An invitation to A to Z

Last year I participated in the 2012 A to Z challenge and my theme was my family’s heritage places, long past and recent. Because it related to family history, I my stories posted on this blog.

This year my theme is about tourist spots and interesting places to visit across Australia’s north, especially in the Northern Territory. As well as some “what’s there” and “why visit”, I’m including some photos and some Australian colloquialisms (Aussie-isms, I’m calling them) which might help decipher some of the weird things Aussies say that mystify visitors.

If you feel like a bit of a virtual holiday, I’d like to invite you to join me on my Tropical Territory blog through April. Here’s where I explain what it’s all going to be about, including some maps marked with the places where I’ll be your tour guide from Alice Springs (NT) to Zebedee Springs (WA).

Tropical Territory – PNG Photos

Most of you know that we recently revisited Papua New Guinea. I’ve decided to add some photos on my Tropical Territory blog as a change of scenery from its focus on the Northern Territory.

If you’d like a change why not drop in and have a look.

The blog was originally intended to be photos only…..but you know me <smile>

August fun is drawing to a close

The Darwin Festival finished on Sunday with a performance of Dirtsong. I’ve written about it over my Tropical Territory blog if you’d like to read about it.

There’s no more Spiegeltent and no more twinkling lights in the trees. The food stalls with their delicious food have packed up and we’ll all be back to visiting the markets or getting take-away. .

The NT election is a done deal and there is a new government in place, largely due to the vote of Indigenous people in the bush.

Operation Pitch Black is over but there are still a few Top Guns buzzing the skies.

The humidity is rising daily and we are all too well aware of the coming months of the Build Up in the Top End.

The Open Gardens have another month to run and by then I’ll be only too keen to retreat behind the air-conditioning and do more family history research.

Darwin Fun in the Dry: Photos, Stories and a Laugh

It’s the Dry Season in the Top End and as usual Darwin has been humming with activities, but this month it reaches a crescendo of activity with the Darwin Festival.

August in Darwin is filled with such amazing opportunities: Indigenous singers and performers, international artists, the Aboriginal Art Festival, the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award and exhibition, plus free concerts, cultural displays and markets. Throw in the fighter jets in a multi-nation Operation Pitch Black 12 and the associated Open Day on the RAAF base for all the aircraft junkies in our midst (count me in!).  And for some outdoor fun, a visit to the new waterpark at Palmerston with its huge water slide (scary…eeek!).

We’ve had an excellent few days over the weekend with a flying visit from our daughter  who now lives in Kenya and the fun we’ve packed in as a family having all sorts of “adventures” around town.  It’s great to have all the kids and grandchildren in one place even for a short time. So much excitement in a few days that I was plumb tuckered out last night.

If you’re interested in any/all of the fun and games, why not pop over to my photo blog Tropical Territory and see what’s going on.

And for today’s laugh I share with you a quote from this morning’s world-class (hah!!) newspaper, the NT News: “Beyond the quest for gold, silver and blondes in the final days of the Olympics…“.

I kid you not! Well it was in the sports pages, but even so…The story’s theme was the craze for athletes to get Olympic tattoos to celebrate their participation. Aussie swimmer Ryan Napoleon was warning about the need for caution as he’d seen one tatt that said “Oylmpics”. I reckon “I won an Oylmpic blonde” would go one better!