| Diary Entries June 7, 2010 April 29, 2010 October 27, 2009 July 25, 2009 July 18, 2009 July 12, 2009 July 5, 2009 June 27, 2009 June 25, 2009 June 20, 2009 June 13, 2009 June 6, 2009 May 30, 2009 May 23, 2009 May 16, 2009 May 9, 2009 May 3, 2009 April 25, 2009 April 18, 2009 April 11, 2009 April 4, 2009 March 28, 2009 March 21, 2009 March 14, 2009 March 7, 2009 February 28, 2009 February 21, 2009 February 14, 2009 February 7, 2009 January 24, 2009 January 17, 2009 January 10, 2009 January 3, 2009 December 27, 2008 December 20, 2008 December 13, 2008 December 6, 2008 December 1, 2008 November 24, 2008 November 17, 2008 November 10, 2008 October 27, 2008 October 20, 2008 October 13, 2008 October 6, 2008 September 29, 2008 September 23, 2008 September 15, 2008 September 8, 2008 September 1, 2008 August 26, 2008 August 18, 2008 August 8, 2008 July 28, 2008 July 21, 2008 July 15, 2008 July 07, 2008 June 30, 2008 June 23, 2008 June 16, 2008 June 10, 2008 May 26, 2008 May 19, 2008 May 12, 2008 May 5, 2008 April 29, 2008 April 14, 2008 April 9, 2008 April 1, 2008 March 25, 2008 March 18, 2008 March 11, 2008 March 04, 2008 February 26, 2008 February 19, 2008 February 13, 2008 January 29, 2008 January 22, 2008 January 15, 2008 January 8, 2008 January 1, 2008 December 18, 2007 December 10, 2007 November 20, 2007 October 23, 2007 October 3, 2007 September 16, 2007 September 9, 2007 August 28, 2007 August 21, 2007 August 14, 2007 August 7, 2007 July 24, 2007 July 17, 2007 July 10, 2007 July 03, 2007 June 27, 2007 June 17, 2007 June 11, 2007 June 4, 2007 May 27, 2007 May 22, 2007 May 07, 2007 April 10, 2007 March 20, 2007 March 13, 2007 March 6, 2007 February 27, 2007 February 22, 2007 February 13, 2007 February 6, 2007 January 30, 2007 January 15, 2007 December 12, 2006 November 28, 2006 November 13, 2006 November 7, 2006 October 31, 2006 October 24, 2006 November, 2006 October 3, 2006 September 26, 2006 September 21, 2006 September 11, 2006 September 05, 2006 August 11, 2006 August 8, 2006 |
We are twirling through the Top End of the Northern Territory feeling far removed from the greed of Wall Street as we watch the shadows of Magpie Geese dance across a waterlily-filled billabong. World Heritage Kakadu National Park is brilliantly cared for by the National Parks and traditional owners. It’s got more tourist-friendly walks, tours and organized activities compared to the old days when travelers pitched their tents where they liked and launched their boats anywhere to fish. There are now rules, permits required, signs and regulations but as more foreign visitors come to the Park these are needed. An indigenous Park Ranger told us several foreigners turned up to swim (!) in the croc infested East Alligator River near the notorious Cahills Crossing where a man was taken by a croc some time back. (It was named after famous old buffalo shooter, Paddy Cahill.)The foreign tourists wouldn’t believe it was unsafe despite the Achtung! sign with a large jawed croc. They became quite abusive until police were called. In our first five minutes on the river we saw several massive crocodiles. Fortunately the crocs didn’t show any interest in our barramundi though “jumping crocs” are becoming a nuisance and have been known to leap into a boat. Boris caught a 75 centimetre barra ( have to be over 55cms to keep) plus several others which were swiftly released after a photo. They’re great sport fishing but in an open tin boat in 40 degree heat and high humidity due to the “build up” before the November wet season, I was ready to fall in the river, crocs and all.
Darwin is not the town it used to be, very little of the wild old Darwin remains. Mining money means luxurious high rise apartments (16 floors and above) and fancy restaurants ($60 for a mud crab! Can buy them in a bag from a local for ten bucks), new developments and buildings are sprouting like mushrooms after rain. A laconic local wasn’t too upset about all this as he reckons the lot will all come down in the next cyclone.
Went fishing on Darwin Harbour which used to be fairly good. Brad, our skipper, left Lismore in NSW four years ago as he couldn’t stand the cold. He told us the Japanese are now calling the shots in Darwin. Huge tankers from the off shore rigs filled with dense gas worth 16 million dollars were ready to sail to Japan where the gas from each tanker would last a mere four hours. Brad also told us if one of them went up or sank it’d blow away half of Darwin. He said a Japanese salvage group had taken the scrap metal from all the warships and planes sunk in Darwin Harbour (by the Japanese in WW11.) We didn’t get a bite but hooked a condom, a bladder from a wine cask and a plastic bag.
Civilisation ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. Give me a billabong full of crocs anyday!
Cheers
Di is Australia's number one bestselling female author. Her new book "The Islands", published by Pan Macmillan goes on sale in November.
|
