Blogs from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, Oceania - page 76

This morning the car was packed to capacity. Along with mine and Helen's stuff we were also taking Lou and Bill up to Darwin and they had a lot of stuff. We packed it all in and headed off for the final three hour trip to the top. With every mile north we went the temperature went up and up. Just before we got to Darwin we stopped off at the Aboriginal Art Gallery and were treated to a display of snakes, crocodiles and lizards. Before I had the carpet snake wrapped round my neck I wash assured that it was not going to bite me. The 2 foot long Blue Tongue Lizard on the other hand was very capable it biting but was apparently docile in the heat and didn't mind being picked up!! After ... read more

On a bus finally leaving Dulwin. It's 8.12am. Early. On the Wayward bus that will take me all the way south to Alice Springs over the next 3.5 days. There are only 19ppl on the bus, and I've managed to grab 2 seats all to myself, so I should be in for a nice comfortable ride. I hadn't really read the brochure and have just found out that lunch and tea are not included, it's camping all the way and there isn't anywhere on the first leg to buy food - joy, but the good thing is that the first day is spent in Litchfield National Park whch is fab since it's supposed to rival Kakadu but with more waterholes and falls. Normally, this is right up my street, but to tell you the truth after ... read more

Well, I've crossed the state line into the Northern Territory, a land equivalent in size to France, Italy and Spain combined, but with a total population of around 200,000. A land that shunned the offer to be a true 'state' in favour of being self-governed....well, it's probably something to do with the fact that it gets more cash from the government this way. See - I am learning some stuff! Anyway, I've settled in Darwin, (or should I say Dulwin) : a small town, prematurely pushed into being a city, and it shows. Hot, lazy and utterly devoid of life and vibrancy, so much so that I'm glad I'll have only wasted 3 days here by the time I return from kakadu National Park on Sunday. Talking of Kakadu, I was supposed to go yesterday but ... read more

Weeks 10-12 (17th May - 1st June 2006) On May 17th we booked ourself into a rather tatty caravan park at Cable Beach. We built our house quite close to the camp kitchen - not our choice I assure you as the kitchen areas are usually full of loud tw*ts mouthing off and getting drunk on a sniff of cheap backpacker lager, refusing to go to bed until the early hours and generally keeping everyone else awake. We'd already paid for 3 nights as the truck needed servicing so we readied our earplugs for the nights to come.......that night in fact we were rudely awakened by a bunch of p*ssed up French guys (they're the worst in my opinion.....all that armpit hair can't be healthy) singing along to some 'Amelie' soundtrack throwback at the top of ... read more

Yesterday was a right off!!!! Today was our last day in Darwin which I didn't want to think about too much!!!! We went to the beach- I burn't! As always! Darren and I went to feed the fish- or should I say Giant Fish!!!! These things were huge- Dad you would have been very proud if one of these was a catch!! Darren treated me to lunch- bless him! Which was gorgeous........ Darren had his white soup which I think is hillarious- he will only eat soup that is white!!!! Veg counts as white- o gosh don't ask!! We later went to the pub- packed and went back to the pub for a $1 meal!!!! Both me and Darren were quite- which is a real first as you can all imagine- and Darren is like me! ... read more