Jim Jim Billabong Campground to Darwin, Northern Territory
A quick look around the Cultural Center in Kakadu, then into Darwin for the beer can regatta.
Like most parts of the Top End, sunrise was hazy and smoky. We awoke just before dawn, made some tea, and had some cereal before heading over to the cultural center, which showcases Aboriginal culture Kakadu park: how they lived, what they believed, and what customs they followed. It was quite good--not only did it explain things in a dry 'European' sense through explanations like 'this plant is used to wrap food' or 'this animal is found along creeks', but it also had stories, like 'When the bloodwood finish flowering, that when we know Warrenung season is over and the hot dry season begins' or 'when this plant starts flowering, no more swimming in ocean because stinger jellyfish are around.' I liked that a lot.
Then it was a boring drive back into Darwin for the Beer Can Regatta on Mindil Beach. This is a major event every year, where competing teams put their beer can boats in the water and do silly things, like search for treasure and race. We didn't stay that long, maybe an hour or so, but we did have more yummy food at the Mindil Beach market.
We did have a problem, though: no place to stay. We tried the Best Western... no go. Then some other motels... no go... not even the HiWay Inn right on the busy Stuart Highway.. We drove out to Hidden Valley Caravan Park. It was new, so the facilities were good... and the trees very small. Tent campsites were essentially the 'put your tent over there on that grass, and park your car thirty meters away.' We don't like that. Finally, after an hour of frustration, I called Lee Point Caravan Park, which had a cabin for two nights! Yay! We drove up there and settled in; it was like a motel room without a bathroom but decently appointed, and the bathrooms were just a few steps away.
At dinner time, we got hungry... and went back to the beach markets, where we chowed on Filipino food. I had spicy fish and chicken curry and chicken satay and squid satay. It was very very yummy, and cheap. With all that done, we headed to bed early.
Weird Wildlife Sighting
Nothing much. Ah well.