Strange day in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.........

This was definitely a very different expedition day!

It was the end of the trip, we'd left the ship, enjoyed 
seeing Darwin, moved on to Kakadu National Park, 
and ended up here in Arnhem Land.  

Paula and I were hardly up for 106 degrees in blazing sun, 
armpit soaking, water slurping, dripping humidity, and the 
red dust of Australia's remote Northern Territory - known 
as the 'Top End'. However, thrill seekers (fools perhaps), 
sign on for crazy adventures such as this.................and 
we can now look back and share memories of how exciting one 
of the more strange days we shared down under.

The magic bus appeared early morning at our crocodile hotel in the Kakadu (more on that another time!) 

with Miss Leah at the wheel......and just four more 

crazy tourists hopped aboard with us.

  

Above, Cahill's Crossing on the Alligator River (but 

remember, there are no alligators in Australia, 

only crocodiles).

First stop, the Border Store for the outdoor bathroom 

break, snacks and cold drinks...............

.............and to watch this little Aboriginal boy 

fascinated by a faux crocodile swimming in in a large pot!

Of course the crocs rule here...........warning signs 

are everywhere and being close to water is somewhat

    nerve wracking.....................

..........which is why I'm scoffing down my lunch 

on the billabong beach where Leah said to stay 

waaaaay back from the water!

While eating, we were suddenly joined by several 

decrepit vehicles speeding through the sand within inches 

of us. Overloaded with Aboriginals, these cars were 

heading to a funeral in a nearby village. We and our 

food were soon coated in sand........hardly a 

bucolic country picnic.

The Arnhem Land Region's population is 16,230 and it  

has been occupied by Indigenous people for tens of 

thousands of years. It is the location of the 

oldest-known stone axe, which scholars believe to be 

35,000 years old.

The climate here is tropical monsoon with a wet and a dry season.  

Temperatures do not fluctuate widely throughout the year, it's always hot.

Declared an Aboriginal Reserve in 1931, it 
remains one of the largest in Australia 
and is best known for its isolation, the 
art of its people, and the strong continuing 
traditions of its Indigenous inhabitants.

Some areas of deep cultural significance to the 

Indigenous inhabitants are off-limits even to those 

with permission to travel across Arnhem Land.

The land is beautiful in a rather melancholy way......silence 

is pervasive. Lots of birdlife, especially around the 

wetland areas - the billibongs - which are small, stagnant 

lakes adjacent to, or cut off from, a river or creek, and 

often dry up completely in the dry season. We were visiting 

at the very end of the dry, the wet coming hot our trail 

we were told.

Arnhem Land Region - northeastern corner of the 

Northern Territory, Australia..........a spectacular 

and diverse landscape, a different place where the culture 
and art of the Indigenous people remains strong.