Nature at its best.

On Friday 12th August a group of our friends invited us out for tea at the waterfront Trailer Boat Club.  It was another chance to have a nice meal with friends and maybe view a beautiful sunset and this time we weren't disappointed with the sunset - it put on a very beautiful display for us.  I have been waiting for this for the whole 4 weeks we have been in Darwin.    David took these photos on his camera as the evening progressed - note how the colours change as the sun gets lower and lower - a beautiful display!!!!

Our table - before everyone arrived

Julie!!

Even the water turned pink!!!

Half Star Living!!!!

On Monday 8th August we took the caravan in for warranty repairs.  Just a few of the 30 or so things that have needed fixing since we bought the van 6 months ago (some things have been fixed more than once)!!!!    The repairers wanted the van for two days to get the repairs done - so there went our house on wheels!!!!!!  There weren't too many options for a place to live for us but we decided to buy a small tent, one burner gas stove and two air mattresses!!!!  as we may need the tent at a later date. Our neighbour here had a spare fridge in their annexe so we put our few cold foods in there.    We had everything else we needed to survive living outside in 33 degree day temp.!!!   It was an interesting time and ended up being 2 nights and 3 days before we could collect the van.  During that time we both had to work also.

The finer points and not so finer points of small tent camping!!!!!

 (1) the first night on the air mattress gave me such a sore neck and a migraine all the next day (during which I had to work for 4 hours) that the second night I just slept on the sleeping bag on the ground!!!! (or tried to  sleep!!!!)
(2) The sandflies attacked big time while we sat outside to eat, read, etc!!!!
(3) by the second night we were so hungry from eating only small amounts of food we went out for tea for a
     feed!!!!
(4) the first night our German neighbour in a tent talked to his wife on his mobile from 7pm to midnight with no    
     concern about being quiet!!!!!
(5)  the second night our German neighbour did the same thing!!!!!! and there was a beach party going until
      nearly morning with loud bass music thumping!!!!
When I think about it there were NO FINER POINTS to small tent camping!!!!  Actually we had power and   water still so we did have an electric jug and a fan!!!!!

We were ssssoooooo happy to have our house on wheels back again with air conditioning to cool and block out the night disturbances, a comfy bed, gauze to keep out the mossies and sandflies, a fridge and kitchen!!!!

From this !!!!!

To This!!!!!!!
Note the German guys tent in the background.

 

Was it 4 star to 1/2 a star living?????


 

Darwin Wharf

Thursday 4th August we took Joan and Julie to the Stokes Hill Darwin Wharf for tea.  The Australian National Maritime Museum's replica of Captain Cook's ship HM Bark Endeavour was making an historic circumnavigation of Australia and was at the Wharf for a week or so and we wanted to see it too as well as visit the wharf.   The wharf is a very popular place for dining out and you can sit right at the edge of the wharf to eat and there are no safety railings!!!!   We had a really nice meal of Barramundi chips and salad.      After leaving the wharf we called at the Mindil Markets for dessert (fresh tropical fruit salad and ice-cream, Julie had mini pancakes, topping and ice-cream).

The Brolga Award winning Stokes Hill Wharf is a symbol of the growing Top End’s development – linking the history of its colourful past to modern day living and pointing its directions to the future with the further redevelopment of the surrounding waterfront areas.

The history of the Wharf dates back to the early 1800s with the arrival of European settlers. They soon established the overland telegraph by laying cable from Java to Darwin. The hard work of the early settlers and pioneers soon was paid off with the rewards of the goldrush and the pastoral industry which determined the fate of Darwin.

On 19th February 1942, the Japanese bombed Darwin, with the Wharf bearing the full force of the invasion. Many ships and amphibious planes were sunk and many civilians, service personnel and waterside workers lost their lives.

Withstanding the hardships and tragedies of its perilous past, the Wharf survived only to be under attack again by the forces of Cyclone Tracy in 1974.

Regardless, the Wharf Precinct area is now an important contributor to the Territory’s economy by providing a world class cruise ship berth at Fort Hill Wharf and servicing leisure craft, fishing vessels and smaller commercial vessels at Stokes Hill Wharf. Not forgetting of course, the international and Australian naval vessels who are regular visitors to Fort Hill.

There are a wide range of eateries at the wharf featuring many national and international dishes. You may make your selection and eat next to the pristine waters of Darwin Harbour under a canopy of a million stars whilst watching the barramundi, batfish, dolphins and many other species of fish that gather under the lights in the aquatic reserve. There is also a licensed takeaway bar in the eatery and a dedicated dessert shop. The tropical sea breezes make this a very popular outdoor venue for locals and visitors alike

Joan (left) and Julie in front of the Endeavour Replica

Endeavour Replica

Diners on the Darwin Wharf

Tables right to the edge of the wharf (a long way above the water)!!!!

Mindil Beach Sunset Markets

Last Thursday night we went to the Mindil Beach Markets.   It was a real eye opener on how Darwin does things their way.

   In 1987 six people's vision to bring a taste of Asia's night markets to Darwin came to fruition. Mindil Beach Sunset Market supports over 300 small businesses, provides employment for more than 1000 locals and contributes more than $15 million to the Northern Territory economy each year. The Markets are renowned for the magnificent sunset over Mindil Beach and the relaxed, stunning tropical setting. Visitors can experience this in a vibrant, friendly and stimulating environment. On any given Thursday & Sunday throughout the dry season market patrons can enjoy the tastes of five continents, with over 1200 different menu items, and an extensive array of handmade craft including crocodile products, indigenous art and jewellery. Every week a variety of live entertainment is offered including live bands, street performers, cultural dance, acrobatics and fire shows.


It was an enjoyable and very different evening for us and we just watched in amazement as people in the hundreds started heading to the beach about a half hour before sunset - so we followed them.  And the closer it came to sunset the more crowded it became.   Even though the sunset wasn't spectacular that evening the atmosphere of the crowd was infectious as they 'waited with anticipation' and most had cameras.
We weren't too adventurous with our food choice - just ate chinese first course then a fresh tropical fruit salad with ice-cream.    If possible we will go again before we leave.

The setting sun is behind me - looking towards the sand dunes and the market (amongst the palms and trees)

I'm standing on the sand dunes - photo to my left 1/2 hour before sunset

To my right about 15 minutes after previous photo

Down goes the sun - notice people are only to the waters edge. (Swimming is banned because of box jellyfish and crocodiles!!!!

One small section of the crowds at the markets

David has a job

Yesterday Friday 28th July during a conversation between the manager, Cheryl and I, I learnt that the fill in cleaning guy for the toilet blocks, ensuites etc in the park was sick and the guy they put on to replace him did his training day yesterday and said he wasn't doing that job anymore.   So when I finished work David and I went to see the manager.  The job was for just the days that the other two cleaners have off each week.  So David worked with the main guy today to learn the ropes and see if he thought he could handle it ok.  It is just 3 days a week (Tues, Wed, Thurs).    So Tues. Wed. he will  clean 6 amenity blocks, 12 camp kitchens, personal ensuites on van sites when the people check out. Thurs. he will clean 5 amenity blocks, 10 camp kitchens and 2 pool amenity blocks.   Tues, Wed (which is what he did today as training) is 48 toilets, 48 showers, plus the amenity block floors, 42 hand basins, 24 laundry tubs, the 12 camp kitchens, plus who knows how many ensuites on vacated van sites. And that all has to be done in 5 - 6 hours!!!!!!!!    And he wonders why he has some sore muscles tonight!!!!!!    Wow what a job - my job is a breeze compared to his!!!!

I Have a Job

On Tuesday 20th July we were driving out so David could leave his resume for a part time job he was applying for - he went into the caravan office on the way out and when he came back to the car he said there was a sign on the office desk for urgently wanted cleaner/s.    The job was for a cabin cleaner and the manager said that he didn't want men cleaners as women do a better job so he asked me if I had done this sort of job before and what were our plans as far as how long we were staying here at the park.   I told him I had done holiday rental cleans and we would be able to stay a month or so here - so he asked, could you start tomorrow??   So just as easy as that I had the job.    He said it would only be for the next 3 to 4 weeks while it was still the busy season and it was only for about 2 to 4 hours a day, 5 days a week on and 2 days off.  There was already another lady (Cheryl) cleaning the cabins so I would be working with her.  Which all sounded just what I was after.     Well the reality has been just a little different from that!!!!!!    I started next day Wednesday (6hrs work), Thursday (8 1/2 hrs work), Friday (4 hrs work on my own), Sat (7 hrs work on my own).  Cheryl has Friday, Saturday off and I have Sunday, Monday off.   So for a part time job for 2 women working together it wasn't a bad week eh!!!! (25 1/2 hours in 4 days).   But even with being so busy I'm really enjoying the job, much easier than holiday rental cleans as the cabins don't have toilet or bathroom and only half of them have a sink with cold water!!!   So it's just a matter of stripping the queen bed, remaking it, replacing all other linen, washing all surfaces, vacuuming the floor, mopping the few floor tiles, then washing all the linen from the rooms and hanging it on the clothes lines. Next morning then folding all the linen.   The washing can be a marathon if there have been extras in the rooms with extra linen.  But there are only two large washing machines so we spend a lot of time sitting and chatting while waiting for each load to finish.  But hey we figure if they want to pay us 'sit down money' who are we to complain!!!!!  But there has been  one plus to it - I have learnt the correct way to fold a fitted queen sheet so it folds flat!!!!!!  There are some good fringe benefits to the job also - we get a big reduction on our van site fees (employee rates) and any photo copying etc we need doing the office will do for free and we can do our own washing in the big machines too!!!
David missed out on the job he was applying for - they were showing another guy the ropes when David turned up with his resume.   So he has decided he will be a caravan husband while his wife works!!!!!    He has the caravan repairs to get organised so has to be available at any time to take the van to the repairer so it's impossible for him to have a full time job anyway. And he has been doing some other jobs on the van too - and watering the lawn around the van, it's getting fairly green already.  Our van neighbours are going away tomorrow as the guy has to have an op. so they've asked us to keep an eye on their van and gear for the week so will be two van spaces of lawn for David to water!!!

An update on my job - Cheryl leaves next week so I'm on my own then - but after this long weekend the cabin bookings drop right back to just a few so I will be able to handle it on my own and will just keep working until we leave to head west.

Above and below - one of the cabins (no sink, running water)

Upper class cabins - with sinks and cold water!!!

Lower class cabins - without sinks!!!

Darwin Part 2

Sunday 17th July we went to David and Sandy's for the morning then in the afternoon to the mission in Palmerston then  everyone took a picnic tea to Nightcliff  on the beachfront to eat while watching the sunset - beautiful.

Part of the Nightcliff picnic tea - Russell is centre stage in the front row

The other half of the group - Russell is centre stage again!!!!

The sunset at Nightcliff Beach - I have no idea what is in the left top corner - maybe one of those mimi spirits that the guides at Kakadu were telling us about!!!!

When we arrived at Lee Point Village Resort we booked in for 3 nights then a couple of days later we extended it to a week as we were really enjoying just chilling out for awhile and wanted to see some more of the area.  We have work to be done on the van so were looking for a caravan repairer to do the work so David needed some time to get things sorted out for that too.  

Lee Point beach - 800 metres from our van park

Lee Park beach - no swimming allowed because of box jellyfish and crocodiles!!!