Our Cairns kitchen view
September 14, 2008 by Megan · 13 Comments
Often asked, “Why did you settle in Cairns?”, I’ll let the photos of our lifestyle answer that question. I have travelled extensively and lived in four other countries. My career could have produced many more academic and financial rewards if I lived else where, but, I love my lifestyle and I love Cairns. I also particularly love Old Queenslanders (the style of house we live in – old, all timber, and suited to a tropical lifestyle)
Given we are essentially outdoor livers, we naturally have our kitchen outside, on our verandah (our house has wide sweeping verandahs all the way around). There is no other kitchen upstairs – this is where I cook.
With daily views like the next few, why on earth would I want to cook in a closed in room with a smallish window? Not only does my kitchen feed the family, it also feeds our souls. I NEVER get sick of the views and of the communion with tropical nature.
Even when we have to be inside, we still do get some pretty groovy views. This is a fan palm right outside the window of my downstairs office.
With outside living comes the usual exposure to wild life. This is what I was greeted with this week. While I coped, I am glad that Paul was not home as he is less snake friendly than I am 
How do you live? In the interests of social understanding I am keen to learn how others live their family life. If you’ve blogged about your lifestyle, leave the link in the comments so that I can come and have a look.
I really hope you’ve enjoyed your virtual tour of our outside lifestyle – we do also have a whole other inside life but we’re rarely inside so we won’t even bother with that.
About Megan
OK, I am sititng in Canberra to day and it is raining and cold and looks like it may snow even though it was about 23 degrees and sunny yesterday. The good news is I am moving to Qld at the end of the year – to Brisbane anyway. I loved your photos and your outdoor kitchen is truly unique (or maybe not up that way). With a day like today I can perfectly understand why you wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
Hi Lilly
yes, Canberra can get very, very cold. I have family who live there….and I NEVER visit them because I swear I am allergic to the cold.
Brisbane is lovely – a very pretty city. I hope you love the climate there. When you have the chance to come to Cairns for a visit you really must let me know. I would love to meet up with you and share paradise with you.
Sure nice to have a home surrounded with trees. I love having a kitchen that opens up to the outdoors. I grew up having snakes, toads, frogs, lizards running everywhere.
Hey Megan and Paul
Your lovely home is now protected by your house snake. Lovely specimen of nature more than at your doorstep!
May you all enjoy the good karma the snake has brought to you and your home.
Birdwing and the Husband
Oh gorgeous kitchen!!! Unfortunately mine makes me wish I could knock out a wall or two about every time I use it.
I want to live on a veranda like yours when I grow up!!
Your outdoor lifestyle looks divine, Megan. What a kewl kitchen and lounge room. Maybe your snake visitor could smell your cooking and wanted to come for dinner!
if you want you can read about my and other adventures in tampa florida and the world of tutoring at abundantjoy2004 at myspace. (i have pictures too but you have to have a myspace account to see them) -also my church at http://www.riverhills.org
Oh my goodness – lots of comments – I thought my kitchen would be boring!
Lina – we’ve got all of those things. I have to always check the kettle to make sure a frog hasn’t jumped in over night and the geckos sh*t everywhere!!!!! Let’s not even start on the cockroaches – in the tropics, cockroaches are everywhere. Like you, I love being surrounded by trees.
Birdwing – Come back snakey is the song I’m singing…bring back that good karma. I keep an eye out for him but haven’t spotted him again. Need I tell you how bitterly disappointed Boy was that he missed the snake.
Jeanie – I am so glad you like the kitchen. I really, really love it. Many people raise their eyebrows and find it slightly alternative but it works a treat. Knock your walls out Jeanie – it is great.
Alison – don’t grow up (cos I have no intention of growing up) and you can come and live on my veranda any time. I think the snake could smell the frog that Paul had touched the evening before – I promise I didn’t cook it
Linda – thanks for the links, I’ll check them out. I’ve known a lot of people from Florida…..many of them have visited Cairns because of the warmth. It’s a shame I can’t see all your photos…don’t suppose you could start a word press blog could you?
You have a beautiful house! I wish I can build a house like yours in sunny Singapore. It would cost a bomb.
Your kitchen appears my dream!!
You are kidding about that snake aren’t you? No, you’re not? *shudder* I am not one (at all) for creepy crawlies. Geckos still freak me out so I could not stand cooking outside…. Saying that though, my kitchen in this apartment is quite airy – I love it. This apartment is for rent if you are interested….
Wow…I cannot ever imagine having an outdoor kitchen. We get a lot of rain here and I prefer to be indoors. Even when it is sunny and warm I prefer to be inside.
My favorite time of year is here now – fall. And we had lots of rain on Saturday so I had all my candles burning all over the house. It was so cozy and warm. I love that!
Your view is gorgeous though!!! =) I love that kind of view when on vacation. Which doesn’t happen often enough. *grin*
Hi, we have just been granted our permanent residents visas for Australia and we are hoping to move over there in the new year. I have family on the Central Coast so we are going to head for there. But where we end up depends on where my husband gets a job. We love the look of Brisbane and hopefully one day we will get to visit Cairns. Your house is lovely, I love the style of it the verandahs are amazing.
Hi Lizzie, yes, I read on your blog that you were granted your visas….and in record breaking time too. Congratulations. I have lived in London, California, Alaska, and Papua New Guinea. I have travelled a fair bit of Europe (but travelling more would be just fine
Out of all the places I’ve been, I love Australia and particularly Queensland.
Brisbane is beautiful but a bit too busy for me. I am looking at living on the Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane. There I can have country living and close enough access to my Grand daughter depending on where they eventually get jobs.
We are relatively well protected from the global economic crisis here and we will always have access to food.
What sort of work does your husband do?