Darwin

We finally made it to Darwin and boy is it hot. Everyone here looks like they have got the measles on their legs and arms! They have had an early and unseasonal early summer! Great just what we needed! The temperatures have been around 34 to 36 degrees most days. This means that the mossies and midgees were about as well. When I arrived here I thought we would just do a quick look at the main landmarks, shop and get out. Luckily our neighbours put things into perspective for me and said just to take on one thing a day and then spend the rest of the day in the pool. We ended up staying 8 days and filled them in quite nicely. Either the temperatures went down or I acclimatised.

The first thing to tick off on our bucket list was the Mindil Beach night markets. We had arrived on Wed and they were on a Thurs. Great, I could spend the whole day in the pool or near it and then we would head off to these markets to see what that was all about.

the markets

They were fun and there was even a breeze coming from the beach which made it pleasant. Firstly the ritual is to sit on the beach and watch the sun go down.

sunset ritual at Mindil Beach night markets

sunset at Mindil Beach

sunset at Mindil Beach

Then it was into the markets. There was of course plenty of food and mostly Asian at that. I managed to find some roast and veg in a stall which was really delicious. Some of the more unusual food items on offer was this one.

some cuisine at markets

Other things we saw were live reptiles which Geoff had to photograph.

a biggish lizard - Geoff's mate

some more strange creatures from the territory

snake hat - Mindil Markets

Then I saw a stall with cane toads (stuffed) which is how they should all be. Check out the bottom row and see if you can see what they did with those cane toads. You may have to click on the photo to see it.

stuffed cane toads at markets

They also had Aboriginal didgeridoo player and dancers as part of the Darwin Festival which was closing this week.

didge player and dancers on Mindil Beach

Geoff and I were given a picnic rug each as part of the Darwin festival closing which we gratefully accepted. The highlight for me was the didge player and drummer in one tent. They were awesome. He had 4 didgeridoos and was playing them all at once. Even the locals were dancing to his music and they were really, really good. What an atmosphere. Wish I could bottle that.

didge player at Mindil Beach markets

Locals enjoying the didge music

There were also Aboriginal people doing their artwork and one of them had a stall painting and carving on the outside of the didges. Couldn't take a photo of that due to sensitivities. Did you know that the genuine didge is eucalyptus tree eaten out by termites. I have bought one and sent it home with the intention of learning to play like the guy at the markets!! Apparently, I was told that only men normally are allowed to play the didge but it was okay for infertile women (old, I think that means) to play.

The next day we went to Parliament House for morning tea and a look around the place.

talks on the grass outside Parliament House

the view from Parliament House

We were invited to have morning tea with the Speaker of the House - Jane Aargaard. She has a Dutch surname and I think that is why we were so generously invited (Geoff and Nicky van Dam). She recognises class!

the Speaker cutting cake at Parliament House

let them eat cake

let them eat cake 2

Later that day we went to Government house where we were invited for dinner. We couldn't believe our luck. Tom Pauling is the Chief Administrator of Darwin and his wife is named Tessa. Check out the beautiful tropical house. It was eaten by termites a while back which is not surprising but they have done it up since then. I could easily live in a place like this.

dinner at Government house

one of the dinner guests

Govt house

I even had some 'high tea'.

high tea at Govt house

After watching the sun go down over the harbour we had to select our spot at the dinner table! Sausage sizzle was on the menu!

sunset from Govt house

Geoff looking for his spot at the table

Then one evening we went to the deck chair cinema under the stars and had dinner on our laps. Watched a terrific arthouse movie.

under the stars deck chair cinema

I wanted to do a sunset cruise on Darwin harbour so Geoff said he would take me to a lovely spot by day called Mandorah. The catch was that it was by ferry for 30 mins. No sunset but I would get to see the sea. Check out the height of the jetty at Mandorah. This is how high the tides are there. We arrived in low tide and had to climb all those stairs to get to the top.

Darwin harbour from Cullen Bay

ferry to Mandorah

jetty at Mandorah

view of Darwin from Mandorah

There was only really a pub there but we had a lovely lunch and went back. Swimming in the ocean is also fraught with danger. Crocs are everywhere! We swam in their pool.
Then one day we went to see the fish feeding which is also tidal. The fish come all the way from the Phillipines to eat the Darwin bread at high tide only. We were too late for the high tide to feed them ourselves but watched the end of the feeding. They also had some beautiful statues there. One of them is my favourite.

fish feeding

3 wise monkeys at fish feeding

We had also been to the NT Art Gallery and Museum. Saw some fascinating stuff and I was particularly interested in the Cyclone Tracy displays as I was part of the evacuation process when I worked with Ansett. I remember seeing a whole car in the pool at the Darwin Travelodge. Darwin was of course much smaller then.
Then one day we thought it would be good to learn more about the war in Darwin and so we went off the see the Military museum. On the way we saw something else that was very appealing and so we never made it to the war museum.

wave pool at Darwin wharf precinct

Finally if any of the gym friends are still reading my blogs, we have found the perfect spot to join a gym overlooking the turquoise waters of Darwin.

our new gym overlooking Darwin harbour

Not wanting to feel left out we left with the measled look as well.