January 1, 2018, Darwin

January 1, 2018, Darwin, Australia

We're back in a first-world country, albeit one with very strict immigration/customs practices. (Wish we could find a job like the Aussie border agents who sailed on Regatta for three days in exchange for a few hours verifying each passenger's passport!)

 

Darwin is a modern city; it has to be, as it has been nearly completely destroyed twice in the last 70 years--once by Japanese bombing in WWII, and once by Cyclone Tracy (250 kmh winds--about 150+ mph) in 1974. But the tenacious Aussies completely rebuilt both times (as after many other earlier cyclones).

In the Northern Territory (also known as Top End), Darwin was extremely hot and humid, or I think we would have spent more time walking around. Cap did a WWII-focused excursion, while Suzy visited a wildlife park, with only animals indigenous to the area. On the way were sighted bee nests and termite mounds, both examples of insect ingenuity.

 And this black stork was only one of many birds Suzy got to see.

We also admired the human ingenuity to combat the oppressive heat: note how park benches in Darwin are shaded.

See this lagoon beyond the stone walkway? It's the only salt water in which you can swim in Darwin. Why? Because of the salties, one of which Suzy got close to (albeit behind glass). These very aggressive crocodiles (from above and from below) will not hesitate to feed on humans. Note the 'smile'!

Leaving the wildlife behind, we sailed away, only pausing a little to let the pilots get off and return to Darwin.