After travelling back to Freemantle via Bunbury, on Tuesday I flew the 4000kms (3 hours) to Darwin, in the Northern Territory. This area is affectionately referred to as the Top End.
Darwin is not a big city by UK standards.
There are high rise buildings in the centre and suprisingly many modern apartment blocks. You would have thought they have enough land for houses. Like Perth, traffic volume is very low compared to most of the UK.It has rained every day since I've been here. March is the last month of the rainy season and the downpours are generally later in the day and very heavy. Lightning flashes can be seen over the sea at night.
At the same time the temperatures are frequently in the 30+C, which makes it very humid. Average rainfalls fall significantly in April and May. Nor can you swim in the sea because of box jelly fish which are prevalent from November to May can kill. I'm just too early!
So what have I been doing. Well not a lot really. I'm staying in budget accommodation run by the YWCA, (Servite reminder there!). Its very comfortable and the little swimming pool at the back is very useful for cooling down. I've walked a good deal and I've been to the cinema twice.
On the Darwin tourist trails you are frequently reminded of two dates; 19 February 1942 and 23 December 1974.
The first is the date the Japanese first bombed Darwin. The raid killed more than 200 military personnel and civilians and sinking several ships.
The second is 23 December 1974 the date cyclone Tracey destroyed much of Darwin.
Its also the place where the first intercontinental planes landed 
I haven't been too adventurous as tommorow I start a 14 day tour which takes me out to the wilderness north of here, then down south via Alice Springs and eventually Adelaide.
I haven't been too adventurous as tommorow I start a 14 day tour which takes me out to the wilderness north of here, then down south via Alice Springs and eventually Adelaide.
No comments:
Post a Comment