Opinion | Columnists
Emotion recollected in tranquillity
Having come all the way to the land of the crocodile, it would have been remiss on our part if we missed seeing these. So, off we went for the Crocodile Jumping Cruise.
- By Vanaja Rao, Stone Editor
- Published: 00:04 August 1, 2008
Having come all the way to the land of the crocodile, it would have been remiss on our part if we missed seeing these. So, off we went for the Crocodile Jumping Cruise.
Boarding a boat, the lower half of which was enclosed by glass, we were soon on the reptile-infested river, eyes straining to catch a glimpse of the terrifying creatures.
Imagination set alight, every ripple of the water seemed to proclaim the presence of one of these. Soon, our patience was rewarded as what seemed to be a drifting log came to life and surfaced briefly. To entice them to come up further, chunks of meat were lowered and soon a couple of them were jumping for the bait. Cameras clicked as oohs and aahs were elicited at the proximity of these magnificent animals. As the boat made for the shore, all of us were unanimous in thinking that the trip was far too short.
A few days later we proceeded to Lake Bennett, a wilderness resort some 80km from Darwin set around the shores of an 81-hectare freshwater lake. This very place was featured in an episode of the TV serial Amazing Race and was the pit stop for the participants. I remember seeing this and here I was on my way there. The pontoon where the contestants raced to the finish was where I found myself standing one balmy night, looking up at an unbelievable sky studded with stars. Some of my friends counted the shooting stars which seemed to streak across the firmament with regular rapidity but I must confess I failed to spot any. The disbelief in their voices as they echoed my disappointment made me resolve to get my eyes tested at the earliest opportunity.
The accommodation at Lake Bennett comprised converted railway coaches fitted with air-conditioning. Fortunately for us, there were very few tourists and the surrounding 'coaches' remained vacant.
Our group had travelled in two cars loaded with furniture and food. As we emptied the boot I marvelled at the amount we had managed to bring. Like turtles, we seemed to have carried the house on our back (or more accurately in the boot). Soon, table and chairs were set out and we were free to talk and laugh as loud as we wanted without being conscious of who could hear us.
Dinner was soon under preparation. The campsite had a thoughtfully laid out kitchen area equipped with refrigerator, sink, stone benches and tables. As we tucked in with the healthy appetite of holiday-makers, we realised that food - the organising of the stuff required for a two-day stay, the number of meals which this entailed and the planning of menus for each - seemed to preoccupy most of our minds.
After quenching the fire in our bellies the guitar came out and the only musical member of our group became a one-man band, entertaining us with his singing and playing. Requests by the others were sometimes met with bewilderment as he figured out which century that tune was from while some were more easily recognised. The next day, our first stop was the magnetic termite mounds (magnetic because they tend to align in the direction of north to south). These magnetic mounds are one of the natural wonders of the tropical Australian landscape. Scattered over a large area of Litchfield Park, the tall, thin structures resembled tombstones in a graveyard, with some of them towering over us.
Picturesque spots
After taking in this sight we proceeded to other picturesque spots such as Florence falls, Tabletop swamp, Buley Rock Hole and then on to Wangi falls. We watched the water cascading down from such great heights, awestruck once again by the might of nature. Conversation seemed superfluous as we gazed at the majesty of the scene, content to look as wonder worked its way into our beings. Early next morning, a couple of wallabies were spotted, much to the delight of the onlookers. As we drove home later, the magical experience continued to flash upon the inward eye.
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