DarWin and others!

I am back once again. Many ups and downs during this holiday since i last updated. Anyway, the highlight of this holiday would be my Darwin Trip!! Hehe. Total distance travelled, 1500km.

4th July. Took a flight to Darwin. Departed at 2020.

5th July. Arrived at Darwin at 2.35 am , Darwin Time. Proceeded to YouthShack Backpacker Accomodation. I sweared the coach is much more comfortable than the plane seats. Haha. So tired thereafter. Wasted much time packing as well as setting up the beds as the organisers and some guys went round distributing pillows and bedsheets. No blanket is provided though it was quite cold at night. By the time everything was settled, only one hour of sleep was left before starting the day.

Hostel Room quad sharing. No toilet. Only Common Toilet. =x (cia)

After one hour of sleep, we had to get up and get ready for the day. Due to miscommunication between the agent and the organiser, our breakfast did not arrive and we ended up wasting half an hour waiting over nothing. What a start. Had no choice but to grab a quick breakfast from mac. It is super ex. Haix. So expensive. But the chocolate milk is special. Imagine they give you fresh milk and a special straw filled with chocolate bits. That is chocolate milk! Cool but i did not get it. But my friends did. =)

Chocolate Milk. See it? (jx)

After breakfast, we proceeded to Litchfield National Park. Saw many termite moulds which looked like graveyards. But a little disappointing as there was no guided tour. So i am not really sure about what this is. However, I manage to join in for a little while in a talk by the ranger and learn abit. But I cannot remember much for now. Heh. Thereafter, we went to Tolmer falls before proceeding to Wangi falls where there is a plunge pool which ppl can swim in. Haha. Had a long hiking session too. It was tiring but a good experience for a first timer like me. Slow though. Haha.

Termite Moulds

Tolmer Falls

After Wangi falls, we proceeded back to Darwin. Did some shopping around for soveneirs and grocery. That was the only time we can shop throughout the trip. Luckily we did so. Thereafter, the group met to go to mindill beach where we had a seafood buffet which isn't fantastic followed by a night market free and easy where we could see alot of imported stuffs instead. Walk there and back. Tiring. Haha. Managed to chat up with some other ppl on the way there. =) Saw alot of stars. =)

Long Long Day. Tired. Another round of packing leaves us less time to sleep again.

6th July. Woke up at 6.30am(Darwin time) . Breakfast Set was served before leaving YouthShack with all our barang barang to proceed down to Kakadu. Went to Window on the Wetland but sadly, we couldn't see anything as it was foggy. Remember the floodplains we learn in geography. Visited Ubirr where there is there are numerous rock art as well as a climb to the top to look over the floodplain and meanders. Hehe. Physical geography again. Haha. I was really amazed by the art work as each piece of it represent a lesson by the arborginal people and the lesson it teaches and i m even more amazed by how the art work managed to be there as it is like on top of the rock n nth below to support it.

Breakfast Boxes

Floodplains

Thereafter we had a pinic lunch. Bread. Haha. I thought it would be only once but practically, i am having bread for those meals provided. At least twice a day.

After lunch, we proceed on to Yellow Waters Billabong for the boat cruise to see crocodiles! Haha but i m not a croc fanatic. The crocs are simply juz next to us. Haha. The cruise was cool. But hot. Haha. Fell aslp towards the end as i was too sleepy. Haha.

Move on to Kakadu National Park. On the way there, we went to collect firewoods along the road. First time to experience that. We practically got down the bus and start getting thick logs from the dried up sarvana grassland for the camp fire. Spent the night in a National Park. So cool. Set up tents, prepare the food such sausage, ground meat, "damper", roast potatoes, boiled corn etc. Not forgetting the campfire and candlelight dinner. =) It was a truely bush experience. Went croc spotting but didn't spot anything. On the other hand, the guide manage to show us a cane toad but he killed it in front of us as he say it was a pest as those croc who ate it would be poisoned and die resulting in the imbalancing of the ecosystem. Had an early night thereafter instead of joining the others to play mafia. haha. One nice but kinda boring game. Haha. Those who stayed up the night to see the stars managed to see shooting stars. Sadly, i missed it. =c

My tent (cia)

Candle light dinner (cia)
Campfire (cia)

7th July. Woke up, had toast over the camp fire which is still burning but it was freezing cold that morning. Saw a blue wing kukubara. Very beautiful bird. Pack up and off we go to Dumlom Falls. Didn't hike up as it is much difficult and i m not in a state to do so. Haha. Went to swim in the plunge pool instead. Had pinic lunch again (bread) before proceeding to Katherine Town. Had a stop over to Eddith Falls which i find it the most beautiful waterfalls that i have ever seen. We even drank the water from the source. Haha. So cool. Thereafter, we proceed on to Katherine town where we had a stopover to grab our dinner at the supermarket. Night over at Springvale Homestead. Saw many Walabee! Went croc spotting again and saw nothing yet again. I swear my night vision is really bad. Haha. Had an early night again as there would be a 7.2km canoeing trip the next day. The rest went to chat instead. Haha.

Blue Wing Kukubara

In Dulom Falls plunge pool

The most beautiful falls ever, Eddith Falls

Springvale Homestead

Walabees!

8 July. Last Day.

Highlight was canoeing at Katherine Gorge. Me and cia was like the last few since we were the last few to depart. Had some occasions of collisons but everything turns out fine thereafter. It took us 1hr 15min to reach the first gorge but only 45 min to go back. Due to time constraint, we could only go that far. Thereafter we walk up to the escarpement where we view the gorge and relax and took some photos. Credit to brave cia who decided to bring her cam along despite the fact that it might get wet. Hehe. That how i get the pictures. Thanks! Though the journey was tiring, it was really cool to do this. It is a once in a lifetime experience. It was really nice. I cant really describe it but shall do a summary later in this post. Hehe. After we finished, we had our picnic lunch again before proceeding back to Darwin. Encountered a bush fire on the way back to Darwin. Drop by 303 Bar. A old fashion bar.

Upon reaching Darwin City, we rushed to the supermarket to grab some goodies to bring back as it would be our last chance to do so. Haha. Mad people including me. Haha. Went back to Mindill Beach where the sunset was memerising, took some pics had a "buffet" spread picnic where we bought different food for sharing. Very nice! More people joined us this time. We even bought a whistle which make all kinds of noise. =) Thereafter, went to sky city casino to try slot machines. Haha. First Time! Bad for Health. Left around 11pm, proceeded to the airport where we started packing once again before checking in. Managed to grab some nougats and chocolates which we did not manage to get in the supermarket or any shops available earlier.

Home Sweet Home.

Me and Alicia

Bush Fire

303 bar (look at the back, those are beer dispenser)

Second and the last group foto. (JX)

(JX)The last sunset.

Post-trip. Suffered from sandflies bites. Argh.. Super itchy. Doc say it will take around 6 weeks to completely get rid of it. On top of sensitive skin, i m having this now. This is really bad.

Thoughts. After all, the trip is generally okay and enjoyable though it was a little disorganised but nevertheless, we had fun with the activities and of course, this trip is truely a first time experience for me. I guess we are young only once. If not for this trip, I may never do all these things in my entire life and hence, I m still grateful for the organiser to organise this trip where i really learn and had a different experience. Who knows when would be the next time or would there even be a next time where we get to do all these things and if we are still able to do so.


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2nd July. Subject Registration. It was really very nerve wrecking moment as i camp in front of my computer to wait for the time to come to press submit as i know any min later would result in something i do not want. Result: I got all the timeslots i wanted. Now pending electives on 6 August.

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10 July. Finally, I met Ms AL after how long for late lunch at vivo sushi tei . This time we spent only half of the amount we spent the other time but still, it is expensive. Thereafter, i went for facial at face shop while she waited for me. (So paiseh) Had cheese fries and walk around vivo city as well as harbourfront centre. Bought a pair of earrings at a good price all thanks to her. =)

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15 July. Celebrated PW birthday at Settler's Cafe. Played a game called Gift Trap. Quite a interesting game. Hehe. Had dinner at Waraku. Had a great chat with the girls thereafter. Upcoming plans: BBQ on 29July. Bangkok on 1-4 August.

Trying to plan: MS Outing. Ecoventure Gathering?, Primary School dinner, SEA dinner.

27 JULY: WORK NO MORE = )

7 AUGUST. PLAY NO MORE. =(

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Tomorrow would be the start of my battle against SD. I was really depressed when i knew about it at that moment and i do not know what i want to do about it. Initially, i really could not accept it and those beginning days were like a torture to me where i feel that my movements are being restricted as there are many things to take note of and at the same time, the symptoms that come and go are very obvious to the extend that i know why am i feeling like this.It disturb me alot at that point of time. It is serious yet not that serious. In the sense that if I were to receive treatment, recovery would be 90%- 100%. If i did not, my condition would be worsen over the course of five, ten, twenty years. It would be a slow process but it would worsen to the stage where nothing could be done to recover. Only to prevent it from worsening. As time pass these weeks, i have come to face it where the symptoms did not bother me as much anymore. Finally, i decided to start my treatment tomorrow despite the outcome.

P/S: To those who knows about it, thanks for the concern all these while. =) I would fight it bravely.

Small note on the side: Took 4hr plus for this post. This explains why i do not blog everyday, often. Haha.