Thursday, October 17, 2019
Just Passing the Time
Fun for the Community!
During my walkabout in Darwin, I came across this fun, big, yellow box. Inside were some fun games. What a great way to spend a lunch break!
Exploring Darwin - Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing
On Thursday, we enjoyed a slower morning with a full circuit on the Hop On Hop Off bus around Darwin. Following that, we separated and walked around the CBD (central business district) and did some shopping, or dining, or exploring as we saw fit before heading to the airport for our flight to Sydney. More street art, and some nice views of the water and some historic buildings. Darwin is a nice, and easily navigable city.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
One of My Favorite Memories of my Down Under Adventure
At Home or Abroad, I Can Definitely Make Fire with Sticks!
Another favorite of this adventure came at the Aboriginal Culture center when I made
Top Didj Cultural Experience & Art Gallery - What an Incredible Part of the Trip!
This & That from the Outback
Living in the land down under... it's just another condiment option at every hotel's breakfast bar! Spread it THINLY on toast. Never overdo it!
It's another warm one here in the NT, and at 4pm we're still not to the day's top temperature. But it's a dry heat so it's tolerable. Add the humidity that comes in the summer and it would just be miserable. For now, we're all staying hydrated and are as clear and copious as possible, moving into the shade whenever possible, keeping our sunnies on, and regularly applying the suncream. This Scouter has been helping ensure that we've all been just fine.
And below is a compilation of signs from our hike yesterday in Maguk... ALWAYS pay attention to your surroundings! Crocs can be anywhere. And most important...whatever you do...
♫ never smile at a crocodile, no you can't get friendly with a crocodile... ♫
In the afternoon we arrived at Nitmiluk National Park and our Lodge for the night. We went over to the boat launch to enjoy a cruise and hike between two of the 13 gorges that make up Katherine Gorge (two cruise experiences with a hike between each gorge to get from boat to boat). It was a nice and relaxing time after much go, go, go the past few days. Not much wildlife but we did see our first freshwater crocodile.
After our two-gorge cruise and hike, we hiked back to the first gorge and were picked up by the dinner boat and then enjoyed a nice, three-course candlelight dinner cruise back through the first gorge. What an amazing adventure that was! Our own real-life "jungle cruise" has happened multiple times and in multiple ways this week. I love it. Plus, while I couldn't get great photos of them, last night was our first time to be in total darkness, and enjoy a beautifully decorated starry sky! It was simply stunning. So many wonderful experiences that you too could enjoy here in the top end of Australia's outback. And at the end of the evening, though my camera didn't capture them very well, the starfield was incredible as there was absolutely zero light pollution in the gorge. Stunning to enjoy looking at, for certain!
Saturday, October 5, 2019
I'm Heading Down Under!
I have wanted to be able to go visit Australia since 1984 when Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie - along with Mrs. Garrett, all went there during the "Facts of Life Down Under" episodes of The Facts of Life. It has always been a far-off, magical kind of place. Shortly after that "Crocodile Dundee" hit theatres, and the mystique only grew.
Friday, October 4, 2019
Happy 49th to Me as I Spend the Day at the Happiest Place on Earth!
My 49th at Disneyland
As a kid, I always began my day in the park in this space, and then worked my way around. Today I'm headed to a whole new world to start my grand circle tour of this amazing place. Going to get my Han Solo fix and see the Millennium Falcon first.
Single Rider plus right at opening means on the second flight of the morning! That was an awesome experience. I will be doing this one again later!
I've popped across the esplanade to Disney California Adventure and am now just hanging out with my favorite visionary dreamer and the Mouse. I love how this statue is accessible and makes for a great photo spot, unlike the more famous Partners statue in the hub over at Disneyland which is in the center of a large planter and completely inaccessible to guests. I got a similar photo to this one though when we got to visit the Walt Disney Studios for an awesome tour a couple of years ago, as the Partners statue found there is completely accessible in the Courtyard, just as this Dreamers statue is at DCA.