Welcome to Darwin - Jumping Crocs and Darwin Harbor

After a better (and longer!) night's sleep at the Darwin Hilton last night, we jumped a bus to the "Spectacular Crocodile Tour", about an hour's drive outside of the City.  On the way we drove past acres upon acres of mango orchards which are just coming into full ripeness.  We're told they'll be harvesting soon.

The tour took us on an hour+ cruise up the Adelaide River in search of saltwater crocodiles.  We weren't out 5 minutes before we came across one on our side of the boat.  A woman staff tied some water buffalo meat to a 10' bamboo pole and started slapping the water with the bait.  Before long, the 10' female came right up to the boat and gave a couple jumps up into the air before being rewarded with a tasty snack. 

On the way back, the pilot started whistling a distinctive trill which brought in about a half dozen kites, smaller birds of prey that hunt the river for fish.  As one of the crew tossed cubes of lamb, they swooped and soared around the boat, snatching the treats from the air as they whistled that same unique tune as the pilot.  

Back on the bus, we returned to the Darwin Harbor area for a great lunch of crisped-skin barramundi fish ("barra" to the locals) and then a stroll across the harbor walk to the Harbor Museum where we learned about the Japanese attack on the Harbor at Darwin in 1941, done by the same fleet that had just destroyed Pearl Harbor.  Previously unknown (to me) fact: More bombs were dropped on Darwin Harbor than on Pearl Harbor.  In fact, the City and harbor were attacked a total of 63 time between 1941 and the end of the war.

After returning to the hotel, we had the evening free to ourselves.  Susan was tired, so went to bed early.  I took a walk around the area near the hotel and down to the park adjacent to the harbor.  

Darwin is a nice little town with pretty active night-life.  Sadly, as with most cities, it has its share of poverty, mostly in the form of small groups of aboriginal peoples asking for handouts.  It was tough to witness, and I wish there was more I could do for them.  Not unlike our own Native Americans, they've gotten a raw deal from a national government that took everything from them, then left them to fend without resources, opportunity or hope.