Just arrived back from Kakadu. Yesterday we started the tour by getting an aboriginal blessing before entering Kakadu that would protect us from getting hurt. We got dropped off in the middle of a forest and told to follow our aboriginal guide down a track. He stopped at the billabong and hit the water a few times with a big stick to scare away any crocodiles. He then filled a can with water and brought it back. He showed us a few of the leaves and plants they eat including one which tasted quite sweet but looked a lot like celery. He then took the can a one by one we stepped forward and he drank a bit of water then spat it back on our foreheads and said a few words, which was the blessing. We then continued to follow him along another track which lead to a aboriginal camp area. Here we sat and were taught about the instruments they use and how they make them. The tribe members then gave us an example and then allowed us to have a go at playing the Didgeridoo. They then showed us how they make their paint and put all the colours in stripes on our arms. We then moved over to where a young girl was weaving and she taught us how the baskets and mats were made. She said that one small basket can take up to 3 weeks to make. We were then asked to join in a tribal dance before leaving on the bus.

Next we got on a cruise on the Mary river billabong. Here we saw a lot of birds including the Jabiru. I did ask and its not the same as the one in Brazil and is about half the size. One the cruise we saw one saltwater croc which was about 4.5 meters long. The flowers that we saw were about 50 cm across and the stalks were made up of lots of fibres that were really strong. After the cruise we finally entered Kakadu. At the entrance they had started a controlled burning of the grass to reduce the risk of fires in the summer. Just inside the park we found a giant termite mound that was twice the height of me. We then went to Ubirr. Here there was a lot of aboriginal rock art ranging from the very old to the modern. The top of the hill here also gave a great view of the Kakadu park. We then headed for our nights accomodation. The night was very hot as it stayed at 35 degrees and there was no air conditioning in the tents.

The next morning we headed for Boulders Creek where there was a very nice waterhole to swim in. Half way up the walk the path disappeared. One girl and I said we should just follow the dry river bed as it was bound to lead to something. Our guide said he knew a short cut up the hill so we followed him. Half way up the hill we had to start scrambling over rocks and round trees and through spikey grass and most of us were only wearing flip flops. Some decided to head back but I carried on and we eventually found a waterhole in the shade. The one below was in the sun so we found a route down to there. By the time we got there the others were already in the waterhole swimming as they had gone back and followed the original river bed. After a well deserved swim we headed to a waterfall to have a quick swim there before having lunch. After lunch we got on the bus and headed to a drop of point. Here a few people and I got onto another bus to return back to the hostel, the others went to spend another night camping and then a day in Litchfield. On the way back we saw an amazing sun set. The sun was bright red just on the horizon. Our bus driver said he would pull over so we could take photos but in the 30 seconds it took for us to get out from the trees to a clearing the sun had gone down.

I now have a couple of weeks in Darwin to explore so tomorrow is a rest day after almost 21 days touring.