I had to include Berry Springs in the title as it is just the most beautiful place about 45 mins out of Darwin. We took a drive from Darwin to the springs one morning and loved it so much that we returned again on our way out of Darwin. The only way I can describe it is like swimming in a fairy pool - the ones illustrated in fairy stories that we read when we were kids. I think the fairies were even hiding in the greenery, along with the goannas and dragonflies. Swimming is amazing as the temperature of the water is about 28deg. It would have been interesting using our goggles while swimming but it was better not knowing what we were swimming with!!! Chris felt a few fish pecking at his leg while we were chatting with fellow "spring swimmers".
We had to stay in a park 20mins out of Darwin as all caravan parks in town were booked out. It was the first time since we started travelling that we felt that we were too close to our neighbours. They probably felt the same way - though we did end up meeting some nice people again! It meant that we had to drive into town each time we wanted to explore the city which was good as we got to see quite a few of the suburbs. We found it very nice but once again didn't think it would be very pleasant in the wet season. It is not humid now but still very warm with a daily temp of up to 33 deg. I don't know how any of the shops sell any winter clothes at all - they do have them!!
We had a great afternoon swimming in the wave pool on the Darwin water front which we thought put Perth to shame. A beautiful job has been done. We asked if we could pay the senior's rate, which was instantly agreed to!! What does this say?? Anyway, we paid $3 each to have a complete ball bobbing about on the waves in a big, blue rubber tube. It was awesome!
The markets are great in Darwin (we visited 2!) and choosing something to eat from all the tempting Asian style stalls is not easy!! We could not resist a satay prawn kebab along with fruit salad freshly prepared from fruit that had just been picked, I am sure! We also had the most delicious fruit smoothie made with exactly what we wanted - pawpaw, lime and other delicious fresh fruit. It's not Chris's favourite pastime - going to markets - but it made his day hearing a V8 engine rev up. (The V8 Super Cars were in Darwin for the weekend.) I didn't feel so guilty dragging him along to, yet, another market!!!
The one disaster of the week was me washing Chris's hearing aids in the washing machine. (Say no more!) Thanks to a great audiologist I urgently tracked down, the situation was saved by using her good humidifier - $91 later!! While waiting for the humidifier to do its work we shared a breakfast which was the cheapest, best breakfast we have tasted. We think Perth's prices are way too much compared to other cities.
Darwin is a lovely city - green and laid back. Lots of memories of Cyclone Tracey are everywhere which makes it a bit scary to think that cyclones are part of life in Darwin. (The only part of the Anglican Cathedral saved after Cyclone Tracey was the front porch!) Not for me, I don't think - and again crocodiles all over the place! My friend Katrine, from St Anthonys, lost everything she had in the cyclone in 1974, and has never returned!
