START HERE! Wow! Do I ever have so much to update everyone on! I know... I know I haven't updated my blog in a while.... here's to lost time! Two friends (Lise and Lindsey) and I just got back from an amazing two week adventure in the outback! I’ll try and keep the writing to a minimum but there’s so much to say!
Our first 5am wake-up call (of many on this trip) – we met our first tour guide Loren and we hit the road. The first stop was at termite mounds. They were absolutely massive! We saw two different kinds a cathedral mound and magnetic mounds. The cathedral mounds have different walls so that at different times of day the mounds when the sun hits one side the other side is cooler – the mounds regulate the inside temperature to about 23 degrees. The magnetic mounds are so thin that they don’t cast a shadow on themselves. Pretty smart for insects…
We even saw a Jabiru at the mounds which is apparently pretty rare. A Jabiru is an absolutely gorgeous bored that is white, black, and turquoise and has orange feet. It stands about 3.5 meters high and has a wing span of about 6 feet. It’s beak is long and narrow, and in one quick motion can kill a crocodile by stabbing it through its skull…. Unfortunately it was too quick to get a picture but here’s one from Google.
Next stop was Florence Falls and Buley Rock Pools which cascaded down into one another.
Day 1 was a really busy day! Our next stop was at an Aboriginal ‘Welcome to Country Experience’. When we first arrived our guide explained to us who he was and what we should be expecting for the day. The first thing that happened was his spitting on our forehead – apparently under normal circumstances not only do they spit on your forehead but they also wipe their sweaty armpits and then proceed to wipe it on you as well… I guess I’ll take the spitting…
We then met his daughter – an absolutely amazing girl! She was a 16 years old who had a head on her shoulders that most grown adults don’t have. She was telling us how she failed 10th grade and decided she didn’t go back (which is completely accepted here – you can drop out of school in grade 10 and still get a great job). However she knew that if she dropped out of school she would have to get a job and start earning money for herself and her family. Really amazing girl and story….
We also learnt how to throw a spear (we all attempted – most unsuccessfully – but hey at least we tried!). And our guide taught us about the didgeridoo and how to play – again unsuccessful attempt….
Next and final stop of the day was Mary River National Park where we went hunting for a crocodile! And boy did we see them – we saw tons!! We also saw tons and tons of birds (another Jabiru), we saw kangaroo and wallabies. Overall it was just a great day to be on the boat on the River!
After a very busy day we headed to camp for the night and got ready for our first night ‘camping’. Luxury camping I would say….
ps... I think this should be the biggest update! They won't all be this long I swear!
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