Hello all from the Northern Territory of Australia! I arrive yesterday afternoon (Monday) after around 24 hours of travelling - cream crackered to say the least and slept like a baby last night! My flight from Singapore left on time, and it was amazing! Was with Quantas, had amazing food, fresh fruit selection all night and free booze, and films and television programmes that you could watch, fast forward, pause etc as and when you pleased! Was fantatsic, although so much on-board entertainment, plus an Aussie guy named Alex sat next to me, meant that i didnt sleep a wink the whole journey and instead watched 2 films and the whole of series two The Office!!! (im so easily pleased!!) Arrived in Brisbane, where i had to change planes, and walked outside to go to the Domestic Terminal......and it was COLD!!!!!! FAN-bloody-TASTIC!!! I was the only moron in a t-shirt, but was absolutely loving the chill in the morning air.....reminded me of home.....and i had a smile on my face constantly for around 3 hours that i was finally in Australia, and that it was not going to be warm everywhere, and that i had reached new soil and new adventures were to follow! Boarded my connecting flight, where, i hate to say it.....(guys from the tour and Anja you will appreciate this!) i threw Frank (my pillow) away! Yes, i know i know, it was hard, but i was getting seriously funny looks lugging him around, and if i want to make friends then Frank had to go......we'd spent a long 3 months together, but i bought a replacement, a much smaller replacement, and i had the best two hours kip on the plane to Darwin, so was a great move!! Arrived in Darwin, on a beautiful, beautiful day! The weather here is fantatsic, and is the middle of their dry season so is very busy, but i hopped onto a shuttle bus which took me to a hostel i had hoped to stay in. Unfortuntely they were busy, so i took a walk around the town and found a YHA (Youth Hostel Association) place and got myslef a bed in a nice dorm for the night and then set off exploring! Darwin city itself is very small, and the majority of the Northern Territory area is taken up with national parks and wildlife. So i took a walk around the town, the novelty of people speaking english is yet to wear off, and whilst ordering dinner last night im sure the waiter though i was 'spethal' as i was acting all my words, and could feel myself doing it! I explained id just spent a long time in a non-english speaking continent, and he seemed to understand a little more!! ha Decided to stay awake all day yesterday even though id had a sleepless night, and early evening i went to the cinema to see Click, was nice and relaxing and knew i had a lot to squeeze into my two full days here, so wanted to be on the ball for today. Met some lovely girls in my dorm, so had a nice chat with them, where they gave me loads of tips on Australian travelling, everyone ive met seems to have been here for months! Today i moved hostels, and am staying at one with a pool, called The Cavenagh. is nice, although i wont have time to enjoy the pool facilities. Today i have explored the outter suburbs of Darwin and at five o'clock i am heading on a solo walk, about an hour out of town, to a beach called Mindil Beach, which apparently hosts a beautiful sunset.....and we all know from looking at my photos how much i love a good sunset! Tomorrow i have booked myself on a day trip to Litchfield National Park. The park is littered with waterfalls, monsoonal rainforests, spring fed creeks and swimming holes, and the trip also includes a cruise down the Adelaide River where we will witness the jumping wild crocodiles. Plenty of nature and wildlife for one day, and i hope to see all that the Northern Territory has to offer in this time, although being such a vast place i have a feeling i may want to return....... Australia is so expensive compared to Asia, as i am beginning to realise, and doesnt help that there is so much to do, which all costs money.....but dont know when i'll be here to do it again, so am going to make the most of this time, and maybe work a little harder than i had originally planned during my time here to ensure i can do all that i want to. The time difference here is 8 and a half hours ahead of home, and not sure what it is once i arrive in Alice Springs, but will be in touch to fill you in on what ive been up to soon. Hope you are all well, and be safe in the knowledge that i am now officially on the other side of the world to you all..........lots of love, me xxx