We began the day with Smilely on a Bushwalk to Nourlangie to view an aboriginal shelter and several outstanding rock art sites. These represent some of the longest historical records of any group of people in the world. Smilely, our latest driver, is licensed by the Aboriginal Land Council to give tours and interpret the stories depicted on the rocks. Students slowly climbed up the trail to the lookout. What an impressive view of Kakadu’s escarpment and the plains below! At the gates to Kakadu we stopped for a photo op. Smilely took our photo and added one of himself for good measure. No worries, mate! Then it was back on the bus for a 2 hour drive through the rugged outback before our next stop. Ben played Crocodile Dundee on the DVD. It was surreal to watch the movie on the bus, then look out the window to see the exact same scenery. After lunch we made our way to Leliyn, commonly known as Edith Falls, where many students demonstrated their competitive swimming skills. It was a 400 foot swim to the falls in refreshingly cool water surrounded by breathtaking surroundings. Ah, just another day in OZ! Later in the afternoon we arrived in the small outback town of Katherine – 3rd largest city in the Northern Territory at a whopping 11,000 people. Only 200,000 live in the entire territory, which is bigger than Texas. During the wet season a few years ago, the town was inundated with record-breaking floodwaters. When the waters receded, saltwater crocodiles were found all over Katherine – including one on the roof of the Shell Station and one in the meat section of Woolworths market. And we thought the past December rains and flooding were bad in Bakersfield!!
I can't get the photos to upload. Sorry -- will try when internet connection is better.
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