. Maybe this was the reason why I always enjoy camping on places like national parks, even if it meant no shower
(This is part of our 6-week North Queensland Road Trip Series, which took place July- August 2010)
Australian Road Trip 101: A Vantastic Beginning
Road Trip Diaries # 1 – An Encounter with the Strangest Animal in the World
Road Trip Diaries # 2 – Of Strangler Figs, Leeches and Long Holidays
Road Trip Diaries # 3 - Exploring Finch Hatton Gorge
Road Trip Diaries # 4 – Cape Hillsborough: On Bush Walks Beach Strolls and Star Gazing
Road Trip Diaries # 5 – Cape Hillsborough: Sunrise and Wild Kangaroos
Road Trip Diaries # 6 – Airlie Beach: Beaches Babes and Backpackers
Road Trip Diaries # 7 – Ocean Rafting to the Whitsundays
Road Trip Diaries # 8 – Unexpected Encounters
Road Trip Diaries # 9 – Exploring Bowenwood
Road Trip Diaries # 10 – Townsville: Finding Nemo and the Sunken Pandora
Road Trip Diaries # 11 – A Visit at the Billabong Sanctuary and Castle Hill
Road Trip Diaries # 12 – Magnetic Island: What Captain Cook Missed
Road Trip Diaries # 13 – Paluma Range National Park: A Walk in the Clouds
ang sarap naman maligo dyan kahit na malamig hehe
would love to camp there too! 
Medyo hindi na nga ako nakatagal kaya kahit malamig naligo na rin ako sa sumunod na waterhole na pinuntahan namin
Yan ang di ko pa n-try, ang mgcamping
Sarap nga mg-swim dyan, but I wanna make sure na wala ngang crocs 
Oh and also, y are the tents up? Meron bang mga wild animals dyan kpag gabi?
Merong namang mga warning signs kapag croc infested and creek at usually sa northern part ng Aus madami. Wala namang mga wild animals, mas ok yata kasi sa taas yung tent, customised lang sa gusto ng may-ari.
Ang ganda. I’m surprised with the same fruits they have and we have here in the Philippines.:-)
Yeah,me too especially we passed by along the acres of mango plantations.
Me also want a didgeridoo! First encounter ko nyan sa Pinas during training with Optus, LOL. I still want a Kombi van for long drives and camping, kahit super basic lang
I know right, ang cool nya di ba lalo na yung lumang model.
hi claire kamustasa! ive tried camping once pero sa likod bahay lang namin hehe… nga pala, 3 days pa din ba record mo? LOL
Mabutete naman, hahaha, hindi na 3 days, 5 days na last April lang noong nagroad trip ulit kami
very interesting and fun post.. I have the aways from civilization theory. The farther aways from civilization you are people tend to be friendlier. Walk down the street and by someone in a city in USA and unless you know the person no one speaks. When I am out hiking and photographing and we meet people everyone always says hello and smiles. Even me
!!!!
http://jpweddingphotograpy.blogspot.com/2011/07/grand-experience.html
So true, some people haven’t even said hello yet to their next door neighbors and they have been living next to each other for months or even years, and yeah, I also noticed the friendly atmosphere in the outdoor communities especially during our numerous trekking trips. People smile, nod, acknowledge your presence and strike up a conversation if they have the chance.
Wow. Parang yung vamping lang sa mga movies.
Ate, boyfriend yung si kuya?
hahaha ex boyfriend ko yang si Kuya
The sound of the didgeridoo is very distinctive and evocative sound. It’s rather ironic that all the so called “Communication” devices , mobile phones, pc’s, internet etc actually alienate people from eachother. How often do you see people sat at a table together but all they are doing is texting? Lol. Crazy! That’s why campgrounds etc are such social places especially here in Australia where you soon lose mobile phone coverage in regional areas. A great post Claire , I always stop for ice cream at the Frosty mango lol.
I couldn’t agree more Mark, they do connect people in a way but not that deep connection that we really need. Love the ice cream at Frosty Mango too, i tried the usual mango ice cream out of the 33 exotic flavours just coz it somewhat reminded me of home
Wow, 5 days of no shower? That means Charles didn’t take a bath too? I guess you just got used to each other’s smell ha? hehe. The didgeridoo-playing couple was so nice. I can imagine you lying on the rocks, absorbing the beauty around you, with music playing in the background…paradise nga!
hahaha, that’s right but we did have what you call bucket shower once in a while
the lake actually looks like there could be crocodiles just looking on the side. but the place looks serene. beautiful
That’s what I first thought as well when we reached the river banks but we haven’t really reached the croc infested area of Queensland so it was quite safe to swim in the swimming holes.
I’m hooked with camping as well. The first day is the hardest because you feel gross not having a shower but eventually you get over it.
I do want to camp in outback. I met an Aussie lady in Bolivia who camps by herself all over the outback she’s shared some pretty amazing stories. Like a midnight an encounter with a water buffalo outside her tent! Yikes.
Yeah I can so relate to that, after a few days of camping, it becomes easier to get accustomed to days of no shower. The good thing with this road trip was that it wasn’t really hot so we didn’t sweat much and there’s always a nearby water source to wash up at the very least.
didgeridoo so that’s the name of the instrument, reminds me of Survivor! I hope we have that kind of trucks here in the philippines. may sasakyan ka na, may tulugan ka pa…ehehehe
Korek Jerome, accommodation and means of transport all-in-one, mas madali at tipid mag explore ng mga lugar at wala na masyado iintindihin
Hello, Claire! The Didgeridoo, looks like a giant straw! May mga buko, papaya, mangoes din pala dyan, hehehe! Cool! =)
Nagulat nga ako noong nakita ko yung local fruits nila. Tropical din kasi yung weather sa area na to kaya dito makikita yung maraming plantations ng mga prutas at gulay gaya ng sa atin.
yun pala tawag donm.swimming holes.very tempting nga yung water.naimagine ko bigla na ako ang nagka-camp near one of them.pero pag malamig–turn off.tas crocs pa?seryus? scary!!!!tanawin ko nalang?hahaha
hahaha, wala namang crocs sa area na to at siguradong kaya mong lumangoy dito, lamigin lang talaga ako ng sobra kaya hindi na ako nagdare pa
That’s a musical instrument? I thought it was a telescope! And so I wondered why he was blowing into it. Haha!
I knew it you’re gonna see it that way hahaha
The effort which u put in everything .. almost signifies one thing .. You are a true traveler !! thx for this post .. what fruit is that ..it is huge !!
Thanks Sheril, I think you’re referring to jackfruit. It’s one of my favorite fruits in the Philippines. It has yellowish flesh inside and it tastes deliciously sweet when ripe.
grabe ang camping nila. it’s a great bonding experience talaga. the dirt that piled up in those four-wheelers give a ‘cool’ effect. added points sa mga chicks. — ano ba tong pinag-iisip ko. hehe.
I get you Ed
Ms. Claire, pano po yung tunong ng didgeridoo?
Haba nya..
Tunog po yun.. mali na naman nasulat ko.. sorry po..
Try watching this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g592I-p-dc
Ganon po pala yung tunog nya… inantok ako… hehehe…
Salamat MS.Claire..
hahaha, sounds like lullaby of nature