29 June - Darwin

Got up late today because I had nothing else on then headed off to look at a bit of Darwin.

Went to the casino and then onto Mindil beach and Fannie Bay.

I wanted to go to a few of the markets, so headed over to Nightcliff where there was a market that Patrick had taken me too many years ago.  Lots of great food and crafts, but mainly food.  Then went onto Rapid Creek market that also had heaps of food, vegetables and fruit many that I have not seen before.

I got hold of Greg, my second cousin and we hooked up with his wife Leah at the Fannie Bay Cool Spot.  great to see them.  i have not seen Greg for many years and it is the first time i have met Leah.  They are doing well up here and enjoying the lifestyle.

Went back to the backpackers and hung around until about 4:30 when I headed off to the Mindil beach market.  This is an iconic Darwin market held at sunset a couple of times a week.  Food is the main attraction − Thai, Sri Lankan, Indian, Chinese and Malaysian to Brazilian, Greek, Portuguese and more but there is also heaps of arts and crafts stalls with handmade jewellery, fabulous rainbow tie-died clothes, Aboriginal artefacts, and wares from Indonesia and Thailand. 

Many good bands and performance artists there as well.  This band EmDee was just a drummer and a guy with 4 didgeredoos and they were fantastic.  So good I even bought the CD.  You would have loved them Brent.

This was a great act too.  Drumming monkeys.  Turns out any monkey can play the drums.

The market was packed.  It seemed like half of Darwin was there.  And so many nationalities.

While the market was packed, people also go for the sunset and the beach was also packed well before the sun started going down.

Beach volleyball on the go...they've got to be better than the sorry effort put in by the AIMS team who really needed me and Joe to get them over the line.

 But the real star of the show was the sunset.

I had to rush off as soon as the sun went down because I was meeting Joe and his family at the Darwin YHA for dinner.  Good feed of spaghetti bolognaise by chef Joe followed by Cold Rock ice cream.  

Early night as they are heading off to Kakado and Litchfield on a tour.