Cairns Local Customs

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A lot of walking tracks in the Barron Gorge National park have culteral and historic relevance to Djabugay,they are a local Aboriginal tribe,known as Bama.
The people say they use the name Bama to describe all rainforest Aboriginal tribes.
These tribes created most of these tracks that are used today to enable them to move from the coast to the Cairns Tablelands.

The Barron Falls is a sacred site and a place for story telling---the rainbow serpent,Gudja,was seen to be the most powerful wet season totemic creators,and Bama believe Gudja created all the creeks and waterways of the Barron Gorge.
An agreement with Bama is being negotiated so they will ensure their invovlment in the park management,in particular protect the traditional peoples rights and interests,including indigenous names for the walking tracks.

For example--Cairns city walks are---Gimuy
Crystal Cascades--- Bidjil Bidjil
McDonald's Track--- Djabugandji

You may need to ask permission to enter into a sacred place.

I am very fortunate to be friends with some of these people and they often tell me stories.
I always ask permission before I write anything about them--they also don't like having their photo taken.

If you are going to go to Cairns, then you will need to know what you are dealing with. First off, it is a requirement to spend at least one night living the backpacker lifestyle, which includes putting yourself into a 6-person shared accommodation room. Next, make friends with a couple of them by buying the first round of cheap beers. Then find out one is a homosexual from the Sunshine Coast, and another is on a Round the World journey from Germany.

After discussing religion and politics, you will have nothing better to do than take random pictures of them after you begin drinking them under the table.

Let me know how you went!

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I wonder whether they realize it, but on the windows of the apothecary shop at the private 24 hour darwin medical clinic there are old posters from Burma of the chinese patent medicines. i took photos of just one poster

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Cairns is a town which has grown suddenly because of the tourism. i am told it was a sleepy little norther queensland town and some of the architecture bears evidence. i found them to be charming. wish i had more time to explore it fully

I work in the hospitality sector and one this that really annoys me is that some people have no clue as to using some manners!
If you are getting good service, or even bad, just a please may I have, or a thankyou after the transaction can make a worker happy.

Yes, some people in retail and hospitality don't really deserve this, but do it anyway, this might make them change:) ( well, I can only hope)

Also known as Morton Bay Bugs, or just plain Bugs, these are a tasty little local treat. I don't think its possible to get them in other parts of Australia but these are like large crayfish or small lobsters that look absolutely ancient or even prehistoric. Nevertheless, they are very tasty, with a sweet, succulent meat that I found very appealing. The trick is getting past the sight of them. For seafood lovers, this isn't to be missed.

One of the unusual items I tasted was green ants. Just pick up a green ant, hold it and bite off its head or abdomen. (I get differing accounts). It is quite yummy, tastes like lime.

It takes a lot of green ants to make a tea much less a meal but they are refreshing.

Cairns in general seems ready to talk to people in German and Japanese. To an extent, the Japanese services are stand-alone enterprises, staffed by and catering to the Japanese and not the public at large. A smattering of mainstream shops seem to have Japanese staff, but a great number post that they speak German. Written menus and brochures, other literature as well, seems to be available in Chinese and most Western European languages, but my guess is it would be hard to get around if you didn't speak English.