the Top End

A short journey out of Darwin traveling on the Arnhem Highway, past fields of Mango farms,  past Humpty Doo, into some wetlands, and on the Adelaide River, we arrived in Kakadu, home of the Jumping Crocodiles, stars of a Famous Show and tourist attraction.  Yike!  We threw caution to the wind. We were well aware that keeping our hands, arms and toes tucked safely within the confines of the boat was a good idea.  We headed out into the wilds of their natural habitat.  We wanted to be one with these bad boys. 

Fight! Fight! TI

I have been thinking about the blog and blogs in general.  I wonder why all the blogs are happy blogs....? When people blog they always try to find the positive.  No one is ever grumpy.  Where is the REALITY? Who wants to hear the negative?  Oh, sure.... I know who you are.... Well, today I have the juice..... I have to tell you what happened today.

In for a Visit....

Cruising the Great Barrier reef on the way to Thursday Island the water was like glass, a mirror.  It was so smooth and the air so still I found myself on the balcony just watching and taking it all in. It was beautiful.  I happened to look down from 8 decks up and found an unlikely friend swimming alongside of us.  I think it was a Hammerhead Shark!  Yike!  He was on TOP of the water, imagine that.  Just think how large he was if this is what he looked like from my balcony.  No swimming in this reef, for sure.

Great Barrier Reef

It is almost noon, lunch, Trivia and Captain -Update-From-The-Bridge time.  I am sitting at my desk on the computer on a grey rainy day.  I welcome the rain.  When I look out, I see a ring of black sea on the horizon.  I have never seen a black ring before.  An eerie beauty, a puzzle..... Out to my balcony to take a picture to share it with you. Looks like a storm is brewing ahead.  A black ring..... something different.  Will keep you posted!

Movin' on Up... Townsville and Cairns

7AM view from our balcony, Cairns

We are heading up the Eastern side of the Australian Coast. In the last two days we visited Townsville and Cairns.  Both days included tours.  My brain is about to explode after 9 hours of information overload by all our knowledgeable guides.

The Floods can only throw a curve...

Australia continues to surprise me in a positive way.  It just keeps growing, changing and getting better.  People are friendly and it has a laid back ease about it.  I enjoy being here.  Brisbane is a delightful place to visit.  It is the largest city and capital of Queensland.  It has a small town Chicago feel to it, celebrates and preserves its past and moves toward the future with wonderful modern glittering high rises built in its center.  It has a lazy meandering river running through it with Venice like boats for transportation.  Life seems easy and good here most of the time. What doesn't excite me is the heat, subtropical weather and the threat of floods and cyclones. Nothing is perfect.

It's All About Arriving and Departing...

If ever you have an opportunity to be on a cruise with Sydney as one of your ports of call, I would say always wake up early and sail in with your eyes wide open. At 6AM I was out the door and headed up to deck 12, camera in hand.  Although still dark, the sun was cutting a sliver in the sky.  Nature never fails to awe.  A new day was beginning.