Our trip to Australia began in Sydney. The highlights included Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbor Bridge, and the Bondi Beach.
Then, we flew to Cairns to travel further to Port Douglas. The highlight was Great Barrier Reef and Wild Life Habitat.
The next destination was Darwin, the northern city within Northern Territory. Territory is different from the Federal States in that the Territory does not have the final resources to be independent. Rather they have to depend on the Federal Government for financial support. The Territory's administrator is Chief Administrator, compared to the State's Premier.
Northern Territory represents almost one sixth of Australian land, but its population is approximately 250,000, about 1%. Out of this population, approximately 130,000 people live in Darwin and 30,000 reside in Pamelston, Darwin's satellite city. Darwin is known to have young male dominant population. Obviously, Darwin originates from Charles Darwin, English naturalist. Tropical Cycline Tracy davastated Darwin and its surroundings in 1974. And the current city has since been re-developed.
Northern Territory has Aboriginal people at approximately 25% of its total population, far higher than the national average, and this population centers around its capital Darwin.
We stayed at a hotel near the water front.
In Darwin, the tour highlight was the visit to Kakatu National Park. Our trip began early at 6:00am with a boxed breakfast. Our first comfort stop was at Park Tavern where we saw a couple of Albino buffaloes and a salty water crocodile.
Among Aboriginal people, there are language groups which then consist of clans and family groups. They claim that these Aboriginal people have been around for longer than 60,000 years. They have Creation Ancestors and operate with a kinship system. Their culture has been passing from generation to generation through oral traditions. Thus, they relied on art, song lines, dances, rituals, and creation stories. They believed that each individual has to gain the right to earn knowledge and with it comes a responsibility.
On the way, we saw a dingo, that looked like a dog or a fox, but a predator, on the road. Another predator that existed in Australia but now is extinct is Tasmanian Tiger.
We stopped over at Warradjan Cultural Center. But we were not allowed to take photos. The Aboriginal people's culture seems very well protected and not well shared. One thing notable was the indication of 12 months for things to be done during each month. Their toilet signs were kind of interesting.
There is Jim Jim River system. We took a Yellow Water Billabong Cruise. It was a cruise on the fresh water and swamps. The whole scenery was so wide open and so tranquil. We saw white-breast eagles and Jacana birds that have been nicknamed the "Jesus Christ bird" because they look like they are walking in the water. In fact, their feet are so long and they walk on the leaves in the water. In appearance, they look like they are walking on the water. This bird is unique in a sense that male birds raise their young birds while the female birds lay eggs and protect the family from any intruders. We also saw a few crocodiles and whistling ducks swimming among white lilies.
We visited Anbangbang Aboriginal Art Site. Their arts show their lifestyle vividly. Mother nature signals what is to come.
There are many rivers in the region, including East Alligator River, West Allgator River and South Alligator River. Some people may wonder why the rivers were named Alligator Rivers while alligators do not live in the river system. It was because the early settlers came and saw the crocodiles and thought that they were alligators from the U.S.; hence alligator names. They are misnomers. But these names still remain.
It was a long day from 6am till 9pm. We need to get up even earlier tomorrow. - Jeffrey
Then, we flew to Cairns to travel further to Port Douglas. The highlight was Great Barrier Reef and Wild Life Habitat.
Northern Territory represents almost one sixth of Australian land, but its population is approximately 250,000, about 1%. Out of this population, approximately 130,000 people live in Darwin and 30,000 reside in Pamelston, Darwin's satellite city. Darwin is known to have young male dominant population. Obviously, Darwin originates from Charles Darwin, English naturalist. Tropical Cycline Tracy davastated Darwin and its surroundings in 1974. And the current city has since been re-developed.
Northern Territory has Aboriginal people at approximately 25% of its total population, far higher than the national average, and this population centers around its capital Darwin.
We stayed at a hotel near the water front.
In Darwin, the tour highlight was the visit to Kakatu National Park. Our trip began early at 6:00am with a boxed breakfast. Our first comfort stop was at Park Tavern where we saw a couple of Albino buffaloes and a salty water crocodile.
Among Aboriginal people, there are language groups which then consist of clans and family groups. They claim that these Aboriginal people have been around for longer than 60,000 years. They have Creation Ancestors and operate with a kinship system. Their culture has been passing from generation to generation through oral traditions. Thus, they relied on art, song lines, dances, rituals, and creation stories. They believed that each individual has to gain the right to earn knowledge and with it comes a responsibility.
On the way, we saw a dingo, that looked like a dog or a fox, but a predator, on the road. Another predator that existed in Australia but now is extinct is Tasmanian Tiger.
We stopped over at Warradjan Cultural Center. But we were not allowed to take photos. The Aboriginal people's culture seems very well protected and not well shared. One thing notable was the indication of 12 months for things to be done during each month. Their toilet signs were kind of interesting.
There is Jim Jim River system. We took a Yellow Water Billabong Cruise. It was a cruise on the fresh water and swamps. The whole scenery was so wide open and so tranquil. We saw white-breast eagles and Jacana birds that have been nicknamed the "Jesus Christ bird" because they look like they are walking in the water. In fact, their feet are so long and they walk on the leaves in the water. In appearance, they look like they are walking on the water. This bird is unique in a sense that male birds raise their young birds while the female birds lay eggs and protect the family from any intruders. We also saw a few crocodiles and whistling ducks swimming among white lilies.
We visited Anbangbang Aboriginal Art Site. Their arts show their lifestyle vividly. Mother nature signals what is to come.
There are many rivers in the region, including East Alligator River, West Allgator River and South Alligator River. Some people may wonder why the rivers were named Alligator Rivers while alligators do not live in the river system. It was because the early settlers came and saw the crocodiles and thought that they were alligators from the U.S.; hence alligator names. They are misnomers. But these names still remain.
It was a long day from 6am till 9pm. We need to get up even earlier tomorrow. - Jeffrey
No comments:
Post a Comment