I’ve arrived in Darwin to catch the catamaran I’ll be working on. There’s not much going on in this town. Most people are either trying to find regional work to extend their visa or just getting in from Southeast Asia. It funny though because from what I can tell, you either love Darwin and find yourself here for 4 months or you’re trying to get the hell out of here. For me, it’s different because I’m using Darwin as a jumping off point for another adventure. There’s simply just not much to do, and it’s equally as expensive as Sydney. I’m feeling more on the leave it side. But I’ve met some good people.
It’s cool to be in the Outback though. Actually, it’s hot, which has been lovely considering Sydney was cool and cloudy. Darwin is the area you visualize when you think about Australia. It has red rocks, the weather is either a wet or dry season, and everything can kill you. Despite the heat and coastal location, there’s no swimming in the ocean in Darwin. You can thank salt water, predatory, crocodiles for that. Thank god for man made watering holes and lakes. Because, man, it’s warm. I’m loving every second of it. My hostel has an outdoor living space. It’s not the best hostel in the world but it’s nice to have a couch outside and be able to use it all day and night. There’s also and outdoor kitchen, so there’s frequently beer bong.
I have a few more days here but I think I’m just going to end up working on my tan because I’ve pretty much seen it all. I could book a tour to see some more rural places but if this sailing trip is going to be anything like I think it is, I’m sure I’m going to be seeing some incredible untouched parts of Australia. So I’m not sure I want to spend a couple hundred dollars for something I might see again, in the wild, for free. It could be a mistake but I’m happy to work on my tan and save money where I can.
Darwin does have good sunsets and a cute little night market in it’s corner. I’ve been good about my purchases though. No boomerangs yet. However, I heard somewhere that every good adventure needs a good hat… I went to the grocery store in an effort to be as frugal as possible and have been cooking the majority of my meals. Saving money where I can so I can spend it on beer, one of the only activities Darwin seems to be good for.