DARWIN (23/10/09 - 26/10/09)
Our last weekend in Australia was to be set in the rather dull city of Darwin. Coincidentally it was also the weekend that the Global Green Challenge - a 3000km solar powered car race from the north to the south of Australia - was starting in Darwin. We headed into town early in the morning to see the start. Before the race began the cars were displayed for the public to take a look at. Unfortunately the only team to be frantically repairing their car was the British team from Cambridge University.
However despite the last minute panic the Brits did get it going and it wasn't one of those that we later saw broken down on the highway out of Darwin. We suppose it must have been difficult testing such a car in Cambridge- perhaps they should have put some sort of mill water wheel type arrangement on the back and made it rain powered!
Whilst some of the cars were considerably more hi-tech than the British effort some were decidedly less so. This one looked like it was made out of an old pram combined with a washing machine.
The start line. 3000km with no air conditioning and temperatures outside going above 40°C- rather them than us.
Something we had never seen before which are common in this part of Australia are these 'Road Trains'. This enormous truck has three trailers but we saw several with four. Amazingly when travelling at close to the speed limit on the highways it takes an average of 2.5km to overtake a 50m (150ft) Road Train.
Another huge truck blocking the whole highway as it labouriously turns the corner.
As we already said there is very little to do do in Darwin other than book tours to take you elsewhere. The Botanic Gardens, however, proved worth a short visit.
The gardens showcase several Australian habitats and we saw many interesting plants that we hadn't previously seen on our travels.
The Gardens were also home to hundreds of multi-coloured dragonflies which, of course, Adam set about photographing.
A small picnic in the shade of the trees, out of the blazing sunshine, was a lovely way to finish our fun for the day before spending the afternoon getting a few things organised for our flight to Indonesia the next day.
Our last meal in Australia. We can't believe how fast the seven weeks here had passed. Unbelievable that after just a couple of short months in Asia we will be home, and in the middle of winter too!
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