let's gamble Gold Coast

Sometimes when I don't blog for a bit I tend to forget what I wanted to share about my time is various places. However, my time in Darwin/Kakadu/Litchfield was so memorable I don't think I'll ever for get my experience there.

First of all, I could easily spend my three months in Kakadu National Park, because there is SO much rich history and so much to offer and explore. It is truly a special and spiritual place. Many aboriginal people still live on their land and on Anhem land which borders Kakadu. 

Kat my tour guide was incredibly inspirational and probably the coolest Australian I've met so far. She reminds me of me a little bit in her lust for adventure and passion for the outdoors. 

Before I even left on your I had the most amazing encounter with an older gal whom came from the desert. She was flying to Darwin to visit her grandson during her holiday. She is from New Zealand originally but has been teaching and living in the bush with one of the aboriginal cultures in central Australia. She saw me journaling on the plane and then she also saw me reading a book by an Australian author. She asked if I was enjoying the book as she had just downloaded it the day prior on her tablet. She also mentioned that journaling was a lost art and started fiddling around in her bag. She pulled out the most beautiful journal and told me that she journals as well; journals about the aboriginal children, how they grow up, her own experiences with aboriginal people in and outside of the classroom. She said she try's to jot down a few words a day so that she can go back and read about her memories as she gets older. 

Colette was her name. Upon arriving to Darwin we gathered our bags and she and her grandson offered me a ride to the hostel I was staying at! The kindness here is just amazing. I am truly grateful to have met her. And I definitely plan on contacting her when I go explore New Zealand! 

We set off on our exploration of Kakadu. Now for Kat this was her second wet season guiding tours  and her excitement is what really set the bar. The change of landscapes as we drove was like day and night. One second it was wetland with few trees and swampy grass areas and the next minute jungle. The escarpment that runs all along the East side, the Alligator rivera that run straight through the park and the incredible vegetation and wildlife are what make Kakadu so unique. The biodiverse nature preserve offers much more than just protected land, species of animals etc.  It offers incredible history of the aboriginal people. Original rock art paintings that tell stories from Dreamtime and incredible life lessons. 

Now, in one of my previous posts I had mentioned my story about Fabio and his friends reason for living to 107. (I promise I'm getting somewhere with this).. 

1. Genes. What is passed down from generation to generation. 

2. Stay away from negative people.

3. Never ask for help when you can do it your self. 

So while I was looking out over Ubirr and mesmerized by the view and the culture behind this place, our group got to chat with Marcus, the grandson of Bill Neidjie (whom was instrumental in the process of Kakadu becoming what it is today, a UNESCO World Hertage site). 

Back to Marcus. Hearing his stories of "grand dad" and growing up having to go to white school learn English and then come home to Ubirr and speak his native language and learn from his father and grandfather was unreal. Sitting there, in the humidity with a gentle breeze kissing my skin and history being shared right in front of my eyes was a chilling and humbling experience. 

The three things mentioned above got me thinking during my time in Kakadu. How the aboriginal people have lived here and survived on the land that is so dense and weather that's is sometimes so rough with the changing of the season?

1. Genes: passing down of not only genes but aboriginal law,  stories, hunting, culture is so evident here with the aboriginal culture is remains sacred. 

2. Stay away from negative people: in their case white man. they created a culture by themselves and white man with their negative ways (coins/money, alcohol, tobacco, schools to "wash away the aboriginal in the kids") used these things to infiltrate their culture and ultimately steal their land from them. But not only did they steal land, white man built cities on top of their land, truly demolishing their culture and leaving many aboriginal cultures lost. 

3. Never ask for help when you can do it yourself: they never asked for help from the white man. They hunted and gathered. They used their environmental resources. They have their own language never asking for anything from the white man. They have lived here for over tens of thousands of years and never asked for help. They have a deeper connection with the land which their ancestors have managed teach future generations. A greater understanding of the importance of water and fire alike. 

Litchfield is also a very special area, beautiful watering holes, tons of waterfalls, but there is something about Kakadu that I feel I connected with more. 

Nonetheless my time in Kakadu and Litchfield was much too short. I know that in my heart I will be back there someday. 

Gold Coast has been amazing. My wonderful host Bill has been so gracious! Not to mention throws rad parties at his house!! 

I spent the day yesterday with a fellow wanderer. Ben is a friend of a friend and was living in AZ for 15 years and has just moved home to Australia. He took me all up and down the coast, driving  me past tourist areas and then taking me to way local beaches and lookouts and overall an awesome day of good conversation, great craft beer and soul searching (for the both of us) 

I have a big announcement: I'll be heading back to the States on Janauary 10th. Bittersweet. For sure.


Cheers,
k