tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76921919102627038222024-02-26T08:13:32.978+11:00On The Wallaby TrackA record of two Baby Boomers (The Canzaus Kids) who travelled around Australia -Gonewanderland between 2009 and 2011. We continue to travel Australia, and this Blog will now also be used to share our adventures in other lands, with word nd photographs. - 2018Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-85385733839011640152018-09-04T12:48:00.000+10:002018-09-04T12:50:55.020+10:00Don’t fall off the log - yes I am back on the Blog! Well, where do I start, Paul and I have been throughly enjoying our retirement these past few years, travelling here there and everywhere in our cosy Coromal Caravan.<br />
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A few trips back to my Homeland of Aotearoa, and a BIG trip to France, England, Scotland and a fabulous stopovers in Hong King and Dubai... more to come on those trips.<br />
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The posts will be out of sync, but, what the heck, I hope you will enjoy them once I get stuck into posting....<br />
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In the meantime, look after yourselves, and keep smiling, Life is Good. 😀💕<br />
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My beach - Dee Why on a Autumn evening, 2018.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-89687428182044222682018-02-04T14:17:00.001+11:002018-02-04T14:17:18.269+11:00Revamp of the BlogHi Folks, long time no post....I have decided to give the Blog a Revamp, and in future I shall be uploading stories and photographs from our travels within Australia and overseas. I hope you will enjoy what you see. Look out for the next post. Bye for now. Selma JanetUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-8458543236950367452011-09-09T12:55:00.000+10:002011-09-09T12:55:07.996+10:00Back Home AgainWell, it has been along time between drinks - so to speak. Bucko and I arrived back in Sydney, around Easter, after spending 3 months in Adelaide. <br />
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The reason we were in Adelaide so long, was to let my right leg heal from an accident I had in Esperance, WA. I was walking down a gangplank from a boat to a jetty on Woddy Island. The sea was very rough that day, and suddenly the gangway started to rock, roll and buck around. Next thing I knew I was sliding through the side of the railings and the (by now), broken gangway came crashing down onto my leg. I was not able to walk, and the skipper of the boat came along with a wheel chair and pushed me up to the cafe on the island. To cut a long story short, the upshot was, I had no broken skin or bones, but, coming across the Nullabor, my leg started to turn black!! On arriving at Ceduna, we went straight to the hospital and had the leg looked at. Turns out, I had a touch of gangrene in my leg, and I woudl need to be VERY careful for the next few months to make sure the leg healed. So, we stayed in Adeliade, which was no problem for us, we love the place and would like to live there.<br />
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Anyway, this is just a short posting to say, I will be back to finish our Blog, Too many tales an photos to share with all of you, not to finish the story of our wonderful trip Along The Wallaby track. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Dee Why NSW, Australia-33.7535622 151.2861399-33.7667642 151.26639889999998 -33.7403602 151.3058809tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-77180923595894074442011-01-02T16:56:00.004+11:002018-02-05T17:25:33.988+11:00Darwin City Sights, NT (13 - 29 August, 2010)<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<u><b>The Darwin Museum and Cyclone Tracey Exhibit</b>.</u> A darkened room with the sound of the cyclone playing over a speaker lead us into the exhibit on Cyclone Tracey. The recording was made by a minister of religion when he was hiding under his house as the cyclone raged around him. Leaving the room there is a mock up of a house with pieces of timber, steel etc stuck in the walls, like it was on the day. Eye witness accounts made by folk who had lived through the terror of that day, could be listened to by pressing a button. The city of Darwin looked like an Atomic Bomb had hit it; there was no where to live and no-one could go about their daily life as they did before the cyclone. The government sent in the Army and Police from many of the other States, to help evacuate the city, leaving only these services people and approximately 10,000 others to clean-up and sort out the mess. Around Thirty Thousand plus people were evacuated in a matter of days. After the cleanup and rebuilding, new building regulations were introduced to try and avoid such destruction in the future. An interesting fact from the NT Government site, "Earlier in December 1974 Cyclone Selma had hovered around Darwin before changing course and disappearing." I always thought I was bit of a cyclone - at times!</div>
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<b><u>Parliament House</u> </b>The design of the Darwin Parliament house is unusual and it has been specially designed for the tropical heat, storms and cyclones. The day we went on our tour, there was a test being conducted on the non-use of the air conditioning. Oh, no, was my first thought; however, I need not have been concerned. The building has been so well designed, even when we went into the upstairs public viewing rooms it was not hot, or even uncomfortable. </div>
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<u><b>Government House</b></u> is the oldest European building in the Northern Territory, surviving both World War 2 bombing raids and Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Used a residence for the NT Administrator and lucky for us, there was an open day while we were in town, these open days are not very frequent, so, Tanya, Paul and myself took ourselves off to see how the other half live; at the taxpayers expense. The house is gorgeous, high ceilings, huge wide stone paved verandas, with shutters to help reduce the heat and shelter from the tropical storms during the wet season. The gardens are crammed full of stunning tropical plants; I went crazy with my camera, so many plants so little time! </div>
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<u><b>Botanic Gardens</b></u> The day we visited the gardens was VERY hot, (some of you may say that is normal for Darwin), so we did not 'do' the whole grounds. Many gorgeous and colourful tropical plants are everywhere, however, the item that really took my fancy was the Cannonball Tree, which is from South Africa. The seed pods are the size of cannonballs, hence the name of the tree, and the flowers are very pretty, in shades of pale pink and cream. <br />
<span style="color: orange;"><i><b>Link to Darwin Botanic Garden photos:</b></i></span><br />
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<b><u>Burnett House</u>,</b> was an historic building we both wanted to see, it has withstood the bombing of Darwin in the 2nd World War, as well as many cyclones, including the BIG one - Cyclone Tracey. An example of the older style of Darwin house, designed by B.C.G. Burnett for the tropics and to capture the breezes. Burnett House was completed in 1939 and allocated to the NT Director of Works. It is the only surviving example of a Type ‘K’ house - an unusual design which incorporated an entrance lobby and lounge/dining room at ground level, and bedrooms above. Many of the homes destroyed in the cyclone were made of Fibrolite and the wind just tore them to shreds. If I lived in the tropics I would like my bedroom to be like this one. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Darwin NT, Australia-12.4628198 130.8417694-13.1332693 129.9079314 -11.7923703 131.7756074tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-42022535591376726972011-01-02T14:04:00.002+11:002011-01-02T14:07:01.268+11:00Darwin - Litchfield Park, NT (13 - 29 August, 2010)After leaving Jabiru we drove down the Arnhem Highway to Darwin, the main reason we were going there was to see our finds Chris and Tanya. It was terrific to see them again, and Tanya looked so good, we had dinner with them that night at the bistro in the caravan park. <br />
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Saturday, Bucko and I had a few errands to run, the main one being to have the prescription for my glasses filled. I had my eyes tested in Alice Springs and when I was told it would take 10 -14 days (because the script would go to Melbourne); I decided to have them done in Darwin. Ha, ha, not a good idea, this time the script went to Brisbane, and was going to take 10 -14 days again! In the end, it only took 7 days. Now, I can see properly, as well as having two sets for the for the price of one. Our next stop was the very popular Parap Markets, to buy fruit and veg, while there I also bought myself a cool, (in looks and comfort), tied died dress. <br />
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While in Darwin we also decide to have the Air Con for the van serviced, it had been working very well in the heat, but, as we knew there would be plenty of long hot days ahead, we wanted to make sure all would be ok.<br />
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One of our day trips was to the Litchfield NP, where the Magnetic Termite mounds are and they look nothing like the ones we saw up in Kakadu, these mounds are a greyish colour and are aligned North/South to help keep them cool. A fence surrounds the mounds and we were unable to get close to any of them. However, I am fortunate to have a good camera and I was able to zoom in for the shot below. Notice the ragged top? This is an active termite mound. If the termites have left the nest for some reason, the mound starts to deteriorate. Don't they remind you of a set of tombstones?<br />
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Wangi Falls in Litchfield National Park, is one of the few falls that have water flowing during the dry season of the Northern territory, a very popular place to go on a stinking hot day. <br />
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How about the photos of 'The Lost City', rock formations you would swear had been man-made, and the one on the right looks like a Camel. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TR_psT6VjDI/AAAAAAAABZ4/EOTnPLKiQO0/s1600/Darwin-Litchfield+Park+Blog+Pics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TR_psT6VjDI/AAAAAAAABZ4/EOTnPLKiQO0/s640/Darwin-Litchfield+Park+Blog+Pics.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Darwin NT, Australia-12.4628198 130.8417694-13.1332693 129.9079314 -11.7923703 131.7756074tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-63461953480188467902010-12-29T15:03:00.003+11:002010-12-30T09:53:18.397+11:00Dingo bites Croc. Jabiru, NTAh ha, I bet that got your attention!<br />
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One evening I mentioned to Paul that I had not seen the Dingo that strolled through the park each evening, I was feeling deprived! Anyway, we decided to cook our steaks that night on one of the BBQs, a bit of a walk across the park, from our caravan. While standing around the BBQ and chatting to a fellow camper, we noticed a very healthy looking Dingo amble past us. I thought I would try communicating with the animal and let out a Dingo like howl. Well, that stopped the dog right in its tracks, it turned round and looked at me for a while, then carried on it's way. <br />
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Later that night, I was sitting at the PC, Bucko was in bed asleep, the outer door of the van was open, with the screen door closed. I heard noises outside the door, so opened it up and looked out. Did I get a fright, a Dingo was moving very calmly away from the door, he was in no hurry, obviously not afraid of humans. My heart was going pitter, patter, then it went into overdrive, I heard a growl and looked to the left of the open door and there was another Dingo there!!....... I tell you, I closed that door quick smart, my heart was racing, and my hands were shaking.<br />
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When I told Bucko in the morning, he said to "Maybe the dingo was coming looking for his Bitch!!!! and the howl I had let out the night before must have got the dog excited" - ha, ha, Bucko. <br />
Later that morning, Bucko noticed teeth marks in his Crocs, obviously the shoe was not to the Dingos liking, so he dropped it, hence the title of this posting - Dingo bites Croc.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Jabiru NT 0886, Australia-12.6727648 132.8326934-12.714634799999999 132.7743284 -12.6308948 132.89105840000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-1785520198756896752010-12-29T14:56:00.008+11:002010-12-30T09:04:09.657+11:00Jabiru, Kakadu NP, NT (6 - 12 August, 2010)Jabiru was built by the Rio Tinto mining company, to house the staff from the Ranger Uranium Mine. The caravan park we stayed at is very pretty, with lots of gorgeous plants all around the grounds. The caravan and tent sites are is set in a circle with a wonderful resort style pool at the centre. Most other travellers in the park were bunched in close to each other, on the opposite side of the pool to us; I don't know why they did that, as we were told by the reception staff to "find your own spot and then let us know where you are". At least it was quiet where we set up our rig. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Voting at The Border Store</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">While in Jabiru, Bucko did the cooking on the small hotplate we had set up outside the van; each night a Dingo would stroll through the camp and past </div><br />
Bucko. I am sure the Dingo was checking out what food was on offer; more on that in a later Blog see <em>'Dingo bites Croc'</em>. <br />
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The 2010 Australian Election was held while we were in Jabiru, so Bucko took the opportunity to cast his vote at the Border Store at Ubirr (the border between NT and Arnhem Land), along with locals and other travellers, in total 12 people cast their vote that morning. I am not an Australian citizen, so I did not vote. For more photos, click on Album: <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OnTheWallabyTrack1419/VotingAtTheBorderStore#">Voting at The Border Store</a><br />
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Arnhem Land was always going to be a highlight of our trip to Kakadu, and it was. The countryside is virtually untouched by mankind (white fellas, I mean) and the areas we were privileged to see, felt like God had just finished creating the Billabong, trees, rocks etc, the beauty of it all took our breath away. Our bus driver and guide for the day was an Aboriginal man, who was born in Roper River, (not too far from Kakadu), and even though he was not a person of the Arnhem Land clan he was able to tell us of the cultural and historic stories. Bucko (and others), took a 15 minute clamber over rocks etc, in the stifling heat, to see rock art; while I sat in the air conditioned bus, along with other ladies. I missed out on seeing with my own eyes the following wonderful drawing, but,at least we have a picture of it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TRqRlRiVJ0I/AAAAAAAABWU/7pJGjD88Agc/s1600/Arnhem+Land+Scenes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TRqRlRiVJ0I/AAAAAAAABWU/7pJGjD88Agc/s640/Arnhem+Land+Scenes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TRq2E9pip_I/AAAAAAAABYo/DrNS6-cU4is/s1600/2010_Bucko++voting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Jabiru NT 0886, Australia-12.6727648 132.8326934-12.714634799999999 132.7743284 -12.6308948 132.89105840000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-90547025886730148372010-11-06T10:44:00.002+11:002010-12-30T09:05:25.218+11:00Ubirr Rock Art, Kakadu NP, NT (12 August, 2010)Our visit to see the rock art at Ubirr was one of the many wonderful highlights of the days we spent in Kakadu National Park. The day was not too hot which was good because there was a fair bit of walking and rock clambering to do to see the various places where the drawings were. I have only included a few of the many photos that we took, there are SO many paintings to see. Why not do yourselves a favour and come out to visit them one day. <br />
Some of the paintings look very fresh and they are. Over the years many of the drawings have been painted over by people, long gone from this world; in fact the actual indigenous clan who were the owners of the land around Ubirr, no longer exist. To ensure the spirits are kept happy, some of the paintings have been refreshed by a member of a clan from a neighbouring tribe. Thirty to Forty years ago this person was given permission by his elders to refresh the paintings. Only the very important drawings have been given a 'new' coat of paint, in the traditional way of course. It is not hard at all to see the faint outlines, colours and shapes of other drawings underneath the more vibrant top paintings. <br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TNSWwe3yC8I/AAAAAAAABVw/9F-m64AOAek/s1600-h/Ubirr%20Photos%5B9%5D.jpg"><img alt="Ubirr Photos" border="0" height="436" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TNSWxpt0ofI/AAAAAAAABV0/WpchATHtANg/Ubirr%20Photos_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Ubirr Photos" width="578" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Ubirr Rock Art Sites, Kakadu NT 0822, Australia-12.4247744 132.9638786-13.7657799 131.0962026 -11.0837689 134.83155459999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-71360456953198356022010-11-05T14:20:00.004+11:002010-12-30T09:06:27.811+11:00Boys and Crocs at Cahills Crossing, NT (10 August, 2010)Cahills Crossing is a causeway across the East Alligator River, and the way into Arnhem Land, from Kakadu National Park. The river is tidal up to the crossing and freshwater on the other side. At high tide Crocodiles mill around, waiting to cross over to the opposite side they are on. When we went to see the crossing, there were approximately 30-35 crocs, most of them huge and few younger ones. People were standing on the rocks and fishing while the crocs were cruising around, fishing was certainly not on our agenda that day!<br />
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There was a queue of vehicles on both sides of the crossing, waiting for an opportunity to cross the river; many of the 4 wheel drives which had raised suspension were able to push through the water with ease. Next thing we know, an older model sedan was coming over from Arnhem Land, it stopped about 3/4 of the way across and two young men got out! Gasps of horror filled the air! A partly submerged tree branch had blocked the way of the car, so, of course it had to be removed. Don't worry about the crocs, the driver of the car was the look-out. Don't worry the submerged crocs might jump out and grab someone!!<br />
After much struggling, and many raised and excited voices, the log was freed. The car was moved to shallower water, the doors opened, water rushed out. Everyone on the viewing platform and rocks gave a huge cheer, along with wolf whistles and claps, we were rewarded with two beautiful bright white smiles and a bow before the young men jumped into the car and drove off. To view more photos, just click on the <u>Cahills Crossing</u> album Link below.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys at Cahill Crossing</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/OnTheWallabyTrack1419/CahillsCrossing#">Album: Cahills Crossing</a><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/NQ69yrh5yO" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Kakadu NT, Australia-12.5 132.9833333-12.583796 132.8666038 -12.416204 133.1000628tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-444916203122091822010-11-04T21:52:00.002+11:002010-11-04T21:56:20.483+11:00Her Tribe Has Vanished - a poemFollowing is a poem which is written on a wall hanging in the old Durack Homestead, at Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, in the Kimberley region of WA. I don't know who wrote it, but Paul & I feel the same about the poem; we feel it speaks volumes about the many Aboriginal people of this land, who have 'vanished'. <br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">Her tribe has vanished' her daughters & sons</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">all her people are under the sand</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">nothing to prove that she'd ever lived</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">but the faint outline of a stencilled hand</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">in earth red ochre or charcoal line</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">so may caves with the same mute sign</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">trace the shape with a pensive finger</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">why do I linger?</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">an ancient sadness chills this place</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">that's why I stop & pause</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">dark sister without name or face</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">I place my hand on yours</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">the long unmeasured years between us</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">too late - too late for meeting</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">but in the quiet forsaken cave</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue;">hand touch in greeting.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><strong>END</strong></span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: magenta;">"I touch my hand to yours, as well, my long departed Sister" - Selma Janet </span></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Lake Argyle, WA, Australia-16.291496 128.7577605-16.950549499999997 127.8239225 -15.632442499999998 129.6915985tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-65450062351988456892010-10-17T09:30:00.003+11:002010-10-17T21:41:52.523+11:00Cooinda, Kakadu National Park, NT (2 - 5 August, 2010)Leaving Mataranka, we were excited, at last we were on our way to Kakadu. On the road to Cooinda we saw our first Termite Mounds, this one was actually the biggest one we saw while in Kakadu. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLonMs5SV9I/AAAAAAAABTs/r0uI1VxrkpQ/s1600-h/2010_08_04_0324%5B8%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="2010_08_04_0324" border="0" height="310" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLonNlm9fDI/AAAAAAAABTw/maL0jS08Gc0/2010_08_04_0324_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px 10px 0px;" title="2010_08_04_0324" width="214" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLonOhHc7GI/AAAAAAAABT0/rmqG2Dv4Xhs/s1600-h/2010_08_04_0317%5B9%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="2010_08_04_0317" border="0" height="311" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLonP5WEYcI/AAAAAAAABT4/tVqIWRDMTRs/2010_08_04_0317_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;" title="2010_08_04_0317" width="214" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLonMs5SV9I/AAAAAAAABT8/AfTpXtoQyoc/s1600-h/2010_08_04_0324%5B7%5D.jpg"></a><br />
We arrived at the Cooinda Caravan Park in the Kakadu National Park and settled in for the next 4 nights. <br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLonRkdFSaI/AAAAAAAABUE/dIpj3yYM-UE/s1600-h/2010_08_03_0047%5B13%5D.jpg"></a><br />
The next day we booked into the Yellow Water Billabong Cruise on a tributary of the South Alligator River. Weird isn't it, there are no Alligators in Australia, only Crocodiles, yet, the main rivers in Kakadu are named the South, East and West Alligator Rivers !! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLonRkdFSaI/AAAAAAAABUI/2X7aeWWfH9U/s1600-h/2010_08_03_0047%5B14%5D.jpg"><img alt="2010_08_03_0047" border="0" height="223" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLonTEvTdyI/AAAAAAAABUM/sBOFpVKiaUk/2010_08_03_0047_thumb%5B12%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: none; margin: 25px 0px 0px 10px;" title="2010_08_03_0047" width="324" /></a><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLonRkdFSaI/AAAAAAAABUU/Yiis86duJeQ/s1600-h/2010_08_03_0047%5B5%5D.jpg"></a><br />
Before going on the cruise we visited the Aboriginal Cultural Centre near the caravan park. I met a lady who was teaching people to make bracelets out of Pandanus leaves, so, I joined the group. Lily, the name of the Aboriginal lady who was teaching us, would go out each day to pick the leaves, then bring them back to the Cultural Centre in preparation for the class of the day; which could be making bracelets or weaving baskets. There are three main colours used , yellow from the Kapok Tree root, brown from the bark of a tree, and cream, which is the colour the pandanus leaves go once they are boiled and dried in the sun. The leaves are stripped of the serrated edge, then separated in two parts, so the whole leaf ends up in two whole parts; the parts are duplicates of each other. Small strips are made out of separated leaves. The leaves are then placed into a pot of boiling water, which had had the required colouring agent (bark or tree root) added to it and left to simmer. Once the leaves have reached the desired colour, they are removed from the pot and hung until the water has stopped dripping out of them. It is to easier to weave the leaves if they are still moist, so they are then placed in a plastic bag to keep them supple; if they start to dry out, a spray of water is all the is needed to restore the suppleness. My bracelet was ok, but, nowhere near as good as Lily's. <br />
The cruise is actually on the Yellow Water Billabong,which is at the end of Jim Jim Creek, a tributary of the South Alligator River. The river system, which is the largest in Kakadu, contains extensive wetlands that include river channels, floodplains and backwater swamps. About one third of Australia's bird species are represented in Kakadu National Park, with at least 60 species found in the wetlands. Crocodiles and wetland birds were out in force when we went on the cruises; the morning (9am) and Sunset cruise, and as there was a special on the cost of cruises; "take a sunrise or sunset cruise, and it will cost only $10 extra, in lieu of the normal $82." Both cruises were wonderful, and although there was plenty of water, birds ad crocodiles to see, both of us would like to return to Kakadu just after the Wet Season to see the park in it's real glory. I have attached a few of the many photos that we took while on the cruise. - Enjoy.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLonVirARpI/AAAAAAAABUc/REtrpeSb7ko/s1600-h/Black%20Bird%5B27%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="Black Bird" border="0" height="213" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLonXNsmMhI/AAAAAAAABUg/ZveR8hzufjo/Black%20Bird_thumb%5B23%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px 20px 0px 25px;" title="Black Bird" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLonYOSeHMI/AAAAAAAABUk/W4rospym6lI/s1600-h/2010_08_03_0247%5B7%5D.jpg"><img alt="2010_08_03_0247" border="0" height="160" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLonY_Tbc_I/AAAAAAAABUo/d_MRLkK9t8g/2010_08_03_0247_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 5px 5px;" title="2010_08_03_0247" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLonaFPkSCI/AAAAAAAABUs/QCKDvo1l8U0/s1600-h/2010_08_03_0227%5B5%5D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="2010_08_03_0227" border="0" height="160" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLonbPVRnaI/AAAAAAAABUw/u_AIt-wNdb4/2010_08_03_0227_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 5px 5px 0px 0px;" title="2010_08_03_0227" width="240" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLoncO4uHqI/AAAAAAAABU0/Que-faAEXaU/s1600-h/Egret-1%5B15%5D.jpg"><img alt="Egret-1" border="0" height="240" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLondMEZS0I/AAAAAAAABU4/XAOedR8qr18/Egret-1_thumb%5B11%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 10px 5px 20px;" title="Egret-1" width="214" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Cooinda Aerodrome (CDA), Kakadu NT 0822, Australia-12.904062 132.533392-12.987725 132.4166625 -12.820399 132.65012149999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-56508941942886881962010-10-09T19:14:00.003+11:002010-10-09T20:00:07.203+11:00Mataranka, NT (29 July - 1 August, 2010)Mataranka is the setting for the book by Mrs Aeneas Gunn (Jennie Gunn) of 'We of The Never Never'. Mataranka is known for the many hot springs in the area, and as the weather was starting to heat up the further North we travelled, we had no intention of dipping into the pools; it was all far too hot for us! The small town of Mataranka, is like many country towns in the outback, I wonder how they survive; it is truly a hard life in this big brown land.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLAkVoxb51I/AAAAAAAABTg/zTRB4TviWIU/s1600-h/Cliff%20and%20river%5B13%5D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Cliff and river" border="0" height="284" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLAkW67DksI/AAAAAAAABTk/48I3F-49wAE/Cliff%20and%20river_thumb%5B11%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px;" title="Cliff and river" width="426" /></a>A trip on a cruise boat in the Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge), visiting the old Cemetery of the now non-existent Elsey Station, (from We of the Never, Never fame), and a visit to the caves at Cutti Cutti were the main items on our agenda. <br />
Our stay in Mataranka was for 4 nights, before we left for Cooinda in the Kakadu National Park.<br />
<br />
Ref: <a href="http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/elseystation.htm">Elsey Station</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Nitmiluk National Park, NT 0852, Australia-14.3122222 132.4230556-14.644887200000001 131.9561366 -13.9795572 132.8899746tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-11575453229113876822010-10-09T18:40:00.001+11:002010-10-09T19:47:02.511+11:00The Devils MarblesWhile at Wycliffe Well, we drove out to see The Devil's Marbles, only 10 minutes away from the caravan park. The Devils Marbles are 393 km north of Alice Springs and 760 km south of Katherine. In other words, in the middle of nowhere. Guide books and brochures about the Australian Outback feature a picture of the Marbles, or rather, of two of the marbles.... most travellers are not aware there are more than two marbles! The<i> Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve</i> is 1802 hectares in size, and that there are lots of marbles here. <br />
<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:49fdde9e-755c-43cd-b3af-9de28b8e82fc" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 430px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1210&type=5" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="View Devil's Marbles NT" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLAqYPkf5oI/AAAAAAAABTo/6J-beb8FANc/InlineRepresentation451dd970-f85d-417c-9577-9a1183114804%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: right; width: 430px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1210&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div><br />
In the <strong>Aboriginal mythology</strong> the Devils Marbles are the eggs of the rainbow serpent, and many "dreamtime" stories and traditions of the Warumungu, Kaytetye and Alyawarre Aboriginal people are linked with this area. It has a deep spiritual meaning for both men and women (Aboriginal cultural sites are often specifically for either men or women.) The traditional Aboriginal owners of the area regard the marbles as having extraordinary powers. Damage to them can have life threatening consequences for their custodians.<br />
Imagine their distress when in 1953 an eight tonne rock was taken from the area to be placed on John Flynn's grave in Alice Springs (the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor service). A similar thing happened in 1980, when a rock from the Devils Pebbles (a similar area north of Tennant Creek), was removed without consulting the traditional owners.<br />
The pebble was returned in 1981, but only after 15 months of painful controversy and the tragic death of an Aboriginal elder. The marble from Flynn's grave was eventually returned, too, and replaced with another rock, identified by and taken with the permission of the Alice Springs Arrernte people. But it took until 1998 for that to happen...Even today very few white Australian people understand the distress that the desecration of sacred sites can cause...<br />
Ref: <a href="http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/devils-marbles.html" target="_blank">Outback Australia Travel Guide</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, Davenport NT 0872, Australia-20.5666667 134.2666667-20.5867567 134.2374842 -20.5465767 134.2958492tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-21541076847046514732010-10-09T18:05:00.001+11:002010-10-09T19:46:31.331+11:00Wycliffe Well, NT (26 - 27 July, 2010)We finally left Alice Springs after 36 days, including our trip to Yulara. While in Alice, Bucko returned to Sydney for a few days to see his children before Kellie took off to the UK to work, Ben and Rosemary left for a 3mth tour of Europe and Josh attended a wedding in the USA. It rained the whole time Paul was away, I was happy and snug in our we van and though settled down to do a bit of reading and relaxing. <br />
A special caravan park (on the way up to Mataranka, our next stop), is Wycliffe Well. Special for what, you may ask, well for being the UFO Centre of Australia. The walls of the Roadhouse dining room are covered in newspaper clippings of supposed sighting. I was able to find a few Aliens outside the reception area. Wycliffe Well is the closest place to stay to visit the Devils Marbles, and the reason we stayed for three nights. New owners of the park are spending time, money and effort renovating the place, and have opened up the Dining room out the back of the park. A Chinese chef is in residence, and the food was terrific. Road-trains with clearance lights a blaze could be seen and heard from the park, this did not worry me, I like to hear them in the night, and the trucks look so pretty with the lights on. Hope you like the photos, if you look at them you may see the gremlins have been at work in some of them, or could it have been ALIENS!<br />
<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:d99d3876-b052-4e29-ac87-58c0ebb8ffcf" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; width: 500px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1188&type=5" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="View Wycliffe Well, NT" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLAPIt7ueyI/AAAAAAAABTM/YanTYtqG7x8/InlineRepresentation3868ead812cd43d7.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: right; width: 500px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1188&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Davenport NT, Australia-20.8 134.2333333-22.0837195 132.3656573 -19.5162805 136.1010093tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-38458211497887335622010-10-09T18:00:00.000+11:002010-10-09T19:42:54.535+11:00Aileron Man, on the road to Wycliffe Well (26 July, 2010)<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:78e3037f-918c-4373-b6d5-3cf4e2497cbb" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px; width: 487px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1201&type=5" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="View Aleron Man, NT" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TLAXBi7S6eI/AAAAAAAABTQ/KA6w5kwuBcQ/InlineRepresentationb02fb296a85e4465.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: right; width: 487px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1201&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div>Aileron, just north of Alice Springs, is the proud owner of a 17-metre high sculpture of an Aboriginal man which sits on a hill overlooking the town. It's based on a traditional man from the local Anmatjere tribe. The huge sculpture was made by Mark Egan (Ted Eagan’s son). Down near the Art Centre and close by the <a href="http://www.exploroz.com/Places/77929/NT/Aileron_Roadhouse.aspx#Description" target="_blank">Aileron Roadhouse</a>, is Aileron man's wife and piccaninny. The sculptures are both anatomically correct, if you get my drift. I have also thrown in a few photos of the stunning cloud formations we saw on the way. The road to Wycliffe Well also crosses the Tropic of Capricorn; I have included photos of the two of us at the marker. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Big Man, Aileron - By Koala:Bear" height="209" src="http://l.yimg.com/ea/img/-/100723/1881004288_875935f03e-164hudp.jpg?x=469&y=306&xc=1&yc=1&wc=499&hc=326&sig=MR9myf80G0rVj3XmalbdWQ--" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="The Big Man, Aileron - By Koala:Bear" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aileron Man </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0AILERON RACECOURSE, Anmatjere NT 0872, Australia-22.64257 133.34212-22.647520999999998 133.3348245 -22.637619 133.3494155tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-33812591856884277502010-10-09T16:28:00.001+11:002010-10-09T16:30:29.228+11:00Mags n MeMy sister Mags is 8mths younger than me, and our Mum used to dress us in similar clothes when we were young, often the only difference being the colour of the clothing. The time we spent together in Alice Springs was terrific, after many years of being apart, we soon got into our own way of communicating again. The same things would make us laugh and many times one of us would make a comment, which the other would interpret with our own understanding and a grin would appear on our faces. In keeping with how our Mum dressed us in similar clothes, Mags and I had our picture taken by Bucko. Here is is. Thanks for such a great holiday Mags. Love you heaps. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TK_80KyGL0I/AAAAAAAABTE/Kyx35bKOhrE/s1600/Purple+Twins_Mags+&+Me+(B).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TK_80KyGL0I/AAAAAAAABTE/Kyx35bKOhrE/s320/Purple+Twins_Mags+&+Me+(B).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selma Janet and Mags - The Purple Twins</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Alice Springs NT 0870, Australia-23.700358 133.880889-23.720006 133.8517065 -23.68071 133.9100715tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-82263165038042829552010-10-08T06:32:00.000+11:002010-10-08T06:56:42.461+11:00Palm Valley, NT (24 June, 2010)If any of you have the chance to visit Central Australia, do yourself a big favour and take a trip out to Palm Valley. The valley is a place that time has forgotten, a magnificent piece of God’s handiwork on display. Due to the recent rain in Alice Springs the Finke River had plenty of water in it, and the road to the valley had been closed for a few days. I am glad we were not in our 4WD, I would have been so scared having to cross the rivers, and then trying to make our way up onto the slippery banks. On my last trip, the tour only went as far as walking alongside the river bed and then returning. There is now a ridge top walk, which the three of us did, an easy walk with a few stairs to ease the way now and again. I am glad we decided to start the walk at the beginning of the valley, because, at the other end there is a very steep set of stairs, which we would have had to have climbed if we commenced the walk from there! It was so much easier for us ‘oldies’ to climb down them! The views across to the other side of the ridge and down to the river were spectacular, especially being able to see the Livingstonia Palms from above. These palms are the same type around in the days of the Dinosaurs. By the end of the walk, I was starting to lag a bit, and Mags was also struggling as her bad foot was giving her heaps. By the time we reached the shelter we were well and truly ready for our lunch. <br />
<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:2dc937df-23aa-4153-b9cd-59ddbb0cef42" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; width: 619px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1177&type=5" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="View Palm Valley, NT" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TK4jsIAlzNI/AAAAAAAABS4/fmwe96lh2PQ/InlineRepresentation955c4fbae1684a60.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: right; width: 619px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1177&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Namatjira NT 0872, Australia-23.950645631366875 132.76634216308594-23.953097131366874 132.76269416308594 -23.948194131366876 132.76999016308594tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-53811564319412499122010-10-08T06:27:00.003+11:002010-10-08T06:39:51.702+11:00Emily Creek Big Hole, NT (23 June, 2010)There are many beautiful gorges around Alice Springs, in the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, one of the most beautiful is Ellery Creek Big Hole. I will let the pictures tell the story.<br />
<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:f1b41f07-157b-43d8-9bf0-c8ea74f8892a" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 590px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1170&type=5" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="View Ellery Creek Big Hole, NT" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TK4fNV3zJDI/AAAAAAAABS0/RVC7WV_YD9o/InlineRepresentationa580012fb15d4890.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: right; width: 590px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1170&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Namatjira NT 0872, Australia-23.947507982076957 132.84891128540039-23.967118482076955 132.8197287854004 -23.927897482076958 132.87809378540038tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-22280734443494483532010-10-08T06:14:00.002+11:002010-10-08T06:38:14.138+11:00Standley Chasm, NT (23 June 2010)<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:8b537423-8e02-4746-9aca-6910ed3f0638" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; width: 400px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1157&type=5" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="View Standley Chasm, NT" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TK4b-1uBptI/AAAAAAAABSs/PEfZH0pv7ho/InlineRepresentation7f23fed0d598409f.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: right; width: 400px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1157&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div>Standley Chasm is on the must see list of most tourists to Alice Springs. <br />
The path into the chasm is very, very rocky, and one needs to be fairly agile, the creek bed is made up of large rocks and boulders, and it can be dangerous if one is not careful. There is a warning sign at the start of the track, it says the walk it is 'easy but rocky'... Hmm.. think they need to revise that, the sign is misleading, and the path can be very difficult; we actually met up with an older women who was using her 3 pronged walking stick! I don't know how she did it, at least there was a person to help her along. Mags, Bucko & myself, took it slowly and stopped to admire the scenery on the way through, we were in no hurry as we had given ourselves plenty of time to reach the Chasm. A group of high school students were on a mission, which I think may have been, to see how quickly they could get to the end of the track. At noon the sun is overhead and shines down into the small chasm to light up the sheer high walls, and turn them the colour of gold. The walk was worth it. Take a look at some of the photos, and you will see plenty of people hanging around for the sun to arrive. The show is over very quickly and the place cleared out in a matter of minutes. At last we had the chasm to ourselves and so, enjoyed the cool shade and the peacefulness. Arriving back at the car we sat down for a much needed rest and ate our lunch in the shade of the trees. Many travellers where having their lunch near us, and it was not long before I was chatting to them; asking the Traveller Trifecta ''where are you from? where have you been?, where are you going?" - (I can hear you both cracking up from here, C&T, and yes, someone did ask us "is it worth it?").Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Hugh NT 0872, Australia-23.756461 133.490875-23.7662805 133.476284 -23.746641500000003 133.50546599999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-73299556811809596462010-10-08T06:08:00.002+11:002010-10-08T06:39:10.075+11:00Simpsons Gap, NT (23 June, 2010)<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:be95f3b4-34e6-449a-a576-08db5da7c4fb" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 15px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1151&type=5" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="View Simpsons Gap, NT" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TK4auolXlkI/AAAAAAAABSo/KiwzQE4jJ9w/InlineRepresentation34e589f435ea4762.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: right; width: 446px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1151&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div>Simpson Gap is the first gorge that is on the Larapinta Drive out of Alice Springs. Due to the heavy rains in Alice Springs, while we were there, the gorge had plenty of water in it so we could not go further into the Gap, nevertheless, it was a pretty place to visit. Enjoy. <br />
My sister Mags took these photos with the camera she bought while in Alice Springs; nearly every picture she took while on her holiday with us came out extremely well. Considering Mags is not used to using a camera, I am very proud of her and the photos she has taken. Thanks Mags.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0West Macdonnell National Park, NT 0872, Australia-23.7166667 133.7166667-23.7264892 133.7020757 -23.706844200000003 133.7312577tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-64049808608936713772010-10-08T06:00:00.000+11:002010-10-08T06:57:21.510+11:00Alice Springs Desert Park, NT (22 June, 2010)Alice Springs Desert Park is set out in sections to display the plants, earth and fauna of the different types of land in Central Australia. <br />
<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:5fb287be-eb1e-48d1-bf3c-7a2693862185" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 15px; padding-top: 10px; width: 448px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1162&type=5" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="View Alice Springs Desert Park, NT" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TK4dqO_yT4I/AAAAAAAABSw/mXMZAqYVxn4/InlineRepresentation418a2457af014a4a.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: right; width: 448px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1162&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div>The walk around the park is an easy one, with free audio commentary, which explains the different eco systems. An active display of wild native birds, was a highlight of our visit to the park; it was terrific being able to see up close, many of the birds that we have seen during our travels. As the birds move SO fast, Mags and I were unable to get any photos except for an Owl, however, I hope you enjoy the pictures of flowers, goannas and birds from the park.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2Alice Springs NT 0870, Australia-23.700358 133.880889-23.710182 133.866298 -23.690534000000003 133.89548tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-30279203773926922172010-10-08T05:54:00.001+11:002010-10-08T05:54:49.619+11:00Road back to Alice - The Undie Tree (19 June, 2010)<p>The return trip to Alice Springs is backtracking via the only bitumen road (Luritja & Lasseter) into and out of the area.  There is talk of sealing the (4WD only track) of the Ernest Giles road (see map), to cut down the time taken to get from Alice to Kings Creek, then onto Yulara.  Talk is talk, and it has been happening for years, so who know when the bitumen road will actually exist.  The only safe road for tourists to travel (unless they have a very good off road car and or caravan), is the long way round! </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TK4XZmUFYcI/AAAAAAAABSY/GEbkGnK4lqM/s1600-h/RedCentreWay_SmallMap20.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 10px 5px 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Red Centre Way_Small Map" border="0" alt="Red Centre Way_Small Map" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TK4Xa8jzaFI/AAAAAAAABSc/3PPV6TZwPd8/RedCentreWay_SmallMap_thumb16.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" height="236" /></a>At the junction of Lasseter Highway and Luritja Road there is a tree,<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TK4XcHSIRQI/AAAAAAAABSg/EEQIkluBzcM/s1600-h/RedCentreWayJunction_UndieTree10.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; margin: 5px 5px 0px 10px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Red Centre Way Junction_Undie Tree" border="0" alt="Red Centre Way Junction_Undie Tree" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TK4XdQ53m9I/AAAAAAAABSk/v90QUqM91v0/RedCentreWayJunction_UndieTree_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="186" height="246" /></a> not any ordinary old tree, and UNDIE TREE.  On the way to Yulara we saw the tree and I said "I want to add a pair of knickers to the tree on our return trip". So, Mags and I did. I had a special pair of Bonds - <font color="#ff00ff"><strong>Pink Breast Cancer Ribbon</strong></font> undies to add, Mags had a <font color="#ffc993"><strong>skin coloured</strong></font> pair of Bonds undies.  Sarah O'Hare/Murdoch would have been proud of us, I am sure.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-74612624808905540522010-10-08T05:50:00.000+11:002010-10-08T06:37:03.839+11:00Kings Canyon, NT (17-18 June, 2010)Our next stop after Yulara was the campground at <em>Kings Creek Station</em>, a working cattle station near Kings Canyon. To get to Kings Creek Station from Yulara we had to travel back along the Lasseter Highway, then turn left onto the Luritja road which lead to the station. Trivia Time: what is the difference between a Canyon and a Gorge? Answer is at the bottom of this posting. The campgrounds are rustic and very appealing; red earth, covered BBQ area, deep fire pits with stone surrounds, plenty of shade trees, large clean shower cubicles and even a swimming pool. To use the one and only (fairly new) washing machine, the cost is a voluntary gold coin donation to <em>The Royal Flying Doctor Service</em>, a fantastic idea. The machine sits in a tiny outdoor, undercover setting in the grounds. The Station has quad bikes for hire, camel rides and helicopter flights, Sadly, (for the staff of the station), when we were there a long term employee (of the Station) had died, and most of the staff were off in Alice Springs attending the funeral, so no rides were available, which did not worry us. <br />
I was fortunate to be able to climb the rugged path up to the top of Kings Canon when I was there 30 years go, but, old age has caught up with me! My Bursitis (which affects my knee and hip) was giving me heck and Mags could hardly walk because a problem with her foot and back; which left Bucko as the only one who was fit enough to do the climb, however, he decided to stay at the base with us and do the creek walk. What a sweetheart. The creek walk is stunning, it takes about 1 hour, following the path of the creek, which wends its way through huge magnificent Red River Gums, huge fallen Mereenie Sandstone rocks, (the last major rock fall was in the 1930s), surrounded by towering walls of red rock, ending at a deep, dark emerald/jade green waterhole. From the Creek Walk we could look up and see people who had done the climb looking down at us. I feel very lucky to have been able to see both sides of this wonderful part of the outback. <br />
One Friday morning (18th) we drove up to the Kings Creek Resort to take a trip in a helicopter, Mags had never been in one, so it was all very exciting for her. The flight took us over Kings Canyon and to the area behind the canyon, which is like a pound; high walls, surrounding flat grazing land with a creek flowing through, the creek flows into Kathleen Springs, which is in Kathleen Gorge. <span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: black;">A lone camel could be seen wandering around, below the helicopter.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><em>Trivia Answer:</em> Gorge is an English word and Canyon is American, both mean the same thing!</span><br />
<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:f8f7760c-dbed-4cf5-b019-81b1c1a20b92" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 400px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1136&type=5" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="View Kings Canyon, NT" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TK4W67E-wuI/AAAAAAAABSU/tuqoZ3omQwU/InlineRepresentationc6ef33c636ab47cb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: right; width: 400px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1136&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Kings Canyon Resort, Watarrka National Park NT 0872, Australia-24.235695 131.564117-25.4878585 129.69644100000002 -22.983531499999998 133.431793tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-1472326452851461152010-10-08T05:37:00.002+11:002010-10-08T06:03:50.593+11:00Mt Conner NT, Afternoon/Evening trip (15 June, 2010)On the road to Yulara, there is a huge flat topped, rock like formation, tour guides tease tourists with this sight, "oh, can anyone see Uluru", or "what is that.," I have heard these words myself, on my trip 30 years ago, everyone of the bus went "ooh" and wanted the driver to stop the bus. Amongst the tourist trade Mt Conner is referred to as 'Fooluru'. Mags mentioned she would like to go out to Mt Conner, and I said "they don't do tours out there". The good news was, tours are now available to view Mt Conner at sunset, followed by a BBQ meal at the Curtain Springs Station Roadhouse. Mt Conner is owned by Curtain Springs Station.<br />
The rough dirt road through Curtain Spring Station was the original route from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock, (as it was named in the 'old days'), and it would have been a rugged, hot and tiring ride, which took a week! One of the over night stops for travellers, was at Curtain Springs Station, the following day they would be on the rough, dirty, rocky road for the next leg to The Rock. Our trip from Alice Springs to Uluru took 5 hours, on a great bitumen road all the way. The day trip from Yulara Resort to Mt Conner was in an air conditioned 4Wheel Drive (SUV). Along the route we stopped off at a salt lake which is on the station. Large clumps of pale pink salt can be found sitting on the top of the lake; me being the questioning person I am asked "what makes the salt pink?' Neither of the two guides knew. I wonder if they did a search on Google to find an answer, or maybe one of you can tell me? <br />
Spotted wild camels wandering about, these were quickly reported to the Station Owner as they are classed as feral animals, which compete with the cattle for food and water, as well as damaging fences. In the harsh and dry climate of Central Australia, water is precious commodity, so, camels are shot on sight. The Camel population (in Australia), is greater than in the Middle East; if a camel is lucky, they may be captured and shipped off to Arabia to become a racing camel or as breeding stock to refresh the blood lines. The Camels in Australia have a pure blood line, and are strong and healthy as they have been wandering free for the past 100 years. Camel meat is also sold in The Territory, and the taste is a cross between Beef and Mutton. <br />
Mt Conner is actually the same size as Uluru, but 1 metre lower,some of the staff from the Station have built a cairn at the tope to bring the height up to match Uluru. There is a VERY rugged track up the eastern side of Mt Conner which we drove up, to about half way. The view is wonderful and most of us had a bit of fun playing around at pretending to fall off the side of the mountain, me included of course! Those who know me well, know I am a big kid at heart!<br />
<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:d02ae63e-d561-49d4-9e72-60e37228a690" style="display: block; float: none; margin: 0px auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 400px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1127&type=5" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;"><img alt="View Mt Conner Day Trip" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TK4TcYjYLKI/AAAAAAAABSQ/_7zuTWKgr_E/InlineRepresentationa38e809e9a804e65.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: right; width: 400px;"><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1127&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Mount Conner, Petermann NT 0872, Australia-25.3833333 131.9-26.0036788 130.966162 -24.7629878 132.83383800000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7692191910262703822.post-25286095789165175542010-10-08T05:28:00.001+11:002010-10-08T05:28:42.643+11:00Kata Tjuta, NT (14 and 15 June, 2010)<p>One of the must see sights in Central Australia are the HUGE domes like structures which make up Kata Tjuta. I so enjoyed my visit to them 30 years ago, of course the facilities for travellers is so much better than then, now there are safe walking paths, bathroom facilities, picnic areas, with gas free gas BBQs etc. </p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 5px; display: inline; float: left; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:bc512e18-3cae-4ce8-8ab7-69ed9abc3657" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a style="border:0px" href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1115&type=5"><img style="border:0px" alt="View Kata Tjuta, NT" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3itvjU6yAQw/TK4RVw62DdI/AAAAAAAABSM/vFinx6hPPsE/InlineRepresentationeb37b76ca68140e9.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style="width:400px;text-align:right;" ><a href="http://cid-fe391b2c18980db7.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=FE391B2C18980DB7!1115&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div> <p></p> <p>After doing the morning the Mala Walk, at Uluru, we drove out to see Kata Tjuta, a trip of approximately 45kms, with a number of viewing sites along the way. We decided to make our first stop the Kata Tjuta sunrise viewing platform.  </p> <p>The flies were out in force, so Mags and I donned our glamorous headwear of black fly mesh.  Many comments were made by passers by on our walk to the platform, all along the lines of how they 'wish they had one of those, and to heck with how it looks'.  Mags ands I were not worried about how we looked, at least there were no flies on us! </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>One evening we went out to view the sunset at Kata Tjuta, nibblies and drinks in hand of course, this time we had to take our small camping seats with us, and as the viewing site was not near the car park, this was no effort. We settled in for the show, which is a second cousin to the display at Uluru, however, it is still impressive and we enjoyed it.  </p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2