THURSDAY, 12 JULY

Atlanta (Wednesday) -- 84°/ 68°, Chance of afternoon thunderstorm.

Katherine (Thursday) -- 95°/64°, Sunny.

Margaret Katherine, a Jawoyn elder

The Aborigines are often characterized as friendly and physically affectionate.  In January 2011, Oprah took 11 viewers on an adventure to Australia.  They were received by Margaret Katherine, a Jawoyn elder.  Check out this 90-second video to get a glimpse of the character and culture of the Jawoyn:  The Sacred Gabarnmung Cave.

ITINERARY FOR THE DAY:

• Receive an official ‘Welcome to Country’ by the traditional Jawoyn people of the Katherine region.

• You will follow in the ‘footsteps of their ancestors’ for a day of interacting and learning about the local Aboriginal people’s culture.

• Learn about their important bushtucker and traditional bush medicines from your Aboriginal guides on a walk to a local waterhole.

• Test your spear throwing skills and master the art of the lighting a fire from traditional methods.

• Split into genders to learn about secret men’s and women’s business by participating in Didgeridoo playing, basket wearing or traditional ochre painting.

• Be sure to pack your swimwear, towel and walking shoes for today’s adventures.

Credit:  Nitmiluk Tours

A CREATION STORY

The Jawoyn people, of the Katherine Gorge area in the Northern Territory, tell how the Rainbow Serpent slept under the ground until she awoke in the Dreaming and pushed her way to the surface.  She then traveled the land, sleeping when she tired, and left behind her winding tracks and the imprint of her sleeping body.  When she had travelled the earth, she returned and called to the frogs to come out, but they were very slow because their bellies were full of water.  The Rainbow Serpent tickled their stomachs and when the frogs laughed, the water flowed out of their mouths and filled the tracks and hollows left by the Rainbow Serpent, creating the rivers and lakes.  This woke all of the animals and plants, who then followed the Rainbow Serpent across the land.

Source:  http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/dreaming

WEDNESDAY, 11 JULY

Atlanta (Tuesday) -- 90°/ 68°, Chance of afternoon thunderstorm.

Kakadu (Wednesday) -- 93°/72°, Mostly sunny.

Katherine (Wednesday) -- 90°/66°, Mostly sunny.

Local Aboriginal people recognize six seasons in a year.  Currently it is the Wurrgeng season.

Wurrgeng (June to mid-August)  The most comfortable time, weather-wise, is the late Dry, beginning in July. This is when wildlife, especially birds, gather in large numbers around shrinking billabongs, and when most tourists visit.

Read more at the Lonely Planet website.

ITINERARY FOR THE DAY:

• Kakadu National Park is known for its strong continuing traditions of its Indigenous inhabitants including their art work.  Observe ancient rock art painted by Aboriginal people over 20,000 years ago.

• Hike to Nourlangie Rock, home of Namargon, who is better known as Lightning Man.

• Discover Edith Falls, traditionally known as Leliyn, and if time permits take a dip in the deep plunge pool (at your leader’s discretion).

Upper Pool at Edith Falls  (Credit: rfjagger)

Namargon, or Lightning Man  (Credit:  Gregona)

TUESDAY, 10 JULY

Atlanta (Monday) -- 91°/ 72°, Chance of thunderstorms.

Darwin (Tuesday) -- 88°/ 70°, Mostly sunny.

South Alligator (Tuesday) -- 91°/72°, Mostly sunny.

After a week of adventure...

ITINERARY FOR THE DAY:

• Discover the complex habitats that surround The Top End and learn about the importance behind protecting them while participating in an environmental service project.

• Enjoy a guided cruise on a specifically built safari boat that navigates the vast areas of the wetlands.  Keep your camera close to capture the abundance of bird life and wild crocodiles.

• Explore Kakadu National Park, World Heritage listed and jointly managed by its traditional Aboriginal owners and the Director of National Parks.  You may recognize some of its landscape from the movie Crocodile Dundee.

• Watch sunset from Ubirr Rock for an amazing view across the wetlands and

escarpments.

• Keep your eye out at sunset for kangaroos and other Australian wildlife. A group

of Kangaroos are called a mob.

Sunset at Ubirr Ceremony Rock (Credit: Top End Explorer Tours)

Mob of Kangaroos (Photo © Steve Parish)

MONDAY, 09 JULY

Yesterday at Crocodyllus Park in Darwin, Lenell fed the crocodiles raw chicken using a rod -- a long one, I hope.  And she held a baby croc.

Watch those fingers!

MONDAY, 09 JULY

Atlanta (Sunday) -- 93°/ 72°, Mostly sunny.

Sydney (Sunday) -- 66°/ 48°, Mostly sunny.

Darwin (Monday) -- 88°/ 70°, Sunny.

Darwin International Airport (Photo: Damoirons)

It’s shortly after midnight.  The PTP delegation left Sydney before 8 PM Sunday and arrived minutes ago in Darwin.  After some rest, they’ll be off for another day of activities.

ITINERARY FOR THE DAY:

• Orientate yourself with the city of Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory.

• Have a close encounter with a crocodile at Crocodylus Park and learn about these prehistoric reptiles during a feeding.

• Explore the Northern Territory Museum and keep your eye out for “Sweetheart.”

• Discover the natural beauty of Darwin Harbor in a picturesque drive through East Point Reserve. Now home to a large population of resident wallabies, this area played a strategic role for the U.S. and Australian militaries during WWII and still contains relics from its military past.

Sweetheart, the outboard-crunching croc

Photo courtesy of the Centre for Fortean Zoology