More territory

Following some incompreheansible policy making I suddenly had a free trip for someone to come up and see me in the territory. After more knockbacks than I care to mention (I'm getting some new family and friends) a mate of mine packed a bag and jumped on the plane.

Katherine and Darwin are great places to visit, but after some time I've found that one does really run out of things to do. So to show the sites we went to the Jumping Croc cruise (which I had not yet experienced) - the crocs seemed a little fake and swam up to the boat expecting to be fed - in the wild that felt a little strange. We also experienced a fishbowl drink at the tap and got annoyed by slurring lads - as to be expected in Darwin. We also drove for ages to see the termite mounds and have a paddle in Bluey rockhole.

I also got to have one last visit to one of my fave places in Darwin, the Trailor Boat Club, its on the beach and has cheap drinks and a huge variety of food.

Things I've learnt in the Territory

1. No hat is too big
2. 130ks an hour can feel slow and is often just a suggestion
3. Road trains are like taxis in Sydney, unpredictable - keep out of their way
4. Dental health in Australia is non existent
5. Wild animals are very very stupid especially when it comes to very big cars
6. Strangers are not to be trusted and customer service will arrive in the territory in 2015
7. There's remote, then there's Remote (e.g. 80ks on a sealed rd verses 4 hours, half on dirt and a $500 barge to get across the river)
8. Good coffee is a rare commodity to be treasured
9. Scabies can be transmitted through shaking hands
10. Shoes are always optional
11. The road is a safe and comfortable place to sleep, especially after a few green cans

Welcome to the Northern Territory, please turn your clock back 10 years

I always wondered why the asylum seekers sewed their lips together. Now that I'm staying in the ex-Baxter detention centre accommodation I know why. A small box with no window, a air conditioning unit from 1983 that intermittently blows bits of debri onto you, and a shower that makes me cry every morning. Three quite painful streams of water hitting your body is not something to look forward to. Half of me is being scalded, the other half freezing as I sidle up to the wall to get close to the stream of water pointed straight down the wall at the floor. Don't even talk to me about washing my hair - it'd be funny if it wasn't 3 months of my life.

Oh for a proper shower, a queen size bed, a glass of wine within arms reach and the ability to leave my house without getting attacked by dogs, kids with scabies, pigs, bulls or donkeys (yes, donkeys, we apparently have a feral donkey problem- I fall asleep to their lulling brays).

Heartbreak Hotel & Caranbirini - Teeth optional

What is one to do on all these long lonely weekends in the NT? Head down to the Heartbreak seems to be the answer. So on Saturday I jumped in my government funded vehicle and drove the 500 or so ks to Cape Crawford. There is nothing, and I mean nothing at Cape Crawford other than the Heartbreak a shop/camp ground/hotel/bar type establishment. Where the meals were a welcome change from the burgers and schitzels I had been enduring so far through the NT. And the Corona's were $5...or often free as the bar tender attempted to get me drunk...quite achieveable since I've been living in a dry community.

One thing that is near by is Caranbirini, the poor mans version of the Bungle Bungles, but since I haven't seen the Bungle Bungles I was quite impressed. Towering domes and interesting trees all looked fabulous in the afternoon sun. I'd never heard of the place, but I was pretty happy I drove the 30 or so ks out of Cape Crawford to see it.

The evening was an interesting one, more hats and belt buckles than you could poke a stick at and a small smattering of flannels - worn in un-ironic fashion. Drinking rum (and the odd girly alcopop) seemed to be the pastime of the local ringers, stockmen and cowboys, who all seemed to take a keen interest in the new girl in town.