LillMore about Darwin
May 25th 2008 06:49
We were lucky enough to have someone to stay with on our visit to Darwin. She took us to Kakadu and Leichhardt National Park and also out drinking. Drinking, what can I say. It seems everyone she introduced us to had a beer (well not just one) after work everyday. Beer or spirits depending on the person were consumed like water (but obviously the side effects were a bit more laughable). All the drinking brings to Darwin a real social vibe.
“It’s just so hot there’s nothing else to do”, our host tells us laughingly. It was pretty funny and we felt our tensions from city living melting away after a few days. It’s easy to relax when everyone’s including us is tipsy by noon and the heat is in the high 30s with 99% humidity, you just plonk loosely into a deck chair in the shade of the palm trees and don’t move because you can’t move, it’s too hot!
Of course it’s not just alcohol that is responsible for our relaxed visit, Darwin people are generally brilliant folks and the weather combined with it being a small town (small relative to other Australian capital cities that is) adds up to make it a great place to be.
We visited early November, in ‘the build up’. The build up is the time before the wet season - the water is building and building in the atmosphere, everyday is more humid than the next, the air is thicker, the bugs are in high numbers, the electrical storms are constantly firing above in big, looming clouds for weeks on end, then, one day, finally the sky bursts with torrential rain and the whole place floods. It’s brilliant! And yes, more reason to celebrate and drink some more
Darwin’s a party place because nature makes it so. It’s impossible to not be affected by the dramatic change in seasons and my guess is that for thousands upon thousands of years parties have been held to celebrate the rains. Seeing the dry, flat plains that seem to go for thousands of kilometres (and they do) transform into lakes full of new life is a wonder of nature.
So if you’ve got the winter blues go to Darwin. The time’s right for an easier climate than the one I just described (in other words don’t go in November if the above description of heat and humidity didn’t appeal to you). The people are fantastic, friendly and up for a chat. If you’re the type of person that likes to ride a bike around on your travels it’s heaven – there are no hills! Speaking of hills, our host told us a story about a friend of hers, born and raised in Darwin, who went to Brisbane for the first time. Driving up and down hills was terrifying for her! It was not only that she didn’t know if her car would make it, the mere experience of it really rattled her! Likening it to a rollercoaster ride! We laughed at the story but it was all true. Rest assured the car did make it and her friend has since adjusted fine.
It’s a fun reminder travelling is great! It opens your eyes and mind up to things you couldn’t (or wouldn’t) have done in your home town. Full of adventure and little things (or big things like those hills) that remind you you’re alive. The thrill of the unexpected and the insights you carry with you after the journey’s over stay with you for ever. Go travelling. Get out there if you’re not already. Go on. Then tell us a story
“It’s just so hot there’s nothing else to do”, our host tells us laughingly. It was pretty funny and we felt our tensions from city living melting away after a few days. It’s easy to relax when everyone’s including us is tipsy by noon and the heat is in the high 30s with 99% humidity, you just plonk loosely into a deck chair in the shade of the palm trees and don’t move because you can’t move, it’s too hot!
Of course it’s not just alcohol that is responsible for our relaxed visit, Darwin people are generally brilliant folks and the weather combined with it being a small town (small relative to other Australian capital cities that is) adds up to make it a great place to be.
We visited early November, in ‘the build up’. The build up is the time before the wet season - the water is building and building in the atmosphere, everyday is more humid than the next, the air is thicker, the bugs are in high numbers, the electrical storms are constantly firing above in big, looming clouds for weeks on end, then, one day, finally the sky bursts with torrential rain and the whole place floods. It’s brilliant! And yes, more reason to celebrate and drink some more
Darwin’s a party place because nature makes it so. It’s impossible to not be affected by the dramatic change in seasons and my guess is that for thousands upon thousands of years parties have been held to celebrate the rains. Seeing the dry, flat plains that seem to go for thousands of kilometres (and they do) transform into lakes full of new life is a wonder of nature.
So if you’ve got the winter blues go to Darwin. The time’s right for an easier climate than the one I just described (in other words don’t go in November if the above description of heat and humidity didn’t appeal to you). The people are fantastic, friendly and up for a chat. If you’re the type of person that likes to ride a bike around on your travels it’s heaven – there are no hills! Speaking of hills, our host told us a story about a friend of hers, born and raised in Darwin, who went to Brisbane for the first time. Driving up and down hills was terrifying for her! It was not only that she didn’t know if her car would make it, the mere experience of it really rattled her! Likening it to a rollercoaster ride! We laughed at the story but it was all true. Rest assured the car did make it and her friend has since adjusted fine.
It’s a fun reminder travelling is great! It opens your eyes and mind up to things you couldn’t (or wouldn’t) have done in your home town. Full of adventure and little things (or big things like those hills) that remind you you’re alive. The thrill of the unexpected and the insights you carry with you after the journey’s over stay with you for ever. Go travelling. Get out there if you’re not already. Go on. Then tell us a story
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