Aussie boys smell good.....

Everytime I walk past an Aussie bloke he smells really good.... I think its just different smells from home not all the same colognes but whatever it is, they smell good!

Sunday I went to KAKADU National Park.... it is a huge place, but I was offered a ride for a day trip so I took it! There are seven regions of kakadu and "if you respect the land then you will feel the land. Your experience will be one that you cannot get anywhere else in the world"
We went to the South Alliigator Region and saw the amazing Mamukala wetlands. We went to the Jabiru region, the East Alligator Region where we hiked to the rocky lookout that offered a superb view over Nadab floodplain. It was a 360 degree view of the area and truly amazing.. wetlands, rocks, trees, mountains etc... nature is stunning! 

We checked out the Nourlangie region where we went on a few hikes to see many trails and rock art along the way.
Next was the Yellow Water Region and couldn't get to the yellow water walk due to high waters ont eh road and the chance of crocs. So we stopped at Gagudju Lodge for lunch.... I had the Crocodile burger.. it was very different, the burger itself was crumbly and fell apart, with a very interesting chewy taste. All good to experience new things! 

After we took a lil walk to the Jeddy home Billabong and looked for crocs... nothing to be seen but they are in there!
We wanted to see Jim Jim falls and Twin falls gorge but its still closed from wet season, might open mid July.
Overall a great day of just being in the fresh outdoors and being surrounded by nature. Its fantastic to be in this huge country and in a massive national park and just feel so small amid the crocs, cliffs, and all the biodiversity.
On my journey I saw 4 dingos, fish, shark, birds, wallabies, turtle, python(in a cage), frogs, hawks, spider, white cows and horses!
We went to the East Alligator River and saw a family of aboriginal family fishing on the far bank.... with no poles, just fishing line and possibly a lure. We saw them catch a swordfish, 2 barramundi and a baby shark!!!!!!! it was incredible!

shark on bank in this pic!

We drove back as the sunset and came back into town to MINDIL beach markets! Its on every thurs and sun night and its right down the street from my house. People flock here to eat foods from all around the world and to see crazy acts, music or art etc...it was packed. This was my first time there, very interesting to see the booths of clothes, art, games, its almost like a fair with no rides.. except a jumpy thing for kids!
We walked around and enjoyed some fresh fruit smoothies. We watched a crazy fire act with 2 guys dancing around with fire ships and fire sticks and playing air guitar with the fire.. to bad music... very weird!
I found some pictures I liked at one booth... was aboriginal children holding baby animals... there were 4 pics in a frame for $45 or you could buy the 4 pics seperatley for $2/each. I wanted all 4, but he was out of the 4th one... so I bought 3 ou t of 4 and will go back to get the 4th next week. I can frame them when I get home in my own way, much easier to travel with 4 pics then a big framed picture.

I applied for a job on Hamilton Island.... its on the east coast and I know I won't be there until Aug sometime.. but wanted them to have my info on hand just in case. I got a call today and the lady is meeting with the head guy this week, so hopefully I will hear back soon :) !!!
She asked for a 6 months commitment... I agreed to it so far... won't really stay that long, but won't say that to them. They have a job opening for Youth Staff assistant director..... which is perfect for me, but also told her I am willing to work in other areas too. WISH ME LUCK!

3 more weeks of work... it will fly by. I am taking Mick my flat mate to Hanuman for dinner this thursday as a thank you dinner... we get free food but pay for drinks... but it will be a nice night out, we are going with my co-worker Khadija and her friend too.

I saw a blue bird the other day... thought it might be a BLUE JAY... not sure they have them here, but it looked similar but smaller. It reminded me of Grandma G. Hope she is doing well!

I enjoyed half a day off today, to relax and lay by the pool and get some laundry done, it will be really hard to leave such a cool place like Cullen Bay, but I am ready for new adventure!
More pics to come...

Hope all who read this are well n good.... life is short, live it up, do what you want!!!

Cheers Mates

I ate the Coat of Arms

Life is good in Darwin.... I do get bored in one place.. so looking into traveling east soon.. in the next 3-4 weeks... work lots here and save heaps then head out on a new adventure!

Holiday Inn work is tiring.. very hard on the body and VERY hard on my hands and nails.. sheesh LOL... I work with Many different cultures there and at lunch each table is a different culture and all talking loudly in different languages.. lunch time is NOISY :P

Today was a slower day and I had a table to my self.. I laughed to myself as I was the ONLY person at my "white/english" table. Its weird to be surrounded by all these people and yet they don't try to speak english or talk much to each other.. just keep in their "groups". Its ok I get my work done and love working solo there... its good!

A mate and I went to dinner last night at the buzz cafe in cullen bay.... very nice and I ate KANGAROO for dinner......(kangaroo is on the coat of arms with Emu, which I have eaten before as well)

 I did it (sorry Trish and other vegetarians) It was very yummy..... med rare in a red wine sauce over mashed potatoes.. yum!  It was something I wanted to do while here... so happy to try it and I enjoyed it!

I also took pictures of the bathroom doors there... very interesting!

I asked my mate about doing a flight over Kakadu Park and he said there is a local saying... "Litchfield (park) DO... Kaka Don't" haha

My idea is to drive east to Cairns and hang out there for a week maybe 2.. then south to Airlie Beach and go find work on Hamilton Island.... all ideas no plans!

I was happy to have tonight and last night off.. so good to chill and enjoy life at night and watch the sunset from my balcony! Now I work ALL week, both jobs... even though I was suppose to have tues off from hotel, but they changed the sched.. oh well more money and then I can go go go!!!!

Much love to Daddywah for Fathers day - Australian Fathers day is in Sept... weird!

Life is an adventure... live it up!

Life is short... do what you want to do!

Life is Good :)

Love you all!

best day ever.....

Work keeps me busy but not too busy.... I always make time for FUN adventures....

on sunday I went to the Jumping Crocs on the Adelaide River, we drove there and saw some wild horses on our way out of town. We boarded the boat around 1pm and we sat on the top deck where it was open etc.. the bottom floor of the boat was all glass windows but I wanted to see the crocs from above!

we saw 6-8 Crocs in total and the tour guide knows them ALL by name... most of them had some sort of injury as well.. they fight alot esp over female crocs or over territory.

There was a bucket of bait and once we spotted a croc we stopped the boat and put the bait on a bamboo stick to sort of "fish" for the crocs... and make them jump for their food... so neat to see!

Its amazing how they can get their body to stand straight up in the water while fighting the current.. truly sensational.

I went with my mate Gavin from work, and we had a great tour, although he had seen it before, it was very nice of him to take me to see the jumping crocs.

Afterwards he let me DRIVE home.... all the way... my FIRST time driving in Oz, on the wrong side of the road.. so fun! We drove past many restaurants and stopped to try to get lunch but everything closes 2-5.. sheesh! So we drove into Palmerston and stopped at Coles (supermarket) to get some fruit and museli bars for lunch!

Drove back into town, different to drive in the city, weird making right turns like a left and left like right...lol

We drove around East Point and it was beautiful, people biking, picnicing, running, playing sports, bbq'in, etc... such a great spot. Maybe I will look into horse back riding here.

Drove home and gavin left to a friends BBQ.

I had to get ready I had a friend comig over to my place for a BBQ. I attempted to make a pasta salad (gavin made fun of what I put in it, but he was a prof chef and I don't cook at all) It was nice, pasta, chick peas, cheese and dressing... plain but good... we liked it :)

My friend Andrew who is actually Micks friend (mick my housemate) from the Army.

he came over and we had wine and cheese on the balcony, then cooked some sausage, chicken and steak.. heaps of food.  We then had wine coolers and beers.. so it was a lte night of too much drinking but very nice to sit outside and enjoy the sunset and watch all the boats move in and out of the bay!

Prob went to bed at 1 or 2 am and had to be up monday morn at 7... ugh!

MONDAY was the Queens Birthday.. so it was a national holiday and I had to work all day.. BUT we get DOUBLE time :) :) So I was happy to work, Holiday Inn 8-2:30 and Hanuman 6-10:30,..... booyah!

I uploaded my croc pics to FB.. check them out! 

Aussie slang:

Grog = beer

Paddock = field

I am looking into flights or driving to Queensland prob in July..... I mean I love Darwin and have everything I want and need here but I can't stay in one place too long, anyone who knows me knows that ;)

Thinking of getting a "relocation" vehicle and driving to Cairns.... where I could possibly get a job at the Hanuman restaurant there.... which would be great!

I wrote a friend the other day and he said he had a gift for me.. that made my day... so I am excited to get mail here sometime before I leave!

Also got a call from an old co-worker in Sydney he said he misses me,....lol.. aw cute but he is weird :P

I love life... I have half a day off today.. have to go to the restaurant for a wine tasting at 2:30 then work 6-? So i will head out on a bike ride or a big run in the hot hot heat! I need to work out more.. working 2 jobs is hard to find time to work out.... oh well.

Missing friends and family back home but def enjoying my journey around this great country. Its nice to be here and see the sights etc... I am looking into saving for a flight tour over Kakadu national park..... no time to go and camp there but would be neat to see it from the air. Also looking at sailing, maybe a sunset cruise one night!

I want to be on a boat so bad, I see them EVERYDAY so I want on!

Its hot out and I love it

Not too much new.. still working hard at my 2 jobs and still LOVING life!

Its great because at Holiday Inn they feed us lunch everyday.. we always choose between 2 dishes and then if I go in early to work at Hanuman I get free food for dinner... or could eat after work too.. but don't like to eat after 9pm too often, so I go in at 5 for food... I love FREE food! :)

So really I just have to buy cereal for groceries!

Holiday Inn is good, hard work and very tiring but its a good work out.... sadly it is KILLER on my nails.... or when I did have nails..... wearing cleaning gloves all day does not help nails grow.. its breaks them and makes them soft.. oh well.. I'd rather work hard then have long nails for now! They WERE longer though :)

Aussie words:

Arvo = afternoon

Ta = thank you (this one gets annoying..lol)

Tinny= small boat

Pay day tuesday made me so happy... so did TIPS from the restaurant :) Happy to have money!

Today I found $1.10 in change while cleaning rooms at Holiday Inn... lol

Then I found part of a pack of TIM TAMS.... the best choc treat here! yum!

Monday is a holiday and I want to see the JUMPING CROCS or go one a SUNSET SAIL... do something fun and touristy:P

Sunday night we are walking to Mindil beach to watch the sunset and have some wine, then a few friends are coming over to have a BBQ at my place- FUN!

Watching game 6 of NHL playoffs now... I taped it today:) but the recording ran out... so I missed OT.. but know the outcome- CONGRATS to HAWK! 

Happy I can say.. my Preds lost to the CHAMPS in round 1.. that is ok.. PREDS will be strong next year!

Talk soon

Working hard for my money...

I am happy to say that I am working 2 jobs now..

I am doing housekeeping at the Holiday Inn here and still being a waitress at the BEST restaurant in town- more then town.. thursday night we won BEST RESTAURANT in the whole Northern Territory!!!

I love life.....

Last week I worked monday-saturday at the restaurant, and worked wed-fri at Holiday Inn.. so busy, so tiring but its all good. I am happy for tues pay day!
Tues at work we hosted an AHA event (Australian Hospitality Association) so I met HEAPS of people (moslty men ;)) that work in the industry all over Aus.. so I got 5 business cards and good connections to call when I travel more.. they can help me find jobs in any hotel or restaurant where I go from here. Lovely bunch of guys.. so funny... made a bet with one guy- was about HOCKEY so of course I WON!
I asked for thurs night off work to go to the Black tie awards for AHA... but it was last minute so I couldn't get it off.. no worries.. I worked 6-9 then went home to change and went to the awards anyways :)
Danced the night away and celebrated with my co-workers, our GM Gavin, our head chef Rafi and our Bar Manager Sam!
Wonderful night!
Worked early the next morning, and that was a LONG day.. wow I was tired.
Sat I worked 6-11:30 at Hanuman, then we had a staff party after work. Free drinks and free food and celebrate our award as a team- so great!

We partied til 5am.. what a great night. Sunday I slept all day to rest and recover and got up at 6pm to have cereal on my balcony and watch the sunset.

Today I woke up to watch game 5 of NHL playoffs!! I will lay by the pool to get some sun and then head to work at 6-??
Life is good... I love it here.

Missing friends n family back home ( Canada and USA), but having a BLAST down under!
Much love.. thanks for reading!