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Australia 2011
Day 9 - 6th August - Kakadu National Park (Part 3)
At the end of the cruise we got a breakfast buffet, for only $12 more than a normal cruise. It was quite good value as it was an American breakfast. Breakfast normally cost $24, and lunch was $26 (and cold too).
We'd had a lot of Italians on the cruise.
The yogurt had Halal gelatin (poor vegetarians). Also they *had* to say the yogurt contained milk. The juice was probably a mix of grapefruit and some other things, and sweeter than Australian Orange Juice. I asked one staff member and he said it was "mall TV. It's a mixture of juices". Okay...
Incidentally since we had only bought tickets this morning, our names were not on the breakfast list, but we were waved in anyway. Ahh, loopholes!
The only disappointing bit of breakfast: the scrambled eggs whose texture was like chawanmushi
The HR manager came to collect plates. Ahh, egality!
We then went for another walk, the Gun-garden Walk through 2km of woodlands.
"In most locations, crocodile warning signs tell you not to enter the water and to keep away from the water's edge. Obey signs warning of crocodiles. If you do not see a warning sign, assume that crocodiles are present".
If you see crocodile warning signs, assume there are crocodiles. If you do not see crocodile warning signs, assume there are crocodiles. Err.
In other news: put your trust in stereotypes. In fact, believe that they are always true!
Horse wildlife (?) sign
Besides alcohol, pornography is also banned.
Path
Grass Skirt tree (like in Hawaii)
Weird plant thing
The trail was disappointing. Not only was it not interesting, there were no information panels - possibly because there was nothing to explain.
I then risked my life by approaching the water.
While taking this shot, I was keeping an eye out for crocodiles.
Inlet
Branch over river
Filming river while watching out for crocs
The trail was very badly designed: we emerged not at our car (where we'd entered) but in the middle of nowhere, and the road between us and the car was a camping ground. So we took a nature walk on the tarmac to find our car.
There was a Mardugal Billabong walk, half the length at 1km return. The vegetarian was as boring and there were no signs, though there was a billabong.
Next was Nourlangie (Anbangbang), for more rock art.
What happened to the Warramal People, who used to be here (perhaps it was competition by the people speaking Gun-djeihmi, i.e. the current stewards)? Some research reveals there were also the Badmardi, who have also disappeared.
Note also that some have White surnames - perhaps they're from the Stolen Generations.
Ochres
"Welcome to our land"
I saw a teen boy with hair like He-Man (even in the smoothness of the cut).
"People on the move". Poorly maintained plaque.
"Home to shelter"
Staircase into rocks
It was almost like hiking in Singapore, albeit in a slightly cooler and certainly drier atmosphere. I was still shagged, though.
Rock Art
"What Was It Like Outside?"
Under the rock
"Art On Art"
Mysteries of the universe: how can you wear a bra when it's in the high 20s, have a singlet on top and still have 2 points visible? This must account for the popularity of t-shirt bras in Singapore. But then in the European tradition the straps were visible so she didn't care, I'm sure.
"Art is an important part of traditional Aboriginal life"
Art is an important part of human society. Full stop.
Kangaroo hunting. Those are huge kangaroos, possibly Procoptodons.
"'Modern' Art"
"Like to Dance?"
Dancing
Nabulwinjbulwinj: "a dangerous spirit who eats females after striking them with a yam"
"Anbangbang Gallery"
Namarrgon - Lightning Man
"History book on stone".
No wonder it was so nice - it was repainted in 1964
The insects were very very very annoying - they followed you around a lot and went in the ear and nose. Despite my shaking my head, they wouldn't buzz off. They were worse than most SAF insects, even.
Crack in rock
Cave hole
Namanjolg's Feather - Daberrg
Namanjolg's Feather
Namanjolg's Feather closeup
Lightning Dreaming - Namarrgon Djadjam
"Like all djang andjamun sites, if disturbed, wide trouble will result". We can use Formal Logic in trying to disprove this - just disturb the site and observe that there no wide trouble will result.
Lightning Dreaming
Better shots of Namanjolg's Feather
Better closeup shots of Namanjolg's Feather
Gunwarrdehwarrde lookout sign
Gunwarrdehwarrde lookout panorama
I think this was one of the sacred sites
We then drove out to our next destination: Nitmiluk National Park
"Nourlangie Creek 3" (there was a series from 1-3: how creative!)
Safety advice said to wear a long-sleeved shirt. There was nothing about pants. Ahh, when culture gets in the way of good sense!
After visiting Kakadu, I realised that in Waltzing Matilda, the swagman doesn't drown in the billabong - he is eaten by a croc!