*NOTE* when you travel on your own, you are never alone. There are always interesting people that love to share their story and listen to yours. The only time I have been *alone* is when I wanted to be.

Apr 27 - May1 Darwin - is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin is the largest city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, with a population of 136,245. It is the most northerly of the Australian capital cities, and acts as the regional centre. Darwin has grown from a pioneer outpost and small port into one of Australia's most modern cities.

Darwin's proximity to South East Asia makes it an important Australian gateway to countries such as Indonesia and East Timor. The city itself is built on a low bluff overlooking the harbour. The region has a tropical climate, with a wet and a dry season. The city is noted for its consistently warm to hot climate, all throughout the year. Prone to cyclone activity during the wet season, Darwin experiences heavy monsoonal downpours and spectacular lightning shows. The greater Darwin area is the ancestral home of the Larrakia people. On 9 September 1839, HMS Beagle sailed into Darwin harbour during its surveying of the area. John Clements Wickham named the region "Port Darwin" in honor of their former shipmate Charles Darwin, who had sailed with them on the ship's previous voyage which had ended in October 1836. The settlement there became the town of Palmerston in 1869, and was renamed Darwin in 1911. Having been almost entirely rebuilt twice, once due to Japanese air raids during World War II and again after being devastated by Cyclone Tracy in 1974, the city is one of Australia's most modern capitals.

People in the Northern Territory (Cairns, Alice Springs) seem more relaxed, not so *union minded* and generally nicer. I guess it is because of the remoteness and harsher conditions, people have to get along and help each other. I arrived in the morning of April 27, so was only able to wander around a bit and decide what to do. I found a bike rental place - yah. This evening, I took in the opening night of the market and sunset on Marlis Beach. The sunset was outstanding; the colours become more intense as you move towards the equator. The night market was packed and full of so much *stuff*. I did buy a nice kangaroo leather bracelet for a decent price though! An hour after sunset, the fireworks started…nice way to end the evening - I went back to the hotel early - sleep!!

The next day, I slept in - ahhh. That night, I went on a lovely *Sunset* cruise, sat with a couple from the Territories. We ate great seafood and watched another outstanding sunset and drank wine - brilliant! While waiting for a taxi, I ran into Dani - from Melbourne. She was a bit intoxicated and had left her family at the restaurant as she was pissed at them. Feels familiar (I have done that as well when I am the target of unfair and cruel discussion - because I am a bit eccentric. Well at least I am not boring!) Turns out she was a futures trader in Melbourne now married with 2 kids and eccentric - same story. Then as we waited for a taxi, a mid 30ès soldier turned up. He was back from his 3rd tour of Afghanistan. We ended up walking (no taxi turned up at the taxi stand - whatever) to a bar for a drink and listened to his fascinating stories. He wanted to move to USA or Canada to either enlist but really to get away from his soldiering. No wonder people are messed up after they return from trying to help a nation that is so psychologically chaotic and disordered. I realize why we bother - it's the oil, or the protection of a source of oil or basically, our survival in the manner we have become accustomed. Introducing democracy or a free market system to another country creates consumers, to buy all the s*** we deplete the worlds resources to make and then call it *civilized*. I am unsure whether our world can have peace when irrational thinking believes killing off another group of people (infidels, enemy tribes etc) is the way to solve problems caused by different beliefs. Like my husband says - it is not our problem, but I sure hope our kids and the next generation from everywhere can sort it out.

Today it is off to rent a bike for a self guided tour. The bike paths are good and I was able to ride out to the museum, only lost 2X! Very interesting that almost every museum I visit in Australia discusses the theory of Natural Evolution by Darwin and Wallace and the breakup of the original earth *Pangaea* into *Laurasia* to the north and *Gondwana* to the south. Australia is remote and has such unique flora and animals that have adapted to this climate and harsh environment - a scientific playground so to speak. There are so many dangerous snakes and spiders and trees because it really is a *live or die* environment. Aboriginals adapted - with their strict code of conduct amongst their people for a very long time. Then came the convicts and their *masters* to mess with it. I wonder what Mother Nature has in store next for Australia….hmmm. As now they scour the land for minerals to sell to China, the most malevolent, power hungry, COMMUNIST nation on earth; for the almighty dollar to feed the insatiable desire of people like us to live in luxury, acquire *stuff* and eat themselves to obesity - sounds familiar…it was called the ROMAN EMPIRE. I digress.

The other little known fact, at least to me, was that Japan bombed Darwin on 19 Feb, 1942; 10 months after Pearl Harbour. A first strike of 188 Japanese bombers killed 122 people and two hours later, another 54 bombers hit again. There were massive amounts of damage to the navy and city. Japan raided Darwin another 62 times. They were helped by 10 American Kitty Hawks which eventually helped stave off the raids. Darwin was not officially a city of Australia, but rather a territorial outpost. The raids were kept under wraps and apparently fairly well as I did not know this story! I wonder what else we *don't know*!

Last day - an exciting day for an Outdoor Seaplane Adventure! First we take a float plane (my first) out to a swamp-river where there is a boat anchored. Then it's a helicopter ride from the boat around the area to spot animals. Not being familiar with the landscape, most of them escape me but the flora is unique! After a lovely lunch; an air boat ride around the swamp lands and rivers. It is mysterious and eerie with lot of spider webs and other creepy crawlers. The driver takes us for a fast ride through the water ways - like in Florida. We don't see any of the HUGE salt water crocs living here - but am sure they are there! We relax a bit then back to Darwin on the Sea plane. Great last day!

Now off of Australia and onto my first trip to Asia; starting with the Republic of Singapore!