KAKADU - COOINDA - NOURLANGIE - YELLOW WATER - MAGUK

We seem to be having difficulty leaving Kakadu! Bruce, the campground manager at Cooinda has been shaking his head with a wry smile, as we keep extending our stay and throwing a proverbial spanner in his booking schedule. Needless to say we are enjoying the surroundings immensely.

It may sound strange, those reading may say 'but you've been on holiday for 12 months', however it's actually tiring traveling around, living in a confined space, having to shift home every few days and being transient in many peoples lives. Each place we visit we generally have a huge list of things to see and experience, ticking them all off, then moving on to the next location and invariably the next big list! So to prop for these past two weeks or so has been a sigh of relief. Time to stop and do other things that we love, and to reassess. For the first time in almost 12 months I got my paints and easel out and spent the whole day painting and drawing - it was so nice. We've had time to sit and read a book. In a way, we realized that we had made our lives just as busy by traveling, as they were, consumed by working. Our passions were still being left on the shelf, pushed aside as a once in a blue moon luxury, rather than a priority.

We have met some lovely people whilst staying here. A couple from Mackay who have been on the road for 18mths. Traveling but engaging their passion. Rod is a Copper Artist, he has his workshop decked out in the back of the van and creates pieces that he sells or posts orders along the way. He hand carves the piece on board, then copper plate is hand pressed over the design, and hand tapped, moulded and buffed to produced the desired colours and textured detail. Hours and hours of dedication. They were spectacularly exquisite. I was inspired! If only we had a wall to hang things on.

Our traveling days with the Okely clan came to an end, as they departed and headed south toward home. The following day Becc and Chris, friends from Echuca, who have also been on the road for 12mths lobbed here too - what an excellent surprise! So of course we stayed longer to spend time with them, swap healings, share a meal or two, and generally enjoy their company whilst we can, a real treat.

We checked out the art sites at Nourlangie. Re-visited the rock pools and plunge pool at Maguk - watching crazy locals jump from 25m off the escarpment. Discovered the 'only safe' swimming hole according to the traditional owners at The Rock Hole and went on both the sunset and sunrise Yellow Water cruises.
Since it is late in the season, and there aren't many people around as it's becoming quite hot and humid, they have a deal buy one, get next one for 25 bucks. The sunrise cruise was definitely the best! Up close and personal with some of Creations most beautiful creatures:
Comb-crested jacana - the 'jesus bird', as he walks on water, skipping across the dinner plate sized water lily pads;
Azure kingfisher - a stunning little bird with bright orange chest and azure blue body; Whistling ducks; Magpie geese; Darter; Egret; Golden Tree Snakes-non venomous; Green pigmy geese; Black Bitten Bird - this one was a real find! Normally very shy and hard to spot, this bird when it walks extends its neck and has a brilliant yellow streak that extends from the base of its head to its body;
Jabiru - female and male pair, wow!! This was definitely the highlight for me.
Brolga family, mum, dad and juvenile; and the glorious White-bellied Sea Eagle, he was perched way up in the branches of a tree, scouring the billabong below, then whoosh... He dove in front of us, talons extended, swish, easy as, he picks up a fish half his body length and flies off over the water to another tree for breakfast, whilst managing to fend off the persistent Kytes that were scamming for a quick meal. Of course there were a few crocodiles or 10, but I was a bit over them by now. The birds were much more fascinating and alluring.

We will be departing Kakadu on the weekend, heading for Three Ways Crossing toward QLD. We are house sitting in a little place called Bonshaw in October for friends celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary. We are very much looking forward to catching up with them, having a bit more living space, getting our hands dirty in the veggie garden and I'm so excited to have the opportunity to play with a sewing machine!