Darwin, land of the crocodiles

In Darwin, you do not walk within 5 meters of any body of water because there are so many crocodiles.  A bit unbelievable...but true. 

 We read numerous accounts of people who did not follow this advice.  The crocodiles are very dangerous.  There is an average of at least one attack per year on humans.  The stories that we read about the attacks were crazy.

On the road to see some crocodiles up close, we drove through some marshy wetlands.  There were a few stops to get out and look at birds but then you drove on a narrow road.  Next to the narrow road was a sign that said under no circumstances should you ever walk on this road because of the crocodiles and pythons in the area.  Crazy.

Jake befriended the resident python (a pet) at the Jumping Crocodile Cruise shop.

Here goes nothing!!  Kim was excited to see the wild crocodiles up close.  The whole process is kind of bizarre.  You sit on this boat cruising the Adelaide River.  Upon arrival on the boat, the driver tells you that for no reason do you stick any portion of your body over any part of the boat because if a crocodile grabs it, the driver isn't coming in after you to save you.  Good to know.

Every once in a while the boat stops and the driver looks around for a crocodile swimming towards the boat.  If he sees one, his assistant gets a slab of meat and hooks it to the end of a rope, connected to a pole.  She puts the meat next to the water to tease the crocodile.  Then she lifts it up high in the air, forcing the crocodile to jump all the way out of the water to get it.  (He actually has to go through this two times on different sides of the boat before he/she will get to eat the meat.)   It was really fascinating.

As the various crocs approach, they eye everyone in the boat.  They are deciding what they want to eat.  Fortunately, they go for the easiest food, which in this case is the meat on the rope.  But he/she will have to work for it.

This was a little one but look how far she jumps out of the water.

Another female.

We saw mostly female crocs, but the one in these two photos was a 4 meter long male....and he was a bit scary to see up close.

The crocodile tour was fascinating and well worth the visit.

Other photos from around Darwin:

One of the many termite mounds.

Local cattle

WW2 Oil Storage tunnels that were never used but interesting to see.

The safe way to swim in Darwin.  It is a wave pool that is right next to the ocean...but you don't have to worry about crocodiles or jellyfish stingers.

Alice Springs, the middle of the Outback

We took the Greyhound from Cooper Peedy to Alice Springs, where we were greeted by David and Margaret Hewitt who let us stay in their home for a few days.

Kim trying kangaroo meat.  It tasted like venison.  (While shopping for this dinner, we also saw a freezer labeled "Kangaroo Tails" at the grocery store.  We opened it up and it was full of kangaroo tails....fur and all.  A favorite among the local Aboriginal people. We opted for the steaks instead...)

Photos from a camel ride in the Outback.  It was just as the sun was going down and the weather was beautiful.  (This was one of Kim's favorite things that we did.)  There are actually millions of camels in the Outback....who knew?

Not the most comfortable ride but not bad.

On the trail.

Somebody pinch me....are we really on a camel in the Outback?

A singing camel...just kidding just another goofy looking animal.

And another one... 

Aah...the holidays in Australia...

Wow...we are a LONG ways from home!

Saying good-bye to Margaret and David at the train station.

Getting ready to board the Ghan train to Darwin (northern Australia).

On the way to the train.

On the train....our little home for the next 24 hours.  Next stop Katherine, then Darwin!

Cooper Peedy (cont.)

Cooper Peedy is located near the world's longest fence, created to keep dingos away from sheep farms.

And it stretches for miles and miles and miles

The search for the perfect opal for Kim was tricky but the search finally ended at this underground store.

Kim trying opals on.  Hmmm...which one is the best?

Jake making the big purchase.

Kim modeling her new opal.

A view of one of the main streets in town.  Notice the Christmas decorations.  A bit different from celebrating the holidays in Montana!

Touring an old opal mine made into a museum....

Hardhats were essential.

Posing with one of the manequins in the mine.

Jake exploring the mine.

The most expensive opal found at the museum gift shop.  It's a good thing Kim found a necklace at the other store!

Cooper Peedy : Opal mining capital of the world 

(Also famous because 50% of the population live in dugout houses underground due to the extreme heat in the Outback.)

Each hill has a hole next to it that goes down 100 feet and is 5 feet in diameter.  If you are a treasure hunter Cooper Peedy should be your destination.  For $55 Australian you can get an opal mining permit, choose your location somewhere within the 80 miles surrounding Cooper Peedy and dig a hole, hoping to find a seam of opal and strike it rich.  In this photo, Kim is "noodling" for opals in the slag piles of the mines.  If you are lucky, you will find your own opals this way.  As long as you can bare the 110 degree heat. 



Because you can leave your opal mining hole after you are done with it, there are many accidents that happen when people are walking around the opal mines and fall into one of the holes.  There are signs all over Cooper Peedy about the danger of walking around beween the opal mines.  And of course, there is a rescue squad....



This is an example of one of the opal stores in town.  Notice the sandstone walls.  This is actually a store that is underground.

A visit to an underground church.

Photos from an underground house.

Yes, and we even tried sleeping underground.  Sleeping in a cave is quite the experience.  The temperature is always nice and cool and it is dark any time of the day.

The local golf course...not to appealing on those 110 degree days

A snapshot of our trip through Australia!

We were blessed to have so many different experiences and adventures in Australia.  Here is a snapshot of the highlights:

Adelaide

A visit to a little German town outside of Adelaide named Hahndorf that had all kinds of German restaurants and shops to visit.

Kim trying on a hat to ready herself for the Outback.  (The hanging corks are to keep the flies away from your face.)

 

Kim hanging out with the locals.

Julie and Mark were our tour guides for the 2 days that we were in Adelaide.  They did a great job showing us around!

Riding through the Outback on the Greyhound Bus.