Marina View Darwin

... of dry flatlands, no water, no birds... That was a waste of time !!!
Finished the day with a couple of beers in the Jabiru sport and social club, just across the way from the cabin park, the only pub in town but non members have to sign in. The place was one big gambling den, bandits down every wall, horse racing on the tv and some sort of electronic numbers game playing continuously. I had to go change out of my "singlet" before they would serve me though - very ...

... and Toronto and texts to Toronto, we had to call the tour company and change our tour date. Stores close around 5 or 6 p.m. every night but tour companies have someone on the phone all night so you can call and spend money. How about that.
That left us without plans for today which is good since I didn't get to bed until after 4 a.m. We were up by 11 with some ...

... my accommodation. The prices immediately nearly gave me a heart attack! It was $12 for a 7km ride ON THE BUS from the airport to the centre and only $10 for a taxi when split between three people.

As I came in it struck me what a strange town Darwin actually was. I dropped my bags off at my hostel and headed for Coles supermarket to get a cheap (so I thought) breakfast. I took my apple and cereal fibre bar to the esplanade to ...

... the fees here are paid at an honesty box – but they were only $6 so I paid up – well for one of my two nights but probably one more than most campers. The swimming area was very easy to access and although quite busy there was space to swim around and helpfully there was a daily crocodile check! I did surprise myself by getting in to swim at all and even more so by swimming across the width of the pool as I a bit of a fearty (scaredy cat for you English readers ...

... serving of the deluxe mango kind was actually $5.35. If I am going to pay that kind of money for five spoonfuls of some dairy product, those mangos better cause a damn good gastric orgasm going down! And those active yogurt cultures better be doing their thing as advertised on the container.

I am not sure if it was the heat, thirst, crazy prices, or being hungry that was making my head spin so it was time to quickly find something affordable. A tiny ...

... market which was really good...the sunset was beautiful and everyone crammed on the beach to watch! Nice to wander round the market and listen to the live music which ranged from country to didgeredoo trance!

Bus to the airport was at 5.45am the next morning so an early night was needed! The flight to Cairns was short and we got picked up by our hostel :) Cairns is lovely and relaxing so we've spent a lot of time swimming and planning the rest of the trip.......

... on top of the boogi board with not even a toe in the water! Just for the Grans, there were definately no crocs in the water!

From there we had a quick lunch out the back of the ute and headed off to see an old House, where the this guy uprouted his wife and fourteen children, out miles from anywhere to build a house where his children could mine for tin, while he stayed at the holmestead. It was quite facinating!

Lost city was next, and it was hot in the midday ...

We are finally in Northern Territory!!! With the border between states very uneventful, were in the Northern Territory. The scenery didn't change much just the same old bush and long not so well maintained roads. James a bit bored with the driving was trying hard to perfect the crazy wave to fellow travelers going in the opposite direction.

We had a free camp just outside Katherine and ...

... customs, and the guard is telling about how there are so many young travellers leaving winnipeg for overseas. We all have the same plans, get away from this city, and as its summer its the only time for us students. First flight was full of these US scouts- ranging in ages. Flight is boring, and glad to be in Denver couple hours later. Easily find the gate, I know the United terminal like the back of my hand, get my Starbucks drink of choice once I find the ...

... Ashton shared the other in the Expanda. She thought her kids had ear infections and sought medical assistance on day 3. That day I woke with what I was convinced was tonsillitis, how wrong I was!

By Thursday (Day 5) Flu had set in, Maegs temperature was roaring at near 40 and we were administering Panadol and Nurofen around the clock, my headaches and sore throat with the need to take Nurofen made more sense now. I was sick, but not on ...