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Josie's Giant Adventure
Hello
The postcard is a picture of our guide on my 3 day Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks safari type trip. It really did feel like we were a long way from anything. We had to wrestle snakes and crocodiles, outwit killer spiders, kill poisonous toads with our bare hands and spear fish that nibbled on our feet. Not to mention having to catch our own dinner, survive on berrys, leaves and nuts foraged from the forrest. We had to start fires with flint to cook our croc steaks having shot one earlier. Don't tell the park rangers though, its illegal to hunt crocodiles in Australia - they have croc farms for the meat and skin.
Anyway, it was a really good trip, stunning scenery, amazing aboriginal art and beautiful water holes and waterfalls that we swam in. It was unbelievably hot. On our 2nd day in Kakadu we did a walk to a waterfall and thought we were going to die we were so hot. No one spoke for the last half an hour and just trying to get your socks off at the end made you fly into a rage in desperation to get into the water. Once we jumped into the cold water and sat under a waterfall it made it seem all worth it. I'm not sure I'd do a walk like that again though.
It was amazing to be in the middle of no where and that we could potentially come face to face with any of the Australian wildlife at any time. Apart from the crocodiles that we fed on purporse, the only things we saw were a lot of insects and harmless fish and tadpoles in the water holes. We were swimming where fresh water crocodiles can swim (the ones who don't normally eat humans) but the most scary thing was the fish that did actually nibble at your feet. It was very amusing to see the reaction of one of the blokes in the group when his feet got nibbled - he jumped out of the water so fast it was as if he'd seen a salt water croc (the type that do eat humans). I of course completely kept my cool when one got my foot.
Our day in Litchfield started off with a bit of excitement when a bloke wearing no shoes flagged us down and asked us to help get his car out of the mud it was stuck in. Our tour guide didn't seem to keen, wanting to stick to the itinerary, but we pursuaded him and went to help. It turned out he'd been stuck there all night and had tried everything to get it out. However, about 4 meters down the muddy track and our 4X4 got stuck too. We then spent an hour trying to get it out. After getting very muddy and sweaty, with a lot of stones, wood, jacking up of the car, the help of another 4X4 and chain and us all pushing, we got it out. Fun start to the day.
After the tour of the national parks was over I had a great night out in Darwin with the people from my hostel and I met some nice Australians to hang around with too, which was a nice end to Australia.
I am actually in Singapore now. It seems much like any other modern city but there are a few more interesting places in the city. Like the area I am staying in - Little India. It reminds me of north London a bit with all the fruit and veg shops. There are quite a few backpackers and bars, but also loads of authentic places to eat. Speaking of authentic places to eat, I had lunch in a place where I was the only westerner. I have eaten with chopsticks many times before, and have eaten noodles with them without many problems. However, they obviously put something in the noodles here so they can sit and laugh at westerners trying to eat. It was virtually impossible but I persevered and it was worth it once I got the knack and it was very tasty.
I have wondered around the town and done a boat trip down the river accompanied by terrible cheesy patronising american childrens tv presenter type voice over. I also went to Raffles for a Singapore Sling which is where they were invented. They obviously made a fortune by selling 3000 a day to tourists, but it was nice.
Tomorrow I'll see what else there is to see here and book my next step which is to Kuala Lumpa.
Later
Josiexx
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