February 27

Wellington to Darwin

After setting both my clock and my phone it was inevitable that I would be awake long before either did anything. I crept out of the house, trying not to wake the rest of the household, and stood by the kerb on a warm, still morning.

Warm, still and quiet - at 04.15!	Everyone dozed in the departure lounge

The taxi arrived on time and I was at the airport with no problems. I passed through security slowly. There was only one scanner working and, even at 04.45, a long queue. I joined the others waiting for the early morning flights to Australia.

I had decided to use my small back pack rather than my shoulder bag. This was a mistake. After years of using the shoulder bag, I know exactly where everything is. I spent ages looking in the back pack for my passport wallet and the other travel essentials. I'm too old for major changes of routine.

As usual, we took off on time and landed on time in Melbourne. My electronic passport got me through Immigration in minutes but there was a five minute wait to pass through bio security.

I had to find my way to the domestic check-in, which was slightly chaotic but I was soon possessing of a boarding card and told to go away and play for an hour.

I found a seat by a window with views of the planes but they were all a long way away and looking in the opposite direction. The free wi fi did very funny things but refused to work on my phone so I had a go with my laptop, instead.

The planes were a long way away ...	... until mine finally appeared

Whilst doing this, I had a mediocre coffee and a good but unhealthy bacon roll. I finally achieved a connect with my laptop but it does seem to be a slow and shonky system. What else should I expect in Australia, land of snail speed internet.

As I neared the departure gate, I looked through the window and saw a baggage trolley parked close to the plane. My bag was perched precariously on top of it. At least it has got this far. I just hope that it doesn't fall off before loading.   Left: My bag was on top of the world

We were delayed taking off because the plane was there but driver wasn't. They eventually acquired one, probably in the local pub, and we departed about half an hour late.

For a flight of over four hours, it was disappointing to find that the plane had no entertainment system. The food was rubbish but the staff were nice. Best of all, we were only one third full - if that. I had three seats to myself.

We flew on and on for a very long time, mainly over brown country, with big splodges in it. Salt lakes, I assume. When clouds started to appear again, I assumed that we were reaching journey's end at the coast. The time confused me until I looked in the guide book and discovered that summer time doesn't apply in the Northern Territory, so it was an hour earlier than I had thought.

Lots of fluffy clouds	We disembarked down the stairs

No sooner had the driver announced that we were descending than he was on the radio again saying that the fire alarm was going off in the Darwin control tower so we would go round and round for a bit to see if it was a false alarm. Given that Darwin is a long way from anywhere else, I don't know what would happen if the control tower were burning down! Luckily, after about ten minutes, we started to descend again.

We landed without further ado, had to disembark down steps and then walked the entire length of the airport along a covered walkway. It was like an oven! My bag arrived safely and I claimed a taxi.

About the first thing that the driver said was "It's hot out there." If it was hot for a local, you can imagine how I felt. He gave me lots of useful information and delivered me safely to the hotel about half an hour later.

The taxi dropped me at the hotel ...	... where the view was very good

This looked very smart and the room was excellent. It did, however, lack a coffee plunger and any sort of clothes washing facilities. Not even a washing line over the bath. I will have to improvise.

As soon as I ventured outside, a very fine drizzle started, just as the cabbie had said it would. It soon stopped, however, which was just as well as the thought of wearing a waterproof in this heat and humidity didn't appeal at all.

A lift outside took me from the water level to the fifth floor, where a path took me over a bridge and onto the top of the hill on which the town was built. From there the road went through a small area of parkland, which contained several old buildings, including the Anglican Cathedral and the site of the first overland telegraph pole, planted in 1870, to link Darwin to Port Augusta. It was finally connected to Java in 1872.

The bridge to the top of the hill
The Tourist Information Office	The first telegraph pole
Mitchell Street	Dull pub but very cold beer

At the far side was the elegant Tourist Information Office, situated in the former Reserve Bank building. This was no use as it had closed fifteen minutes earlier so I will have to return in the morning.

Mitchell Street, the main drag, lay ahead. It was very low key, both architecturally and culturally. I found the supermarket and did a little shopping, then found a pub selling 150 Lashes, a schooner of which seemed like a good idea.

I walked a couple of hundred metres up the road to locate Hanuman, one of the best known restaurants in town, and then retraced my steps.

The clouds looked menacing and it seemed wise to follow the main street where there were lots of awnings beneath which I could shelter.

Wot a wet day!	It left everything damp

I had, in fact, reached the lightly covered  walkway near to the lift when the storm began in earnest. Thunder, lightning and heavy rain. I made it back to the hotel, only slightly damp.

I had a rest, changed my clothes, this could be happening several times a day, and watched the TV News.

By 5.30, an hour  and a half after it began, the rain had stopped and I ventured outside again. It was cooler but still very humid.

I walked past the Convention Centre and onto Stokes Hill Wharf. This is now an area of restaurants but still with fishing boats tied up alongside. I took lots of photos and then found a table at Crustacean.

Darwin Convention Centre	Stokes Hill Wharf

This is a huge warehouse with tables both inside and out, offering lots of fish and seafood. I fought my way through some prawns, some barramundi, a light beer and a couple of glasses of average wine. A good enough dinner.

Lightning over The Wharf	The waterfront hotels

I walked back along the wharf, watched and tried to photograph the lightning and explored more of the waterfront area. There are lots of bars and restaurants so, if the rain falls later on future evenings, there are plenty of places to eat near the hotel.