Hello dear blogsters - after a hectic few days in Darwin and now Kakadu, at last I can give you an update on our travels. City life is so darned hectic - didn't have a moment for the blog!
In the evening, we all traipsed out to Mindil Beach for the famous Mindil Markets. Mum, Margaret, Danni and I headed off in one direction and Dad and Uncle John in the other - I think it was something about the way we were hanging around the clothing stalls that made the blokes decide NOT to stay with us. Anyway we had a delicious dinner sitting on the beach watching the sun set.
After dinnner, we girls went and spent some money buying cool clothes (good bargains to be had at this market). We then headed back to the camp site - where Margaret, Danni and I played cards to while away the hours until Lachlan and Sam arrived at 12.50 am (slightly earlier than Margaret's flight the night before). Lachlan and Sam were quite tired after their long day - leaving Coffs early and then spending 12 hours at Brisbane airport waiting for their next plane.
Our camping spot was not exactly peaceful and restful as we also had a large road construction site happening next to us with all of the associated noise and dust.
On Sunday we went for a drive and had a look at more of the sights of Darwin. Sunday evening we went back to Mindil Markets so the boys could have a look (and so we could enjoy some more good food and a good sunset). 
I bought some aboriginal art there and the others picked up some presents for home.
On Monday morning we farewelled Margaret, packed up and headed off towards Kakadu. We stopped off at the Windows on the Wetlands Visitor Centre to check ou the view and some information about the landscape we were entering.
We drove on, into the Kakadu National Park and decided to camp for the night at East Alligator River. We set up in the camp ground and quickly bathed ourselves in mossie repellent - the mossies were vicious! After this, Lachlan, Danni, Sam and I went out to have a look at the Alligator River. This River is croc infested and can be quite dangerous - so we didn't venture too close to the water's edge.
We continued on to have a look at a bird hide and wetland. It was really beautiful - and all you would imagine to find at Kakadu: a huge wetland filled with water lillies and birds. We went for a walk and saw a family of wild pigs feeding at the water's edge. Sam also spotted little green frogs hiding in every pandanus plant.
On the way back, Lachlan and Danni saw a crocodile in the Alligator river (we were safely travelling in the car at the time).
When last I left you, Danni and I were still shuddering after our toad racing experiences.
After the toadie races, Danni and I had to stay up late, late, late - waiting for Margaret's plane at 1.50 in the morning. Needless to say we REALLY wanted to sleep in the next morning - but a zillion fighter jets zooming over us at sparrow fart made sure we were up nice and early!
We did some washing (yawn), puddled around the campsite and made lots of exclamations about the heat, wallowed in the swimming pool for a while and went for a drive to the city (sort of like Bendigo - only quieter).
In the evening, we all traipsed out to Mindil Beach for the famous Mindil Markets. Mum, Margaret, Danni and I headed off in one direction and Dad and Uncle John in the other - I think it was something about the way we were hanging around the clothing stalls that made the blokes decide NOT to stay with us. Anyway we had a delicious dinner sitting on the beach watching the sun set. After dinnner, we girls went and spent some money buying cool clothes (good bargains to be had at this market). We then headed back to the camp site - where Margaret, Danni and I played cards to while away the hours until Lachlan and Sam arrived at 12.50 am (slightly earlier than Margaret's flight the night before). Lachlan and Sam were quite tired after their long day - leaving Coffs early and then spending 12 hours at Brisbane airport waiting for their next plane.The next morning we dragged ourselves out of bed ... once more to the dulcet tones of the screaming fighter jets taking off. We dawdled around all morning and then Sam went out with Dad and Uncle John to have a look at the aircraft museum. He will provide an account of this in the next blog (with photos). Margaret, Danni and I went to have a look at the museum and art gallery. The aboriginal art work was wonderful 
and the display about Cyclone Tracey was really interesting (they had a darkened room where you could stand and listen to a recording of the sound of the cyclone - very scary!). We returned to the museum a couple of days later so Lachlan could have a look - and also so we could have a look at "Sweetheart" - a crocodile which terrorised people near here for quite some time several years back. I must say I think stuffed is a good way for him to be!
and the display about Cyclone Tracey was really interesting (they had a darkened room where you could stand and listen to a recording of the sound of the cyclone - very scary!). We returned to the museum a couple of days later so Lachlan could have a look - and also so we could have a look at "Sweetheart" - a crocodile which terrorised people near here for quite some time several years back. I must say I think stuffed is a good way for him to be!On Friday night Margaret, Danni, Sam and I took ourselves off to the deckchair cinema. Lachlan decided to stay back at the camp as the films weren't his style... and Mum, Dad and Uncle John also decided to have a quiet night in. The cinema was wonderful - out under the stars beside the beach - the weather was warm and the deckchairs comfortable (complete with cushions and free mozzie repellant). We had a visit from a pesky possum who was looking for food and kept running over our feet. He wasn't at all concerned when I tried to push him away - just grabbed my hand to check to see if it had any food in it. The movies were great and we had a really fun night.
Sam, unfortunately, came down with the gastro bug which Lachlan had had a few days before - very nasty and wiped him out for a day or so. It was a shame because he would have loved to have checked out the open day for the fighter jets. Anyway - Mum, Dad and Uncle John did go and have a look - and its about at this point that I am going to take a break and let the blokes tell their story - helped by Mum.
The Bloke's Blog
What a sound and sight show greeted us when we arrived at our caravan park in Darwin. Close to the city sights, and beside the airport runway - the significance of this you will come to realise as we tell our story.
One could be forgiven for thinking this is a war-zone - as we had driven into 'Operation Pitch Black', an airforce exercise involving F111s, F16s, Hornets, various fighter planes and 2 giant planes with their huge satellite dishes which provide radar support to the fighters. There are teams from Malaysia, Singapore, France, England, USA, Thailand, The UN and Australia participating. The exercise, to be held over 3 weeks, is a serious affair between two teams: "Darwin" and "Tindle" and this week, it is a night exercise. One cannot hold a conversation whilst the planes fly over at approximately 2000 km per hour, but for us it is so exciting.
On Saturday, the airport (RAAF base) had an open day with these planes and personnel present to answer the many questions and one could even sit in the cockpit of a fighter plane. 
Our camping spot was not exactly peaceful and restful as we also had a large road construction site happening next to us with all of the associated noise and dust.Darwin is a bloke's paradise because on Saturday and Sunday over 7000 rev-heads attended the annual Shannons Motor Extravaganza where there were 14 T model fords on display as well as about 800 other vehicles, including vintage and classic cars and 200 motor bikes.
Ok, thanks blokes for the input ..... and mum for the help in getting it! As an addition to this - there were 2 T model Fords in the caravan park - all set up for long distance travel, complete with fold out camping set-ups (one was a roof-top job). Very swish indeed.
On Sunday we went for a drive and had a look at more of the sights of Darwin. Sunday evening we went back to Mindil Markets so the boys could have a look (and so we could enjoy some more good food and a good sunset). I bought some aboriginal art there and the others picked up some presents for home. On Monday morning we farewelled Margaret, packed up and headed off towards Kakadu. We stopped off at the Windows on the Wetlands Visitor Centre to check ou the view and some information about the landscape we were entering. We drove on, into the Kakadu National Park and decided to camp for the night at East Alligator River. We set up in the camp ground and quickly bathed ourselves in mossie repellent - the mossies were vicious! After this, Lachlan, Danni, Sam and I went out to have a look at the Alligator River. This River is croc infested and can be quite dangerous - so we didn't venture too close to the water's edge. We continued on to have a look at a bird hide and wetland. It was really beautiful - and all you would imagine to find at Kakadu: a huge wetland filled with water lillies and birds. We went for a walk and saw a family of wild pigs feeding at the water's edge. Sam also spotted little green frogs hiding in every pandanus plant. On the way back, Lachlan and Danni saw a crocodile in the Alligator river (we were safely travelling in the car at the time).As an aside....you may have noticed there are not a lot of photos of Lachlan on this blog - he hates having his photo taken. So, for all of those who are missing him - here is a picture of his toes!
After dinner I headed over for a shower - a lovely shower but somehow appropriate to be sharing the shower cubicle with 6 frogs and 3 lizards. We settled in to a good night's sleep, woken only briefly in the night by a short shower of rain.
Sam had a little trouble working out where the edge of the rocks were.... but it's ok Angelle, he managed to hang on and get back up again. 
Now, as a little post-script. You may remember Paddy was feeling a bit down in the dumps a while ago and a bit grumbly. All is now wonderful as Margaret brought a little friend for him. He and Izzi are getting along famously and, after a bit of a rocky start when Paddy quite forgot his manners and got a little over zealous with Izzi - things are progressing beautifully for them both. The following are just a few images of their little holiday together.
After dinner I headed over for a shower - a lovely shower but somehow appropriate to be sharing the shower cubicle with 6 frogs and 3 lizards. We settled in to a good night's sleep, woken only briefly in the night by a short shower of rain.This morning we woke up (Danni and Lachlan are competing for the "Lazybones, Sleep-In" award) and packed up. We drove a short drive to Jabiru, with Mum, Dad and Uncle John stopping to have a look at the wetlands on the way. When we got to Jabiru we stopped in at the visitors centre for a look - quite an amazing building with a heap of really interesting and informative displays -all written in both English and the local Aboriginal language. We checked into a lovely caravan park, had lunch and a swim and then set off to have a look at Ubbirr Rocks in Arnhem Land (about 35 km away).
The landscape was just spectacular and the aboriginal rock art really stunning (Mum, Dad and Uncle John actually managed to see it this time). 
We climbed up to the escarpment and watched the sunset... well we watched the sun go behind the clouds anyway.
We climbed up to the escarpment and watched the sunset... well we watched the sun go behind the clouds anyway. Sam had a little trouble working out where the edge of the rocks were.... but it's ok Angelle, he managed to hang on and get back up again. Now, as a little post-script. You may remember Paddy was feeling a bit down in the dumps a while ago and a bit grumbly. All is now wonderful as Margaret brought a little friend for him. He and Izzi are getting along famously and, after a bit of a rocky start when Paddy quite forgot his manners and got a little over zealous with Izzi - things are progressing beautifully for them both. The following are just a few images of their little holiday together. Well that's all for tonight blogsters. Stay tuned for the next exciting episode. And in "say hello to siblings" mode: Hello to PJ from Me, Hello to Bethanie and Sheree from Lachlan, Hello to Tim and Jasmine from Sam, Hello to Katy and Brian from Danni, Hello to Rosemary and Graham from Mum, Hello to Adrian and Von from Dad..... and hello to everyone from Uncle John.
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