Wet feet again
22 Februari 2014 | Australië, Darwin
G'day Mates!
We hired a car to drive from Brisbane to Cairns. Luckily this worked out, as my translated drivers licence was expired because the Dutch Motor Association (ANWB) only gives out a translated version valid for one year, instead of the period of the official driving licence; the cheap bastards.
Down here are some amazing traffic signs, warning for kangaroos, koalas, floodings... Note the one warning public to clean your yard, to be prepared for storms (picture). We learned a new traffic rule: while in Europe you just quickly park wherever there is a spot before it's taken, here in some states that is not allowed, ending up in a parking ticket for parking the wrong way around (picture on the rental car). A great way to start of Valentines day... As there is a signs for just about anything except this, we founded this worth a trip to city hall and complain. After filling a file, stating that we are poor tourist and so on, we hope the ticket will be waived.
We made a stop in the Australian Zoo, founded by Steve Erwin (picture) (famous quotes: "Look at this!" & "It's Amazing"). However, as our expectations where higher and we did see and petted already kangaroos and Koalas, we moved on the Whit Sundays for a 3 day boat trip.
Whit Sunday is part of the Great Barrier reef: sailing, snorkeling and diving, it was all there. Being on the east coast, it is not recommended to swim without an anti-jelly-fish stinger suit (pictures). We did spot several sting ray, big turtles and sharks when the boat mate dropped us on a small island (pictures). The view at low tide, from up the hill is just stunningly beautiful (pictures). Or what about the sun set, this time from another island (picture). The sun power here is extreme, we are defending ourselves with a 1 liter, factor 50, can of sun screen lotion (picture). The quarter liter we bought before was finished in no time.
Driving further north we encountered some very heavy rain fall, it ended up in a, on 2 occasions, 20cm water layer on the main interstate high way. As we had a fully insured car, we drove on. From Cairns we took a plain to Darwin.
Darwin is a city in the tropics, with a rain season, as we would soon find out. We did a 3 day camping group tour with a big 4 wheel truck. Speaking about water on the road... (pictures). Also the camp site road turned into a river (picture). But all this water does end up in beautiful waterfalls and on some places we could even swim (pictures). Spotted a dingo in the bush as well.
In Kakado National Park there was a boat tour. The water level was already 2 meter higher than in the dry season, leading to lots of flooded places, all because of rain fall. See for example the road sign that is now in the water. On the, in the dry season, parking space, we spotted a huge salt water crocodile (picture). Fresh water, but salt water croc? That's right, even though this was a fresh water area, a salt water croc can live there. Not 100% sure why, the Aboriginal guide had a huge Aussie accent. After seeing that, we take those warning signs about crocs (picture) much more serious. Kakado park is also home to some great rock formations, with super views (picture) and Aboriginal art (picture). Some art as old as 60.000 years.
Now on route to Perth, till the next update.....
We hired a car to drive from Brisbane to Cairns. Luckily this worked out, as my translated drivers licence was expired because the Dutch Motor Association (ANWB) only gives out a translated version valid for one year, instead of the period of the official driving licence; the cheap bastards.
Down here are some amazing traffic signs, warning for kangaroos, koalas, floodings... Note the one warning public to clean your yard, to be prepared for storms (picture). We learned a new traffic rule: while in Europe you just quickly park wherever there is a spot before it's taken, here in some states that is not allowed, ending up in a parking ticket for parking the wrong way around (picture on the rental car). A great way to start of Valentines day... As there is a signs for just about anything except this, we founded this worth a trip to city hall and complain. After filling a file, stating that we are poor tourist and so on, we hope the ticket will be waived.
We made a stop in the Australian Zoo, founded by Steve Erwin (picture) (famous quotes: "Look at this!" & "It's Amazing"). However, as our expectations where higher and we did see and petted already kangaroos and Koalas, we moved on the Whit Sundays for a 3 day boat trip.
Whit Sunday is part of the Great Barrier reef: sailing, snorkeling and diving, it was all there. Being on the east coast, it is not recommended to swim without an anti-jelly-fish stinger suit (pictures). We did spot several sting ray, big turtles and sharks when the boat mate dropped us on a small island (pictures). The view at low tide, from up the hill is just stunningly beautiful (pictures). Or what about the sun set, this time from another island (picture). The sun power here is extreme, we are defending ourselves with a 1 liter, factor 50, can of sun screen lotion (picture). The quarter liter we bought before was finished in no time.
Driving further north we encountered some very heavy rain fall, it ended up in a, on 2 occasions, 20cm water layer on the main interstate high way. As we had a fully insured car, we drove on. From Cairns we took a plain to Darwin.
Darwin is a city in the tropics, with a rain season, as we would soon find out. We did a 3 day camping group tour with a big 4 wheel truck. Speaking about water on the road... (pictures). Also the camp site road turned into a river (picture). But all this water does end up in beautiful waterfalls and on some places we could even swim (pictures). Spotted a dingo in the bush as well.
In Kakado National Park there was a boat tour. The water level was already 2 meter higher than in the dry season, leading to lots of flooded places, all because of rain fall. See for example the road sign that is now in the water. On the, in the dry season, parking space, we spotted a huge salt water crocodile (picture). Fresh water, but salt water croc? That's right, even though this was a fresh water area, a salt water croc can live there. Not 100% sure why, the Aboriginal guide had a huge Aussie accent. After seeing that, we take those warning signs about crocs (picture) much more serious. Kakado park is also home to some great rock formations, with super views (picture) and Aboriginal art (picture). Some art as old as 60.000 years.
Now on route to Perth, till the next update.....
-
22 Februari 2014 - 10:10
Edwin:
Hoi,
Veel beleefd weer in korte tijd, ik zie dat je ook de moeite neemt om je af en toe te scheren :)
Handig die pakken tegen kwallen, water is vast redelijk warm. Wat een apart klimaat, dan weer heel warm, dan overstromingen, dan weer storm. Jammer van die parkeerboete, heb gehoord dat hier in BE dat ook in mijn straat zo is. Is om gevaarlijke situaties te voorkomen als iemand moet keren en een ander komt met volle vaart aanrijden. Australie is verder heel gaaf zo te zien. Tot later!
Groeten,
Edwin -
22 Februari 2014 - 12:18
Adrie Burrie:
Hoi Peter en Inese,
Schitterende foto's. Inderdaad, scheerapparaat stuk??? Jullie vervelen je in ieder geval niet haha.
Schaatser doen het perfect hier. Straks finale volgers. Nederland heeft al zilver, nu dus voor goud gaan!
Temperatuur hier net anders, 10 gr, maar geen winter te bekennen. Tot lezens.
Groet en kus,
Adrie en Auk -
22 Februari 2014 - 12:52
Toni:
.hier het stormseizoen ook nog niet afgelopen, maar vandaag(zaterdag 22-02-2014) wel wat zon en droog...,prachtig land australie,,veel te zien....wel een kadootje met valenstijns dag, geen leuk kado .....jullie zien er goed uit, lekker kleurtje..grappig die grote jerrycan zonnenbrand, niet eng om te zwemmen met die haaien hier en daar en die krokodillen lijken mij ook niet zo prettig -
22 Februari 2014 - 23:22
Nathalie:
Hey Peet,
Zo te lezen maken jullie niet zoveel mee -
22 Februari 2014 - 23:27
Nathalie:
Het lijkt alsof er een deel van m'n berichtje wegvalt. En anders beter 2 keer geplaatst dan niet..
Leuk om te lezen allemaal, jaloersmakend!
Veel plezier nog en niet teveel wijntjes drinken... -
23 Februari 2014 - 15:12
Sandra:
Weer mooie foto's zeg!
Leuk verhaaltje ook weer. Ga zo door hihihi! -
03 Maart 2014 - 19:00
Svetlana:
Hi guys!
It is so awesome to read about all the places you are visiting and everything that you experience! I hope you are going to have even more fun in the coming weeks!
Hugs and kisses!
P.S. Keep blogging and uploading photos :) -
04 Maart 2014 - 13:42
Elena:
Hey Inese, Hey Peter,
I love your Pictures. It really looks great! :) Keep the spirits up and photographing, we're all looking forward to hear from you again!
xoxo -
11 Maart 2014 - 10:05
Denise En Roeland:
We are waiting for the next update :) -
13 Maart 2014 - 08:47
Alwin:
Wat een tropish verhaal....nat nat humid hot hot sun humid nat ;) mooie avonturen.
Spannend ook. Die anti kwallen pakken, nog altijd gevaarlijk. Die box-jelly's en irikandi-jelly kunnen je ook in je piepkleine stukje bloot gezicht raken, dan ben je ook nog niet klaar. Je ziet ze echt niet;). Maar kans is wel stuk kleiner.
Zoutwaterkrokodil heet zo, omdat ie naast zoetwater in binnenland, ook langs de kust
zwemt. Hij kan dus beide;). Tot zo ver de biologie.
Veel plezier weer, geniet van de kiwi's!
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