Kakadu National Park-day 1
There are no speed limits outside the urban areas in the Northern Territory- so the trip to the Park Station entrance of Kakadu (171Km) and our first destination (198Km) could easily be done in 3 hours and allowing for a stop along the way to examine some gigantic termite mounds.
Here I am standing in front of a giant mound
alongside the road to Kakadu.
The folds of the mound are carefully built to create areas of sun and shade to control the temperature within the mound.
Up close the intricacies of the mound architecture are fascinating
We were picked up at the upstream boat ramp to embark on the Guluyambi Cruise down the East Alligator River which runs between Kakadu and Arnhem Land.
The leaves of some of the gum trees are used as a flavouring for foods.
Water cascading down from the Arnhem Land Escarpment has eroded the rocks
In some instances the erosion of the many layers of the sandstone has resulted in some magnificent and beautiful shapes and natural sculptures.
You need a permit to enter Arnhem land, but sightseers from the boat are allowed to go ashore at as part of the tour. Here I have the escarpment of Arnhem Land behind me.
During the cruise the Aboriginal tour guides talk
about their culture.
This is Jason.
He demonstrated his skills at throwing fighting sticks and here plays the didgeridoo, having mastered the difficult circular breathing required.
He has a great sense of humour, happily joking about the use of Toyota land cruisers, and cigarette lighters in lieu of lighting sticks and other modern variants to traditional aboriginal culture.
After Guluyambi,
it's only a short distance to Border Store at Manbiyarra
where this solar powered telephone was found, and only a further 2Km to the
rock paintings at Ubirr.
This shelter underneath the rock is filled with many, many paintings that have been done over the millennia.
The layers of sandstone give testament to the land's ancient geology.
Here pictures adorn the roof of the cave, in some
cases completely out of reach. How they were done is a mystery, even to the
experts.
The distinct image of a gun being fired tells us that some of the drawings are more recent.
Climbing the adjacent hill one can look back at the rock art gallery and Ubirr wetlands.
From the top of the hill one can see the miles and miles of wetlands.
That night we stayed at the Gagadju Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru, before embarking on day 2 in Kadadu National Park.
Kakadu
day 1
Jim Ball's Home page