Cave Women

One of our included tours was to explore the "Surprise Cave".  This is not the official name (I can't quite remember the official one) but a tourist gave it the name of Surprise because of a special shaped rock...... see if you can guess which one.

This was a little cave house to the side of where we disembarked our tender boat at the bottom of the cave entrance.  Wouldn't that be an awesome place to live?

We were told varying numbers in relation to how many steps there were up to the entrance of the cave.  100, 90, 150..... although I didn't personally count them, there were more like 400!  We walked up at a snails pace though due to the amount of people, the drizzly rain and the narrow steps.

This lady was walking up infant of us and we were amazed at how and why she would walk up in such inappropriate footwear.  She got half way up and tuned into her tour guide office..... where she changed into thongs!  I guess it's important to look good on your way to work, you never know who you're going to meet!

This was the view from the top.  Stunning!

Our first view inside.... It was amazing, but I wasn't 'surprised' yet.

 There was all sorts of stalactites (the ones that go ⬇) and stalagmites The ones that go ⬆) in the cave and there were 3 chambers to explore, each one bigger than the last.

Then we entered the 'Surprise Cave'........  In the guide books it's referred to as 'Cock Rock'

I'm not sure what this grafitti says, but I hope it's something profound and not just "Ronald was 'ere 2014"

I don't think they're being very subtle with the whole Cock Rock thing - I mean, they've illuminated it.

 Then after a brief stop at the obligatory gift shop at the top, it was time to head down another 400 steps.

At the bottom near our boat there were ladies on boats, tied up under the jetty trying to sell their wares.  Some had live seafood and some had chips and soft drinks, etc....  Nobody bought anything, but I was quite interested in the logistics of making the sale, collecting the cash and getting the product to the customer, all without falling in.

You do wonder if there are only there for the tourists, although I can't imagine why a tourist would purchase a couple of squid as they were passing through.  It was a bit heartbreaking to think how much money they are making...... and then this lady whipped out her mobile phone!