Darwin! What a place. The humidity, the tropics, the markets, the outdoor adventures and some really lasting friendships. It was a wonderful place to live and work gave us perspective about equity and healthcare in Australia. We've now moved to the next D-town... Dubbo!
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| We were reassured when we arrived in February. The weather was very welcoming. Lee point... Great place for storm watching! |
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| Equally reassuring was the provided accomodation. James called it 'rustic'. Min called it 'prison' |
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| But we found a new, fully furnished place... there were even what James liked to call "the welcome pussies" |
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| One of the best things about Darwin is the markets. Parap, Nightcliff, Mindil and Rapid creek. Laksa Saturday, 9am, 90% humidity, sweat on the top lip... it's a must! |
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| So are the crepes |
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| As are the exotic vegetables from Rapid Creek markets |
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| When trying to make new friends in a new town, it's important to blend in and not embarrass yourself. Here we are at a dress up party early in the year. The theme was "The Outback". We went as Grey nomads. Not embarrassing at all |
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| The sunsets during the wet season are stunning. Especially at the coast. Nightcliff jetty |
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| Nightcliff |
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| Darwin SLSC (that's right... they have a surf life saving club) |
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| Also pretty good from Hingston St Chinese take-away (we didn't make it to the coast in time for this one... but the number 57 with black bean sauce certainly made up for it). |
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| James did quite a lot of on call up in Darwin... Min's not sure about 'the saving lives and breaking hearts' bit. More like maintaining lives... |
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| ...and being on call in your speedos (did we say it was hot)? |
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| When cooking in the tropics, it gets incredibly hot. Always make sure you wear an apron for those oil splatters |
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| As new Territorians we embraced the NT news (NB: Our friend Cara IS NOT the subject of the headline) |
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| Intriguing... would the offspring be a Gorse or a Hoat? Tackling the big issues |
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| How can you walk past this on the newsstand and not buy it! |
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| One of the best things about living in Darwin was the amazing outdoor weekend trips we could do. This is at Robin Falls, just near Adelaide river |
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| Although... camping in a rooftop in mid-march may have been ambitious. We've never been hotter... but thank goodness for the 1970's car fan |
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| Lucky there are beautiful swimming holes to cool off in. Here is Min at Motor car falls in Kakadu |
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| Min stayed in for exactly 2 seconds. James' reassurance that "You never hear of croc attacks in NT waterways" wasn't convincing |
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| Actually, when you look this good, how could the crocodiles resist. Delectable! |
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| James at Bitter Springs 100 Km south of Katherine. Mature... really mature |
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| Min and Fi at Koolpin gorge. A spectacular and less visited part of Kakadu NP |
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| A good group shot is all about the timing |
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| Koolpin gorge was one of the highlight weekend spots... and great to share it with some new friends |
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| Buley's rock hole, Litchfield NP |
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| We were privileged to have some old friends come and visit and share our adventures too. Here we are up stream from Buley's rock hole |
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| Just wall sittin' at the Humpty Doo Hotel |
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| 10 months later and Angus and James still haven't heard back regarding a job with Manpower after submitting this photo. It's an outrage... |
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| Fair enough about knocking back Angus, but seriously, James too... are they blind?! |
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| Meanwhile, Min submitted this photo to the publication "Adventure Babes". One piece cozzie and hiking boots... hot |
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| Min's mum even got to visit... and they made a new friend! |
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| Woo! Here we go for a gentle paddle up Katherine gorge. What a great way to spend a weekend |
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| Portage (verb): A stupid activity where you have to carry a stupid, crappy, stupid canoe between two stupid bodies of stupid water. |
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| Yes... it was as hard as it looks |
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| But certainly worth it (despite James' hernia) |
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| The outreach work was a lot of fun. Small planes to communities all over the Top End |
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| No blog about Darwin is complete without at least 4 photos of crocodiles. Here is one at Yellow Water. |
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| Here's one called Louis (as in Louis Vuitton). He was our friends' pet. That's right... we had Darwin friends with a pet crocodile! |
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| Here's one called Brutus. His name is self explanatory (note the unfazed gentleman in the white t-shirt) |
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| Our love of Yellow Water continued throughout the year. Kakadu is a spectacular place |
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| The wet season gave a very different perspective |
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| Watching a storm roll in from Ubirr rock |
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| Great to share with our friends |
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| Jim Jim falls |
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| Our secret is out... every dress up party we go to, we just use the same recycled boxes |
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| We even survived a night out on Mitchell St! |
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