J+N [and Gang] Down Under XXVI

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: Sunday, August 18th - ....

: Darwin @ "The Top End", here we come!

: *ahem* Uh....

Left Alice Springs early Friday morning, and dined and spent the night at the Hi-Way Inn & Caravan Park at Daly Waters....

: Nikki and I both remember this place. Certainly daanton knows about this place, too! [link]

: ... so that we would all arrive in Darwin by late Saturday arvo (I mean, afternoon).

That meant spending our vacay yesterday and today in fair, tropical Darwin! With its warm beach and harbour, its nature reserve teaming with native birds and reptiles... this city in its history has been rebuilt a couple of times: the two most notable was after the Imperialist Japanese attack on February 19th, 1942 during WWII (by the same fleet that bombed Pearl Harbour but with considerably more bombs than what hit Pearl Harbour).... and after Cyclone Tracy hit on December 25th, 1974 (making for a not-so-very Merry Christmas!).

Anyway, coming back to Darwin brings to mind a tiny bad memory for Jonesy and me.

Back in 2010, when we were here, we just about got into a heated disagreement as I had tried to dissuade him from checking out the Casino. I had to remind him over and over again, and he would grudgingly agree with me, that, sure, he needs to be able to earn money, but not at the expense of losing everything (not just money!) to get it.

: Yeah, well, needless to say, we stayed in our room at this three-star youth hostel for the rest of the night. We didn't much talk to each other for almost that whole time....

It kinda felt like it was the end.

I know..... but.... thankfully we made up.
: Yes we did!
[Nikki chuckles.
: Besides, I kinda already know gambling is probably the riskiest way to earn green. You can lose it all as easily as you gain it... and maybe lose not just your money, even your clothes, your pride... your girlfriend...!
[Nikki nods solemnly.

: So... after we made up...
: Awwwwh....!
: ... and did it feel good!...
: *giggle*
: ... we decided to take in a late-night dinner at the nearest Hungry Jack's.
: That was the very first time we ever tried one of their very own Aussie Burger: along with the all-beef patty, mayo, onion, lettuce and cheese, it also has bacon, a beetroot slice and a fried egg!    A bit freaky... but tasty! 

: Anyway, like Jonesy and I did back in 2010, today the six of us stayed here in Darwin for another day, marvelling at how this tropical area called the Top End (in fact, any northern coastal area of Australia) can stay steamy and warm when most of the rest of the continent can be slightly cool and even have rain... or even snow. Yes, snow!

Whether or not we would check this out for ourselves, that would be for another day.

[...]


Another what-if postcard and journal entry from two 2½th-year university students Jonesy and Nikki, along with the rest of the gang, exploring the Land Down Under.



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