Day 16: Darwin

Day 16.

Darwin.

Writing this on our flight to Darwin. (I am editing it 5 days later back at Darwin air port. We had no real wifi whilst away. I also say that some content may be dodgy due to intense heat and humidity and an attitude of- Susan has gone native?).

We had no difficulty with regard to our flight; due to the Belgium airport horror the Australian Premier asked the airport staff not to strike for the sake of a potential weakness in national security. So the strike for the time being is cancelled.

We caught the rush hour train to Sydney Domestic Airport. Traveling at rush in the suburbs is very manageable. We were not squashed like sardines.

A couple of things I noticed at the airport about security. It is a domestic flight and you are allowed bottles of water. Also liquids and creams are not asked to be presented.

Next stop Darwin.

And arrived. And do you know what?

It’s bloody hot! 35° and humid. Took me back to Doha. Walk out of a hotel and your sunglasses stream up.- can’t see a bloody thing. Actually Doha wasn’t too humid but I do remember the first time my glasses steamed up.

Our hotel is good. The Vibe Darwin Watetfront.

Our first room presented 4 insects which needed killing. We reported this to staff and we had our room changed. We now have a waterfront view and have not spied any beasts.

The Wave Pond is just outside our hotel which is very few and handy. ( 4 people in it when we were in). We had a good go at that. Huge waves but less intimidating than Cornulla yesterday. Great fun and we had huge rubber rings and we got thrown around fairly safely. A real blast.

A meal at The Char

In the evening we went to a restaurant which a friend of Rachel had recommended: The Char. It has a certificate for being the top restaurant in The Northern Territory. And I chose the barramundi which Liz said was the best she’d eaten.

It was delicious, the staff certainly know their stuff, the wine was good and the price was of course appropriate to all these factors. A treat.

I think I have decided I fancy more treats.

There are many restaurants and bars considering Darwin is a small city.

Darwin.

Darwin suffered badly with bombing during the Second World War and with a cyclone in I think 1974. It has been rebuilt and keeps much of its Colonial quality.