Darwin - Part Six

Not far from where I was staying was the entry to the oil storage tunnels built during World War II.  This time of the year may be humid and hot, but it keeps the majority of tourists away.  I had the space to myself for most of my visit.  The tunnels were built after many of the oil tanks were destroyed in the Japanese bombing of Darwin in 1942.  The cost blowout was enormous, they started to leak, and all the planned tunnels were never finished.  In fact they were not used for the war, and later in the 1950s, when used to store diesel for airplanes, there was bad leakage so they were never used again.

You can walk the length of the largest tunnel, and along one wall are lots of historical photos.  The name of this inn is self-expalantory

How friendly can you get?

Darwin - Part Five

When visitors arrived in Darwin in the 1800s they had to make a steep climb from the port along a route called the Travellers Walk.  Of course things have been made a lot easier for us tourists "reliving" the experience.  There is an interesting mosaic mural along the way.

I also found mosaics around the waterfront

Darwin - Part Four

I liked the Darwin City Council logo.

And yes, I did see heaps of dragonflies in the air.

Is this where Ray Martin gets his hair done, perhaps?

Darwin - Part Three

I was staying at the Medina Vibe near the waterfront.  To get to the city you can go via the skywalk.  First you take a lift up 5 floors...

 Then you keep walking.  Easy peasy...

Darwin is the home of the Larrakia people, and this owl symbolises a spiritual ancestor.

This shaded walked reminded me a little bit of the bouganvillea archway in Southbank.

All along were reminders of Darwin's multicultural identity, with words in different languages.

The mall had an interesting sculpture at its entry.

Darwin - Part Two

What would my life be without food and drink?  Actually, what would ANYONE'S life be without it...So, here's a bit of an overview.  Wednesday night was dinner at the Fiddler's Green.  I had lambs fry, bacon and mash - YUM!! (no pic - I ate it too quickly LOL).  Of course, there was Guinness on tap.  One of my companions mixed hers with lemonade.

I've always known this mix as a shandy, but the barman called it a portagaff...

Thursday night saw us back at the same venue where I craved Spaghetti Bolognese - nursery food, I know, but EXACTLY what I felt like eating and it tasted as good as it looks.

After a hot walk into town on Friday I slaked my thirst with a frozen margarita - not the best I've ever had - but the kick was there.

You may not be able to tell, but this is a giant glass.  Printed near the rim was a friendly reminder to enjoy drinking in moderation - oops - too late!!!

Saturday was time to try the local barramundi.  I ordered mine grilled.  It looked good

but it didn't taste as great as I thought it would.  It fell apart all too readily and seemed watery - frozen perhaps?  The water bottle at this place was deceptive.

I added two glasses of wine to my liquid intake over lunch, and later in the day I tried another margarita - totally different from the one the day before - more expensive - but I can't say it was better.

Dinner was a total disappointment.  I walked to the Stokes Hill Wharf precinct which is jumping with people at night.  I'd been told there would be some great laksa there.  Well, I wish I'd found it.  Mine was the combination laksa - 2 small prawns, lots of fake seafood sticks (what DO they put into those?) a few bouncy bits of chicken, some nice pork.  The sliced carrots and broccoli on top were totally raw, the soup lukewarm, and, well, I won't be going back...

Darwin - Part One

Most people don't head to Darwin until the Dry - there is less humidity and the temperatures are milder.  But I had some work there last week and took the opportunity to spend a couple of extra days there.  No one who knows me will be surprised when I say that the heat and humidity suited me just fine.  As it was the tail end of the Wet, there weren't any spectacular storms or light shows in the sky, but I did get some rain and some lightning.

Although we commonly refer to only 2 seasons - Wet and Dry - the Indigenous Australians of the Kakadu region recognise 6 seasons -with this part of the year designated the Monsoon season.

When you arrive at Darwin Airport you're greeted with a vibrant carpet design

art under the canopy

and on the bollards.

Zips

While at the Boonah Getaway Girls retreat on the weekend I snuck out to visit a new op shop - and found a huge bag full of zips - I spotted some interesting old metal ones I want to use for crafty endeavours.  I picked off all the stray threads and then soaked them yesterday ready for playing...

Broken

I've had a run of breaking things recently.  Let's just slide right past the unfortunate incident concerning a glass spice jar and the pantry's brick wall (I was just trying to loosen the hardened spice, and was just TAPPING the jar against the wall - gently - honest!).

I was given a lovely Kosta Boda glass pear about 30 years ago - and it has survived years of moving - but the other day the little stopper was accidentally vacuumed up, and when I fished it out of the bowels of the vacuum cleaner - boo hoo! - it was in two pieces...

This mug was given to me by a friend who has since passed away...not usable any more I'm afraid...

Such a lovely design too...

The Search Continues...

Register

Tucked around the corner in a Cleveland Cafe - an old-looking register but new-ish keys...

Sort-a, Kind-a?

The place to go if you aren't that great, but can kind-a do it??

The Fig Tree Cafe

Lunch with Sue in Camp Hill - a club sandwich full of yummy fillings!  The best part was sharing time with a friend.

The cafe has changing works of art - this was on display in January -

Flowers from Bronte

She is a lovely generous girl - these have been opening every day - and more to come.  I think of her every time I pass them in the kitchen...