Beautiful scenery...somewhat warm weather

so..I flew to Darwin from Launceston, Tasmania. I arrived late at night and I was wiped out. Unfortunately, I booked myself at the party hostel. Very nice...but big and full of party animals...espeically my roommates.

I had 2 days on my own in Darwin to explore before I began my tour. Darwin is a quite small town...but lots of souvenir shops and of course, tons and tons of bars and nightclubs...thus all of the young folks.

Swimming in beautiful pools of wataer in the gorge

I spent my first day exploring the city...saw the following (1) WW II oil storage tanks (2) toured the Parliament House--fyi, parlliament bldg was only built in 1990s and on the site of the former post office. during WW II, post office was bombed by Japanese and 10 workers died. today...one of the walls of the post office is incoporated into the parliament blgd (3) saw government house (4) Smith Street mall and shops (5) Darwin Botantical Garden and Darwin High School...yes, Darwin is named after the only and only charles Darwin (6) Northern Territory (NT) Art & Museum Gallery which was really good...learned about the aborigines and the Cyclone that hit on Dec. 24, 1974 that caused major damage. this was on top of the bombing by Japan that claimed many lives.

That evening, I went to the Mindil Beach Sunset Market...excellent. Great crafts and cultural items (wonder if I can get them to display at NC Pickle Festival). Ate dinner at the market as many options of food. Plus, great buskers and street performers. Ended up watching and listening to several groups for almost 2 hours...really loved the guy playing the 4 didigereedoos the best. Really planned to head back to the open cinema (like old drive in movie but sit in chairs instead) but go so into the music...that I missed it. Oh well. I was nice and relaxed by the time I got back to the hostel.

The next day, I went to the (1) Chinese theatre) and then walked down to Stokes Hilll wharf (next week...they will begin to film "Australia"featuring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, there. spent the rest of the day poking around town, running some errands, and chllling out. that night, went to Kitty O''Shea's (good ole Irish pub, Patti O) for a drink. 3 guys sat at my table...wouldjn't you know, the old guy was interested in me. he bought me a beer...and I accepted (never turn down free beer) and then I realized that he had other plans. Oops...look at the time. I hated that I had to leave...because I was really enjoying the coffeehouse singer who was performing..but I wasn't studying this old man. Headed down the street to the country bar...i miss my country music. Had a beer and was just enjyoying the country music...when a man apporached me and started chatting it up with me. Right away...I became Jill from Maine. He proceeded to buy me a beer and chat it up with me...I could tell he was interested...and I wasn't studying this old man either. when he leaned across the table and planted a kiss on me (fortunately, I turned my head so he ended up kissing my cheek), I knew it was time to go home.

The next day (June 23), I would start a 3 day tour to Kakadu NP. There were 11 others on my tour. What I didn't know is that these 11 would end up traveling with me for the most part for the next 2 weeks. So...we ended up really bonding.

First, we went to Litchfield NP to see termite mounds (two kinds of termites...the grass eating and the magnetic...and they form different kinds of mounds). Some of the mounds were 12 feet or taller. Then, we headed to a waerfall. Normally, we would swim in teh waterfall, but it was too chilly to do that so we just observed and took photographs.. Went to the raisnforst and ended up at antoehr waterfall. This time, we all swam up to the falls. It gave ya a nice massage on your back when you swim just beneath it...Angela..it reminded me of our spa trip in Costa Rica. From there, we headed to Mary river to do a boat cruise. Oh my gosh...I was h oping to see a crocodile or two...but I had no way of knowing that I would see hundereds of them in the river. Some were freshwater and others werre saltwater. Some of thosse crocs were huge and man, when they snapped their jaws...it scared us...even though we were in teh boat. Saw lots of unique birds as well. That night, we camped outside...although it's quite a posh set up. The tents are more platform like with cots. It was chilly willy camping though..and I'm using Anna's sleeping bag..but it's too small for me and only comes up to my boobs..so thte top part of me gets cold. Great night sitting around and chatting with these folks who will become my travel buddies for the next 2 weeks.

The next day (June 24), we headed to Mankauk Barri Mundi Gorge...it was quite a hike just to get there. rick, our guide, was really good though. As we hiked along the creeks, we saw lots of sign warning us abut the crocodiles...fortunately, we didnt' see any. Even saw some croc traps....to prevent the tourists and locals alike from being attacked and eaten. We climbed up to a high waterfall and the view was amazing. We swam in all kinds of pools of waters in the gorge...really deep water. I can still picture the beauty today...it was one of my favorite places to visit. To get to the place, we had to put the truck in 4 wheel drive...and someone should have told me that I needed to wear my sports bra that day. We were bouncing all over the truck as we drove to the gorge. On the way back out, 4 local girls got their vehicle stuck while crossing a river. all of us climbed out of the truck and got in the creek (hope no crocs come along) and had to help push them out. It was hilarious. Water was just pouring out of the car...car wouldn't start..not sure how they will get ouf of there. Went to sevearl cultural centers to learn about the aborignines and then viewed some rock art.

Oh...I only have 5 minutes left..and don't want to lose this travel blog..so I might end abruptly.

Camped again a 2nd n ight..and it was cold, cold, cold...but a wonderful campsite. We had the best conversations..which is great considering we have folks from Poland, Germany, Singapore, Brazil, Mexico, etc.

On our 3rd day of this tour, we had to get up at 5:00 a.m. I should get used to this..as most of the past 3 weeks..I've had to wake up somewhere between 5-6 a.m. For those of us who are used to sleeping till 815 or so...this is murder.

We went to Jim Jim Falls. Great hike, another 4 wheel drive excursion and an incredible waterfall. Had to swim in the cold, cold water to some large boulders, then clamber over teh boulders, back into the water and antoerh 20 minute swim to the waterfall. Only 3 of us did this...mainly because the water was so cold. Also, beautiful white sand beaches here...in the middle of the forest. Strange. Another visit to a different aborginal cultural center. Later that afternoon, we arrived back in Darwin.

Oh my gosh, the Vic hotel gives free dinner (nasty food at that) and invites all of the tour groups to attend. Of course, they are trying to get you to drink beer or whatever. anyways, competitions between tour groups...in addition to a quiz competition (like Jeopardy). our group finished 3rd in the quiz. Then, they had to select one person per group to go on stage...guess who was teh elected one. Off I went...only to find out we were having a dance competition. here I go..shaking my booty. then, they would stop the music and we had to run to our table and get various items. Once you got your item, run back to the stage and sit down, The last one there was eliminated. So..i ahd to get a cigarette, straw, passport, and stuff like that. Then, we had to get a bra and wear it...not our own bra. Anna from Poland stood up, pulled off her shirt and bra and handed it to me. I just laughed and laughed, too small for my big ones..so I just wearn it like ear muffs. Then, we had to get a condom. Ran to my group and viola, someone had one in their wallet. Then..ahd to get a g string. Lincoln from Singapore reached into his pants and pulled out one. We just roar3d with laughter...to think that Lincoln would even wear a g string. So...had to tie the g string to my belt loop. Eventually, we placed 4th. After all of this craziness, each group had to STAND ON the TABLE and dance. oh my gosh...11 of us on a table..I was sure that the table would break. It was hilarious. Our group danced so well that we won a pitcher of beer (yeah...split by 11 people). Needless to say, we had a wild time that night...and we knew we had to be up at 5:00 a.m. again..Ugh.

So..this ends the first of my tours from Darwin to Melbourne. Needless to say, it was a great way to start off my tours and really get to know the folks who would be my traveling buds for the next 2 weeks.

Stay tuned for my next tour from Darwin to Alice Springs.

Adventure on,

Julie