Pictures * page 9 * Cairns * September - October 2005

	We bought 2 boxes of moon cakes for ourseelves and a few for friends and had them around the mid-autumn lantern festival. On the day, or night, itself we didn't celebrate particularly but we had to wait a week until we found a suitable celebration. It was the closing day of Cairns culture festival. On that day, September 29th we sent to see Zhanjiang lionshow group. And the next day we saw a lion dance once again in front of the local Asian supermarket where the Chinese group did a ceremony and also "blessed" the local chinese community office. Anyway we got some celebration for our wedding anniversary. It was 3 years ago when we got married in Finland on Mid Autumn Festival day, the day that also happened to be Fall Equinox in Northern hemisphere and Spring Equinox here in the Southern hemisphere.
	Here is a picture of the lion dance group. It's not in Cairns but just taken from their web site. When they did the show in Cairns it was a bit dark and the arena was so poorly built that most of the audience couldn't see anything.
	This picture is taken a few hours before the main show when the group was marching to the festival field. They stopped on the Esplanade street and gave a little show.
	Our Bluey dog is a bit lonely after Maxi passed away. There is Elvis duck and Misu cat to play with him and also there is neighbours Bonnie dog behind the fence.
	Maxi is buried under the pond here. Ducks enjoy splashing water and cleaning themselves every time a fresh water is changed. Timo does it twice a day. Soon there will be red kanna and other flowers growing next to the pond for Maxi's loving memory. Elvis often is chasing after Bluey. The duck is serious but the dog takes it as funny play.
	Harvesting coconut from the backyards tree.
	During the first weekend of September both of us took a day off and we visited our former landlady and landlord plus a few friend in Woodstock and Townsville. We spent a day and 2 nights next to our old house. On the way back Timo took a picture of banana trees on side of the road near Tully, not far away from our Cairns.
	Landscape in Northern Queensland somewhere between Cardwell and Tully.
	Tropical pine forest on the left. Cane train on the right.
	Sugar mill in Tully. This is the rainiest area in Australia.
	This is the cheapest acerage around Cairns at the moment. It is 1 acre land with 6 x 12 m liveable shed in Goldsborough walley from Gordonvale towards Atherton Tablelands. Development has just started. There are plenty of nice new houses. Not much trees or other vegetation yet. No doubt this could be an investment if you build a house in the area back, plant some trees and wait for another 10 years. For us it's not so tempting at the moment. We rather get a bit older house surrounded by trees. Also lack of public transportation is an issue for us at the moment since we never know how long our jobs match so that we can commute together.
	Our current area is not bad at all. It's just a bit crowded. So many cars and no room for them in the small blocks. This is our front yard and the blue car is Nancy's work car, i.e. her employer let's her use it also for commuting.
	There are a few acerage blocks in Machans beach. This is one of the nicest of them. It's right next to the river. It's not for sale but if it were, the price tag would have figures far too astronomical for us. Despite, at least for Timo this is not private enough.
	Something we could afford is like this, a cottage on 500 to 800 sqm blcok. But this one too. Not enough private.
	This is in the corner of David street and Saw street. Owner of the tree house is a little boy. On the right behind the fence there is a horse on an acerage block.
	There are plenty of cute old cottages here. We like it more than modern yuppy houseses with nice lawns and cosy gardens.
	But blocks are so small when prices are reasonable. Though interesting details in the houses.
	If you buy a small blcok you could buy a cheap old queenslander cottage and get it brought to your block. Then you could elevate it to create some more space under it.
	Anyway there is always nice landscape with beaches, water and little forests within walking distance from the crowded residential area. This delta of the little creek between Holloways beach and Machans beach.
	Yet another interesting old cottage along our morning walk.
	One of the few eating places, a takeaway that sells fish & chips, pies and other food that Timo never wants to touch. On the right, in the purple shop a girl was selling hippie stuff until September 2005 buth she closed down her shop.
	We could think about this as our future home. It's a shady blcok with lots of trees: avocado, banana, banboo. House is renovated well kept old timber cottage. On the roof there is a solar water heater.
	Machans beach state school.
	High set houses near the main road. Behind the houses there is a forest (bush) and after that sugar cane fields.
	More houses on Machans beach.
	Being a good gardener makes it nice ...
	More houses of David street.
	Not many places are for rent. Much more are for sale.
	One of the 3 eating places is an Italian restaurant. We haven't visited it yet. We don't eat out almost at all but we cook at home.