After saying goodbye to some of the others who are stopping in Bali, we were off, crammed into a funky taxi and airport bound for our first official flight in our overland trip; to Australia!
Stepping off the plane it all felt very surreal. To have made it more or less entirely overland from the UK to Oz. We were brought back down to earth when we had to turn our bags inside out at immigration and our tent was inspected with a fine tooth comb! But nevertheless, we had made it!
The humidity seems to be stepping up a bit too! Although Bali was humid, Darwin has increased a notch. But we celebrated arriving in our destination with a glass of iced tap water (going against everything we have been doing for the previous 24 weeks) and a meat pie and chips, for Alex anyway! Amazing!!
We do have 2 weeks of near solid driving ahead of us though. Nearly there...
Our first stop was at a creek down the road from Darwin in kakadu national park. The rest of the park is close because most of the roads are impassable from a months solid rain. Or so we were told. The ground was dry, dusty and cracking so it seemed a little farfetched but possible! So we got on a boat and headed along. It was not long before we saw what we were after. A huge saltwater crocodile! We were actually in a conservation area so to keep the crocs strong, they make them work for their food with fairly spectacular results. Look at some of the photos and some of the crocs are actually missing limbs. The one with the white head is called Michael Jackson actually has no rear legs and is 80 years old! If left naturally in the wild without food supplements it would have probably been eaten by the other crocs! But now he is the playground bully at 5 metres long!
As soon as we had come out of the air con at the boat, it was the first time we were assaulted! No exaggeration, at least 10 flies sped to every person! Each one thing to get in your mouth, up your nose or in your ears! Apparently, every time you go outside in the outback, this happens and won't get much better until Sydney!
But we did get to experience our first night camping in the outback. Anyone thinking of doing it, don't! It is hot and humid!! But on the plus side, there were wallabies roaming around.
4000 kms to Sydney!
Stepping off the plane it all felt very surreal. To have made it more or less entirely overland from the UK to Oz. We were brought back down to earth when we had to turn our bags inside out at immigration and our tent was inspected with a fine tooth comb! But nevertheless, we had made it!
The humidity seems to be stepping up a bit too! Although Bali was humid, Darwin has increased a notch. But we celebrated arriving in our destination with a glass of iced tap water (going against everything we have been doing for the previous 24 weeks) and a meat pie and chips, for Alex anyway! Amazing!!
We do have 2 weeks of near solid driving ahead of us though. Nearly there...
Our first stop was at a creek down the road from Darwin in kakadu national park. The rest of the park is close because most of the roads are impassable from a months solid rain. Or so we were told. The ground was dry, dusty and cracking so it seemed a little farfetched but possible! So we got on a boat and headed along. It was not long before we saw what we were after. A huge saltwater crocodile! We were actually in a conservation area so to keep the crocs strong, they make them work for their food with fairly spectacular results. Look at some of the photos and some of the crocs are actually missing limbs. The one with the white head is called Michael Jackson actually has no rear legs and is 80 years old! If left naturally in the wild without food supplements it would have probably been eaten by the other crocs! But now he is the playground bully at 5 metres long!
As soon as we had come out of the air con at the boat, it was the first time we were assaulted! No exaggeration, at least 10 flies sped to every person! Each one thing to get in your mouth, up your nose or in your ears! Apparently, every time you go outside in the outback, this happens and won't get much better until Sydney!
But we did get to experience our first night camping in the outback. Anyone thinking of doing it, don't! It is hot and humid!! But on the plus side, there were wallabies roaming around.
4000 kms to Sydney!
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