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Time to move onto our next camp as a few things we wanted to check out aren't available as the roads are closed. Bit of a shame as Majuk falls are meant to be amazing but we did hear that they're trying to catch a salty down there at the moment, so probably best we didn't go and check it out.
Anyway, we head off down the road after yet another squabble between Marty and l, over nothing again. Now l know it's to be expected when we're living out if each others pockets and around each other twenty four seven, but l do get over it, l think we both do. We have yet another meltdown then things get better, seems to happen every couple of months. Feels like we just need to vent then things ate ok again. Getting back to the days events, we drive around 100kms or so down the road to Muriella Camp. We decide to call this home for the next four nights as its in the middle of the next few regions we want to check out like Yellow Water, Nourlangie and Jim Jim. I have found out that Kaladu is divided up into a total of six regions. Amongst these regions their are highlights and cultural places to check out. Great way to sort out what you want to see. Anyway, we set up camp, that's after Marty accidentally reversed into a tree and put a small crack in the back of the van. He was a tad pissed of with himself to say the least, but as l said to him "s*** happens". We were all in need of a shower after the last few days, so after setting up that was our next step. They were pretty awesome too, quite impressed. But l spose it should be as it was costing us $20 per night to camp here. We also thought was best to fill up with water whilst here and do some washing.
After being am squeaky clean and having had lunch, we had to head into Jabiru as on inspection of Meg's hair l noticed copiuous amounts of nit eggs in her hair. Of all the places to get her first bout of nits it had to be in the middle of nowhere with no real shops. I prayed they'd have some in the supermarket in Jabiru. Not to be racist and all, but l thought they'd be a good chance to have some form of nit treatment seeing there were aboriginal communities living around here. Thankfully we were in luck and seeing we were in town, a nice icecream went down well too.
The camp grounds were set our well with fire pits in each camping area. This was great for cooking tea and also having our routine nightly toasted marshmallows! After tea around 7pm the rangers were putting a slideshow and talk on at the campgrounds. We were greeted by Andy (very loud funny character) and his aboriginal wife Jenny. They were both rangers of Muirella Park who also had Jenny's brothers working here as well. The first part of the slideshow was done by Jenny and their daughter Katherine. We learnt how Jenny's father once took care of this part of Kakadu, was a guide here at Muirella Park back in the day when it was a hunting ground. They also spoke about the bush tucker in the area and also the roles of the aboriginal men and women in getting and preparing the food. Was very interesting. Found out how they make their weave baskets, from leaves of the pandanus tree and that they die them with certain fruits and colored roots. Can take them up to 50-60 hours to make one small basket!! God they've got patience that's all l can say. Was also fascinating to find out that Jenny and her family still go out and hunt long necked turtles and snakes on the rivers, cook them up and eat them using traditional cooking methods. Boo was especially interested in Katherine talking, l think she thought this was another Bindy Irwin!! Was good that Boo was taking some of the information in though.
The second half of the slideshow was done by loud Ranger Andy. Now picture a typical northern white fella who's not scared to curse or be loud and that's Andy. He was quite funny with some of his jokes and the talk he did on the Muirella Camping area was fascinating. He informed us that the area where we're camped used to be an airstrip used back after the war to fly in Americans and overseas people to hunt in the area. The Muirella area was advertised as being a game hunting place to shoot everything from water buffalo to snakes! Apparently, the water buffalo was introduced by white man and it ended up destroying every part of Kakadu that it went through. When the hunting business went flat and a bit politically incorrect the park had to start mass termination of the water buffalo before it destroyed the park. So they hired aboriginal men to come and hunt and kill them, then skin them. The white man would then bring a ship in and collect the skins and sell them off. When the buffalos ended being too big of a pest, the government ordered mass killings. I think Andy said that at one point there was over 300,000 water buffalos in Kakadu. When they started culling them it was such a waste as the carcasses were left to rot. Now days, they might kill 3,000 a season and at least organise the last kill near a place where the chopper can land so they can get the buffalo legs and take them to a nearby aboriginal community. See they love their water buffalo apparently!
Halfway thru the talk Meg fell asleep. But Boo loved every minute of it. Was sort of like show and tell l reckon. was great to be under the stars learning about the history of this place and is feast that it's so personal, seeing Jenny and her brothers carry on what their father had done, looking after the country. That's what it's all about here, looking after and understanding country.......
Bell Xxx
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