Leisure Day

I now have a full on cold with accompanying very runny nose... Just thought I should share that little gem with you... But no one ever dropped down dead from a cold, so being the very brave little soldier that I am, I shall continue to lead my little kitten herd on our last full day in Darwin. At breakfast, most decided that they were going to catch the local bus and head out to Casuarina which has a large shopping centre. I headed out on my own to the shops and enjoyed the 45 minute drive through the suburbs to Casuarina. It was much like every other Westfield or similar shopping centre and nearly all the same shops. I made a bee line for a chemist to purchase cold/ flu drugs and bought a coffee but that was my entire shopping effort. Caught the bus back with all the girls after catching up with all the herd to tell them that I was heading out to Mindil markets later and to meet at 3.45 if they wanted to come with me. Little M said she wanted to come but when I told her that we were going by bus, she said that she couldn't go in a bus so I told her she would need to take a taxi. I could tell that she wasn't happy about that but the reality is that she should never have come on this trip as she can't manage the coach steps well, nor can she walk any distance and certainly can't do many stairs or uneven surfaces. I've told her that we will need to rethink future coach trips, although she is already booked for our September Canberra coach trip. That will definitely be her last with me. It's just too hard and she takes up too much of my time. Right.... Now where was I??? Had a cup of soup and roll in my room for a late lunch and then I headed off with all bar little M to the markets. Today was the Beer Can Regatta at Mindil Beach so the place was heaving. I saw the end of the 'boat' race but it looked more like a "who can sink whose boat quicker'" competition to me! Didn't think much of the markets as most of the stalls had items clearly brought in from Bali and very little actual hand made items. Lots of food stalls but as it was only 5 o'clock it was too early for my dinner so I caught the bus back into town, headed for the hotel, dosed up on more drugs, and booked a table for dinner in the hotel restaurant for me, little M and a couple of the kittens I've rounded up since getting back to the hotel. Head off to dinner and M ends up joining us too. This kitten is usually off with the fairies and at dinner tells me that she hasn't been able to read the magazines she brought with her as they are locked in her suitcase. When I ask her why she doesn't unlock her case, she tells me that she has lost the keys to the padlock. When I ask her how she has managed to get clothes out of the same suitcase I'm now informed that she had to get hotel reception staff to bring bolt cutters to her room the afternoon we arrived, to cut one of the padlocks on her suitcase so that she could get to the main compartment but she didn't get them to cut the second padlock on a smaller zippered pocket. Makes no sense to me, but just as well I didn't know about this on the first day... Anyhow having dinner with both M's is not something I actively seek out, so just as well there were two other 'normal' kittens at dinner as well or I would have contemplated scooping my eyes out with a fork just for some light relief! My Singaporean Laksa was really nice and spicy enough that it certainly has helped clear the sinuses. But time to head back to the room for more drugs and the blog for my last night in the Top End. One of the kittens told me this afternoon that 6 of them have already decided that we need to come to Alice Springs next year! I can only hope and pray that of the six, none of their names start with M!!!

Photos

The first photo is from the Adelaide a River cemetery, then Edith Falls, a cheeky little bird who joined me at lunch, and then Katherine Gorge. The photos really don't do the actual scenery justice.

Katherine Gorge

Did not want that alarm to go off just after 5 this morning....grrrrr. However all my little herd were gathered together by 6 fir me to get them their bid breakfasts and then on the coach at 6.10. It was a full bus so my hopes of sitting on my own and just having a bit of 'me' time wasn't going to happen. Morning started out a bit cool but clear skies so once again we know we are in for perfect weather. Once again upon leaving Darwin, we head south and our first stop is the Adelaide River War Cemetery which is dedicated to those killed in air raids in Darwin in WWII. It is only small but beautifully maintained. we drive through Pine Creek which is an old gold mining town and then on to Emerald Springs which is a whistle stop for a cuppa and scones, although I didn't have any scones as I was full from my croissant in my box breakfast. Then on to Edith Falls which was a pretty little spot. We then head through Katherine to Nitmiluk National Park where we have lunch. I tried crocodile for the first time and it was okay, but I'm not really sure what it really tastes like as it was minced with lots of herbs in a pastry case. Could just have easily been any other meat as the herbs took over all the taste. Then on to Katherine Gorge for a cruise into 2 of the 13 gorges. It was absolutely beautiful. Not a cloud in the sky. I loved it! Saw a couple of fresh water crocodiles on the banks. If you have to choose which crocodiles you prefer, always pick these as the saltwater ones will eat you whereas the freshwater ones will swim away from you. As we got to the second gorge we had to get out of the boat and then walk near sheer rock walls to get to the next gorge and our next boat. This gorge was even more spectacular to cruise through. For those who can remember the movie 'Jedda' much of the gorge and sandstone cliff face were in the movie. I remember the advertising campaign of a few years ago where Daryl Somers was telling people to visit the Northern Territory. His words ring true that "if you never ever go, you'll never ever know". If you were only even half thinking about a visit to the NT, then make sure you visit Katherine Gorge. Sadly it is time to start heading back and I say a very reluctant farewell to these beautiful gorges. off the boat and back on dry land I Didn't much like walking past the trees that had hundreds of black winged bats hanging upside down from but apart from lots of squawking from some of the bats they left us all alone. its a long hike back to Darwin but has been a great day. We stop at Emerald Springs again about 6.15 pm for a very quick dinner and then on again back to the city. We finally were dropped at our hotel at 9.30pm and everyone was pooped. I'm feeling a bit poorly as I've developed a sore throat and my nose is running like a tap. I refuse to consider that I have caught little M's cold so instead have dosed up on some aspirin, sucked on a lozenge and am now about to put myself to bed. Photos from today will however have to wait until tomorrow. Leisure day tomorrow so no need to set an alarm and no need to be anywhere at all!

Jumping Crocodiles

Lovely to have a bit of a sleep in and a leisurely start to the day after breakfast. Wandered up Cavenagh Street and got to The Cav hotel where I went and booked a table for us for tonight's dinner. Most of the kittens were happy to go back to the RSL club but I found out that they don't take bookings for Friday nights as it is so busy. The lass at the Tourist info centre recommended the Cav so I made an executive decision and made the booking. As we didn't need to meet until 12.30 it was lovely to have some free time to sit and contemplate the meaning of life, plus get some reading in. All were ready and on time for our departure as we set off on our Spectacular Jumping Crics nature tour. We had a short stop at the Window on the Wetlands Visitors Centre which was interesting. Saw where the failed rice fields had been and where the buffalo breeding has replaced it. Lovely view across the Marrakai Plains. Then on to the Adelaide River for a cruise on the river to see the crocodiles which launch themselves out of the river to eat the chicken carcasses and buffalo bones dangled on a rope above them. We were told that there are about 1600 crocodiles in the river and it didn't take long at all before we saw them either on the river bank sunning themselves, or in the muddy river, following the boat!!! What an amazing sight to see them jumping up out of the water. The 'regular' crocodiles that follow the boat are all recognised on sight by the boat crew (who all happened to be female) have been named by the crew and it was 'Trevor' who gave us the best photo opportunities. He was a bloody big croc!!! Back on the coach and then on to Fogg Dam nature reserve where we saw more bird life, crocodiles and even a long neck turtle. Back to Darwin and dropped off at out hotel at 6.25 pm. As I had made our dinner booking for 6.45 I told the kittens that they had 5 minutes for a toilet stop, freshen up and back in the foyer for us to all walk down to the hotel. I offered to get a taxi for little M and Frugal as I know neither of them like walking, but they both said they would prefer to stay and eat in the hotel restaurant again so I was happy to leave them to it. The other M who is very easily distracted and has a terrible habit of not listening so that you have to repeat everything 3 times and she still doesn't get it, was hoping that I was going to book a taxi as she clearly didn't want to walk either but I told her to get her skates on as the others were all ready to go. I ended up sending the others on their way while I waited for her and then kept her moving at a speed she wasn't used to! What is it with women who can't walk and talk at the same time? I thought we could all do that, but the two 'M's are the exception. Anyway just as M was telling me that she would have to stop I told her 'No... Keep walking'. She looked at me in total shock as I then told her that we had reached the hotel! It certainly was a busy place and the meals were good, but a noisy bunch of inebriated males were a bit of a nuisance. A couple of the kittens complained to me about their language, which I wasn't paying any attention to, but as it was obviously getting to them I said I would go and speak to the blokes. I had no idea what I was going to say but figured if I gave them 'The Look' and said something like, 'Don't make me come back a second time to ask you to lower your voices and watch your language' surely they would all instantly become choir boys. Well that was the plan anyway, however just as I was ready to go and chat them one of the female bar staff took a jug of water over to them and must have given the same speech I was about to give them as they weren't a problem after that! Crisis and international incident averted. Time to head back to the hotel and have a much needed cuppa. It's an early start again in the morning so hopefully a good night sleep is ahead of me. It's been another lovely day one could get used to these 28 degrees days....

Kakadu

All bar little M went to the RSL for dinner last night. She decided it was too far to walk so would stay in the hotel. Our meals were really nice and my smoked salmon spaghetti was excellent! Some went to play the pokies and one of my kittens played a 1 cent machine, put in $1, did one spin and won $140. She was so excited and I was really happy for her as she is one of my favourites! No one else was that lucky but we all had a good night. Back to the hotel and time for bed. Up just after 5 and ready to collect the box breakfasts in time for my herd to roll up at 6 which they all did on time. We then headed off on our very big day trip to Kakadu. First stop is a short break at Corroboree for those that want to get breakfast/morning tea. Then into Kakadu National Park and stop at Nourlangie Rock where we are able to walk around and up a rocky sandstone outcrop that has different ancient Aboriginal art on many rock faces. The 'youngest' drawings are estimated to be about 1,000 years old. It is a reasonably cool morning and the cloud cover is keeping the temperature down, but still warm enough for short sleeves. Then on to Cooinda for a buffet of cold meat and salad lunch. We travel across Adelaide River and the Marraki Plains. Beautiful country. We've had it explained to us that during the Dry, much of the native vegetation has been burnt off as this aids regeneration so we are getting used to seeing blackened bases of many of the trees. There are mangroves along all the flood plains. We go on a boat on the Yellow Water billabong which is a large billabong teeming with different bird life, something like 250 different species. Saw brolgas, lots of different ducks my herons, sea eagles, jabirus, and so many more I can't remember names of. Also saw about 10 salt water crocodiles, all sunning themselves on the muddy banks. Spent about 1 1/2 hours out on the water and it was just fantastic. Our guide, Don is a local Aboriginal lad and was a mas of knowledge about the billabong, someone who clearly enjoys his job. He had a great sense of humour too so made his commentary even better. Then we went to the Warradjan Culural Centre which was interesting. 5 people from our coach (3 of the kittens) went on a half hour flight over Kakadu while we went to the cultural centre. The kittens said the flight was good, but didn't rave about it so I'm not convinced it was worth the $250 each that they paid. At this point I need to add that Frugal, my habitual complainer, was one of the kittens who went on the flight so I was bracing myself for the complaints that I was certain were to come. But back on the coach we all got for our 3 1/2 hour drive back to Darwin. Arriving back at the hotel about 7.30 some decide they are going to head to the hotel restaurant for a late dinner while the rest of us are heading for our rooms. As we are about to say our goodbyes for the night, Frugal came up to me to tell me that she has had a fantastic day.... Well knock me down with a feather.... I've had a fantastic day too.

Darwin - we have lift off

Amazing how much better I feel after a good night sleep. Apparently it rained quite heavily overnight but I never heard a thing! Locals are still shaking their heads over rain actually happening in The Dry and as it only got to 29 yesterday it has beaten some record of years and years since there has been a July day under 30 degrees. I'm loving it! After a very nice buffet breakfast at 8 I set up off the street to get my bearings and check out some potential eateries. I see that many shops don't open till about 10 and there are quite a few empty shops. Not sure if this is as a result of the GFC or what? The tourist info office is at the end of the mall and I get some good advice re restaurants my kittens may like. Little M is problematic as she can't walk far and certainly can't walk anything pace other than very slow. I check out the RSL and reckon that is going to work out okay for tonight as it is in the same street as our hotel and a pleasant 10 minute walk (read half an hour for Little M). We have a Darwin City Sights tour for the afternoon so I've reminded my herd that our coach is picking us up at 12.15. Thankfully they all are on time and we head off on out AAT Kings coach with the delightful Michael as our driver/guide. Originally from South Africa I am really impressed by his in-depth knowledge of his adopted homeland. In and around the city we see the Chinese temple which was rebuilt after it was totally demolished by Cyclone Tracy in 1974. We drive through the East Point military precinct and Michael points out numerous historical sites. We spent a while at the Aviation Museum which was really interesting and I learnt more about the bombing of Darwin in WW II than any history lessons at school. Just wish I'd had more conversations on the subject with my dad as he served in Darwin during the war. Up in the national park we see lots of RAAF ammunition shelters left over from the war. A stop at the Museum and Art gallery houses a fantastic Cyclone Tracy display. You can go into a small room that is in total darkness where a soundtrack of the noises heard during the cyclone are played. It is really eerie and I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been. Then onto the botanical gardens which are beautifully laid out but not enough time to have a really good wander through. Back into the city to drive past the Convention centre at Stokes Hill and the wharf area. We've seen so much this afternoon and had so much information provided that I feel like I've been on a full day tour rather than a 4 1/2 hour one! It was excellent. Back at the hotel at 5.30 with just enough time for a quick cuppa and then time to head out for dinner. We have a very big day tomorrow with a 6 am start so I've organised box breakfasts for my little herd and I don't think anyone will want a late night tonight.

Darwin bound

Put myself to bed at a reasonable hour last night after finishing packing for the Darwin trip. It was hard to convince myself to pack light summery clothes while I was rugged up like Eskimo Nell in the freezing blustery Adelaide climate. All was going well until I awoke with a start to hear my tv on in the lounge room and the front porch light on. I saw that my digital clock was blinking at me and realized there had been a power failure but having no idea of what the time was I've crashed out of bed into the end of the bed leg, barrelled down the hall into the kitchen to check the wall clock only to see that it was 1.20 am. I was panicked that I had slept past my 5 am alarm time so was pleased that this  wasn't the case, but that ended all useful sleep for the rest of the night.
As the porch light is a sensor light , it wouldn't turn off so after about half an hour of tossing and turning I eventually got up again and went outside with my trusty torch and flipped the house lights power switch which thankfully turned the porch light off. Just after 3 am same thing, power outage and alarm clock blinking at me but by now I've also set the alarm on the mobile phone! I must have dozed at some stage because at 5 am with alarms ringing I am up and out of bed and out the door by 5.45. Have no idea if the house alarm will work in my absence or whether the tv will be on the whole time I'm away as Adelaide's weather forecast is a shocker of predictions of storms, hail and even snow.... But enough of that, as I am bound for Darwin and 32 degrees.... I get to my dear mate Mike's place early after dodging trees and branches down across the roads and he kindly deposits me at the airport where I am able to book myself onto the flight and deposit my suitcase before any of my kittens arrive. As usual they are Ne arly all early so by 7.30 which was when I told them to meet me, we are all already booked in and through the screening gates ready for our 8.30 departure which is delayed leaving 45 minutes. I think every plane was late by the sounds of it. A reasonably smooth in most places flight of 4 hours sees us arrive 50 minutes later than our scheduled time and it also means we have arrived at the same time as flights from Sydney and Perth with only one baggage carousel operating and insufficient baggage handlers to deal with the rush. However we all eventually get our cases and are taken to our hotel right in central Darwin. Unbelievably as we leave the airport to get into our coach a very light rain starts to fall! The locals are all scratching their heads saying 'but it never rains in The Dry' and we are all fearful we've brought the bloody rain with us!!! However no more than a few drops and we hope we've seen the last of rain for at least a week. Apparently the temperature only got to 29 too and this is a record as it supposedly never gets below 30 in July in Darwin. Oh well, we can't really be blamed for climate control, can we? Our hotel is quite old and dated, but the rooms are a good size and the air conditioners work. As long as the linen is clean and the bed comfortable, I'm okay with it. Feeling very tired I have the afternoon to have a cuppa, contemplate the fluff in my navel, have a shower and then head downstairs into foyer to meet my kitten herd for our coach to the Wharf where we are then cruising Darwin harbour and having a buffet dinner onboard the Charles Darwin' catamaran. One of my kittens is missing so I go in search of Little M (you may remember her from previous travels as the little roly poly lady who walks very slowly with the aid of a walking stick, and can't walk and talk at the same time). Banging on her room door, Little M answers it, surprised to see me and wondering why I may be coming to visit her. When I ask if she is intending on coming on the dinner cruise, she has no idea what I'm talking about as she thought we had a free afternoon and evening. Not sure what she thought the itinerary meant when it showed 'dinner cruise' and I especially told them all what time we were to meet in the foyer for the cruise.... Anyhow I hurry her up as best one can hurry up someone who won't be hurried and get her on the coach. Nice drive to the wharf, a short wait to get on our boat and away we go. Magnificent sunset over the water! Dinner was really nice and lots of food choices. Back on dry land at 8.30 and back to our hotel by 9. Little M has been given a piece of paper by one of the kittens with what time we are to meet tomorrow and the kittens in the room next to her are going to knock on her door 15 minutes before that to remind her as well. Clearly they don't want to be kept waiting again tomorrow so I won't have to say anything to her about punctuality at this rate! We get to sleep in in the morning and then have an afternoon of sight seeing in and around Darwin. I will need to check out some possibilities for evening meal dining locales in the morning and try to get my bearings. The bit of Darwin I've seen so far bears no resemblance to my one and only previous trip to Darwin about a year after Cyclone Tracey went through.

I am beyond tired now though so time for some much needed shut eye. Looking forward to the week ahead.