Hello! Can't believe another 3 weeks have passed since I last wrote! We spent 3 days at Katherine Gorge, loved the cruise, walks and pool! We actually met relations from a family we know well from Armidale, so that was pretty cool.
We had 5 nights at Cooinda, Kakadu and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I had mixed comments from some other travellers before we arrived so was wondering what it would be like. We loved it! It was rather hot, most days into the mid 30s. The yellow water cruises were very interesting, the birds were numerous and spectacular, also saw many crocodiles (the tour guide told us they are very lazy and wait with there mouths open for the fish to swim in!). Also just loved the variety of trees and plants, lily pads etc. Found the rock art amazing, would like to learn more about it. We visited Nourlangie Rock, a good walk with many different areas of rock art. We went swimming with freshwater crocs at Barramundi gorge (5 mins for me!) and Gunlom Falls. Benn actually worked at Cooinda 23 years ago, he enjoyed catching up with some of the traditional owners they were in the bar the afternoon we arrived. David, Sylvia and Rosie remembered him, but all the elders he knew well had passed on. I was told Benn was family to them, so now I was family too, even though I was white I was black! They were very welcoming, but I struggled with the language they tried to teach me. Overall, a very amazing experience, one I will never forget.
We went on a plane ride over most of Kakadu and some of Arnhem Land on our last day, absolutely amazing! The rock formations, rivers and such a variety of ecosystems! The uranium mine was also an interesting imagine from the air. We even had a history lesson on the early explorers of the area!
After Kakadu we headed for Darwin, arrived Tuesday 3rd August and are still here, leaving tomorrow. We have all enjoyed Darwin! Mum and Dad arrived to visit on Thursday staying for 6 nights in a cabin at the caravan park. We had a wonderful time together. Went to the Mindil Sunset Markets on the first night, sunset over the water was a sight! We have been to the wave pool, shopping in the Mall, the WWII oil tunnels, Aviation Museum, NT Museum, Stokes Wharf(for dinner) and the waterpark (recreation area with slides, playarea, pool and skate park). I have really loved shopping even if I have only bought groceries, I has missed woolies and just window shopping over the last few weeks. I took Jacinta on a special girls morning and we just hung out at the shops and even got our hair cut, very satisfying!
The kids took it in turns to sleep at Granma and Granpa's, so very exciting to have sleepover while camping. We have also just enjoyed swimming at the pool at the caravan park and the kids have enjoyed making things out of cardboard boxes that we collected from Bunnings. (mind you a bit upset when I said we could only keep two things each out of about 15 creations (eg: planes, trucks, etc) as they would not fit in the caravan to travel!!) Can't imagine when we live in a house again, we might have a garage full of cardboard creations....
Well off to get dinner organised and finish packing up for departure tomorrow to Litchfield park,
B x
No comments:
Post a Comment