The Cassowary Has Been Spotted (in a zoo...)

We finally saw our Cassowary...in a wildlife park. Albeit a really great one that we had almost all to ourselves, the Rainforest Habitat outside Port Douglas. After all of the obsessing, we decided we had to see a real Cassowary before we left the tropics. $30 per person admission charge behind us, we walked through the gates and the first thing we saw...a real live Cassowary! We were a little more enthralled with him than he was with us, at least until my friend John accidentally rustled a small paper bag in his pocket. At that point, the Cassowary perked up, turned his head toward us, and rather than retreat like 99% of animals would at this sort of encroachment, scratched the dirt with his massive front claw, widened his eyes to "borderline bird pyschotic", and looked me directly in the eye. That's a nightmare or two over the next couple of weeks. These birds think they're at the top of the food chain, folks, and that claw can disembowel a person who crosses paths on a bad day (the disemboweling joggers thing is urban legend - the last known fatality from a Cassowary attack was in 1926 - but what about seemingly unsolved murders or hiker disappearances!!?!). I'm glad we didn't meet up with one in the wild. Still, one of the most beautiful creatures you'll ever see, and a travesty that they're endangered.

The Rainforest Habititat itself was extremely well done. I'm usually not one for zoos - they can be very sad places for an animal lover - but this spot was well thought out, had heaps of open space for all of the birds and animals, and actually gave people a chance to interact with some of the inhabitants (see photo). I think that's a great experience, especially for kids, who develop an appreciation that these animals are living creatures and deserve respect. Plus, though it might seem a little silly for a 43 year old guy, one of the most memorable things to do in Australia is to get up close with the animals (but safely, in a controlled environment like this one).

We also toured perhaps the best place to stay under $1000 a night I've seen yet in Australia, Thala Beach Lodge. Tim and Michelle, who both exemplify hospitality, gave us a tour, and they are justifiably proud. The place has to be seen to be believed. A first class resort in every respect, it wins my vote for one reason...location, location, location. The resort is perched on a cliff overlooking the Coral Sea, with phenomenal views up and down the coast and out to the Great Barrier Reef. They have a seemingly deserted private beach that is close to paradise, and acres of native bush land for hiking, picnics and just general relaxation - I saw a kangaroo hop across our path as we were walking back to our car from the beach. Thala Beach is at the top of my short list for my next trip to Oz.