April 7, 2005

G'Day Mates!

I arrived in Darwin early afternoon and disembarked the plane into what I thought was pretty decent weather. It wasn't nearly as hot and humid as I had imagined it would be. In fact, it was similar to Broome's weather and I was actually getting used to it, surprisingly enough. I checked into my hostel at $15 a night (which included air conditioning, thank god!) and ran to the post office, for there was a package waiting there from my parents with my name on it. I retrieved the package with ease and carried it around with me all day, unopened, torturing myself so that I could build up the element of surprise. When I got back to the hostel early that evening after walking around the town and checking things out, just me and my package, I couldn't open it fast enough. Inside were many pieces of heaven! The easter bunny had found me after all! There were jelly beans, gummy bears, eggs filled with stuff and PEEPS! YUM! What a way to bring a smile to my face, through my stomach of course.

I took off the next day for a three day tour through Kakadu National Park where nine people jumped into a four wheel drive vehicle, ready to handle any type of terrain. We had an awesome group with members from all over the world. We went on a crocodile cruise and saw them jump out of the water to catch the meat they were dangling over the side on a stick only a few feet away from us. I got some fabulous shots on my camera. We saw countless floodplains, billabongs, water lillies, aboriginal rock paintings, waterfalls, flowers and wildlife. I finally spotted some dingoes, wallabies, eagles, and my favorite, green tree ants.

On a hike one day, we came to a dead termite mound and our guide pointed out these green tree ants that had green butts, hence their name. She was telling us a little bit about them as she was picking one up with her fingers. I was standing right next to her and she told me to stick my tongue out and lick the ant's green butt. I looked at her funny and she told me she was serious. What was I to do but lick the ant's green butt? So I did it and my tongue got a BLAST of lemon lime flavor and then went numb for about 20 minutes. She said that they shoot out some sort of acid as their defense mechanism when they feel threatened. It was a pretty strange feeling but I could now understand that the aboriginals would use these things as suppressants for sore throats!

We also did a lot more hiking and went rock climbing as well. As we were rock climbing I was shaking beyond belief, causing me to lose my confidence at an exponential rate. I have never felt my body shake with nervousness the way I did while were were climbing vertically up these rocks with NO guarantee that we wouldn't just fall back into the gorge and become dingo food at any moment. I obviously made it out alive and am proud of myself for the accomplishment.

After our few days in the bush, I came back to reality and had a free day to run some errands and catch up on emails. The following day, I boarded a small bus with a group of 11 people that would take me down to Alice Springs over the course of three and a half days.

The first day we stopped at Litchfield National Park, which was a lot smaller than Kakadu, but reminded me quite a bit of it, nonetheless. There were waterfalls and massive termite mounds. On the way, the driver stopped the bus really quickly, only to get out and run up the hill into the bush. We were all so confused until he came back with a frilled neck lizard on his arm! It's one of those lizards that looks like he is extending a cape up around his neck. He kept opening his mouth to show us his BIG, SCARY teeth. I didn't think I would get to see one of those so I was really excited when I scored a few great photos.

After a night of camping out in tents and sleeping bags, and a nice shower in the morning with massive crickets and other various bugs jumping on me while doing so, we headed South to Katherine Gorge where we canoed. We visited some more waterholes and saw some more aboriginal rock art as well.

The following day we drove and drove and drove and ended up at Devil's Marbles for sunset. It was probably one of the coolest things I have seen since I have been in Oz. I really liked the color of the HUGE boulders that were balancing in what seemed like an inch of cement. I got some great shots with amazing sunset clouds in the background. We had a yummy cookout there and then headed out of the park to set up camp for that night.

After getting up fairly early and driving South some more we arrived in Alice Springs. I will be here for the rest of today and then head out tomorrow on, yet, another tour down to Adelaide, which is on the South Central Coast. I have about five days there before I fly out to meet my parents on the 21st!!! I couldn't be more excited. Being alone for 3 months has been tough at times and I am craving a taste of home along with good company.

The first thing I thought of when I arrived here in Alice Springs was Alice Springs chicken on the Outback Steakhouse menu...sad, right? Typical American...although I could really go for some of that right now. Speaking of food, after I send this out I am heading next door to have some lunch which will consist of a camel burger and chips (that's fries in Aussie language). Only in Australia...

Lauren P. Coker