Yes the prices have taken a hike but has not stopped us spending. First two days in Darwin did very little just too hot even Keeley was hiding from the sun. We did however get to cook for ourselves which was very good after four months eating out. We went to the botantical gardens, very nice but very hot. Also managed to make it to the museum and art gallery where the airconditioning made it very very cold while outside it was still very hot. Found some scietific type games meant for kids I think but me and Keeley had fun playing. The aboriginal art was also very good. We did however manage to miss the % metre long crocodile sweetheart!

It was an early start for our tour of Litchfield and Kakadu. We went first to see some giant termite mounds including some that always faced north as the termites were sensitve to magnetic north. We then got to swim in a number of pools and rivers with waterfalls. Then on to a boat down Mary river crocodile hunting. We saw lots of big salties and the not as big freshwater ones. The crocodiles were mostly lazing in the sun but I don't think anyone fancied a swim. That night we camped in Kakadu park and went on a night walk into the bush saw a beautiful spider and some great owls Luke (the guide) even jumped into a river and emerged with a file snake. All of this was soon eclisped when we came to a small pool and spotted a small freshwater crocodile. Luke once again carefully lowered himself into the water and captured the croc (think he has a bit of Steve Irwin in him). Luke was out of the water with the croc in his hand and obviously all of us admiring the croc was making lots of noise when we heard a splash behind us. It seemed mum a two metre freshwater croc had come looking and was not happy. We put the small croc back in the water and departed quickly.

The next day we got to do some more swimming in a great collection of pools a much needed respite from the heat. Saw lots of wildlife around such as wallibies, wallaroos, buffalo, wild horses a frilled necked lizard, dingos and lots of birds. We then went to Ubirr to see some traditional cave paintings and to admire some spectactular views. The cave painting mostly told stories to teach lessons by scaring the children, tales that usually ended in death. On the way from Ubirr to our campsite we were treated to some fantastic lightening and thunder.

On our final day it was still very hot. We climbed up to Jim Jim falls to swim again. Only a trickle on the top but when it is flowing tons of water comes down, would love to see it. Lots of crocodile signs on way up put Keeley off having a swim and the crocodile stories the night before also did not help. The way up was over broken boulders so being hot and sweaty not to mention the flies I dived into the water. Back in Darwin we went for a night out with the group the pub was very much like a bad bar in Wakey with a world famous breast painting competion. Needless to say as you do we had a few drinks danced and woke up feeling none too good next morning.

And yes it is still very hot.