Darwin!

After months of cruising across central Australia, devastatingly arid and beautiful, arriving in Darwin can make one feel hopeful that the rains do fall after all, and in plentiful supply. Grass, palm trees, frangipani, and boganvillia abound here. People water their gardens and fill their swimming pools without reserve.

Darwin is a relatively small city with sprawling suburbs and a very relaxed atmosphere. You can drive through the CBD at any time (no peak hour) and parking is a breeze. The city is right on the water, with a wide white beach that attracts tourists who gather to observe spectacular blood-red sunsets each night. The water is bereft of swimmers of course - if the crocs don't bother you, the box jellyfish certainly will!

A favourite attraction is the Mindil Beach Market which occurs twice weekly - it offers a wide range of crafts and hippy clothes and a wonderful variety of international cuisine. We dined on such delights as stuffed chicken wings, grilled octopus, payaya salad, muslim curry, greek galaxy cake, coconut shakes, Thai fish cakes, and laksa.


We also watched a movie at the famous Deckchair Cinema. Here you can relax with friends, have a beer or glass of wine (or in our case, a scotch and coke), make yourself comfy with freely supplied cushions, and maybe grab a bite to eat at their delightfully friendly and home-cooked cafe before the show commences.

A few days ago we did a little shopping in the local Woolies and saw a familiar face - Jason from NZ, who we met many months ago in Newheadland in SA! Keryn, Jason's partner, came over and after hugs and kisses (and exclamations of "Choice!"), we agreed to meet for a bbq and fishing the next day. Jason and Keryn are now residing in Darwin for the forseeable future, both have good jobs, and are now expecting a baby. They are moving into their rented 5-acre property in Humpty Doo in the next few days. The fell in love with Darwin at first sight, and are aboslutely living the dream. Isn't it amazing how small our world is sometimes! We had a wonderful time comparing travelling stories, and although the waters did not provide us with a feed of fish, it was just great to drop a line in, have a beer, and kick back with some of the nicest and down-to-earth people we've met so far.

A quick stop at the only Chinese grocer we've seen for 5 months (pickled vegetables, XO sauce, chilli bamboo shoots and restaurant noodles, in case you were wodnering....), and we're back on the road!