Finally after all of my dreaming about traveling the world and the two solid years of working two jobs, in fact sometimes three jobs to save enough for me not to have to work if I so chose I was about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. In those days I lived in Darwin – Australia’s northern most capital city situated in the picturesque Northern Territory. For those of you in North America the equivalent of Alaska - except the opposite in terms of weather. Darwin is closer to Jakarta in Indonesia than to any other Australian capital city, strange but true. Given it's proximity to the equator it’s pretty hot in Darwin year round as its only 12 degrees S latitude from the equatorial marker and the equivalent of Venezuela in terms of the heat and humidity.
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| Casuarina Beach at Sunset |
I had lived in Darwin for a number of years and was by this time quite used to the tropical heat and the two very distinct seasons – monsoon season or the dry season. Australian’s shorten everything on earth so it was only the “wet” or the “dry”….keeps it simple and easy to remember don’t you think. The wet was almost unbearable (especially for the first year), 100% humidity and 32C for six solid months where you do nothing by sweat, or should I say drip sweat – both day and night. I still remember a night where it only got down to 30C overnight, clearly makes it pretty hard to sleep, even under an overhead fan. Aaahh but the dry season was paradise – 28C days, cool sea breeze and not a cloud in the sky for six months with zero rain to speak of. What could be more perfect!
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| Electrical Storm over Darwin in the "wet" |
In those days my life revolved around sport – wind surfing on the harbour most afternoons, Aussie rules football or rugby on the weekends – depending on what season. Aussie rules football was played in the wet season as was Rugby Union - so you had to choose which one you wanted to play. Not to mention Rugby League that was played in the dry (who knew there were different types of rugby...) There was indoor cricket, field hockey……you name the sport and you could play it. Those were also the days when much younger and fitter I could keep up and be rather competitive in any sport I wanted to play, which I did almost every night of the week in one form or another. J
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| TW playing Aussie Rules football |
The great thing about Darwin was the social aspect of almost everything you did, with plenty of BBQ’s, pub nights, street markets and of course the Mindil Beach Casino all within a stone’s throw of the city. I had always dreamed of traveling the world ever since I was a small child. I was a voracious reader (still am), and so loved stories of high adventure in far flung corners of the world, no matter what story it was or how exotic the locale it always piqued my interest…. This was my number one thing on my bucket list – “travel the world and don’t come back until you’re satisfied and seen it all!”
I’m sure you’re all now pretty curious as to what I actually did when I lived in Darwin, nope I wasn’t a consultant. Nor was I a banker, no software was not part of my lexicon in those days. …..give up??? Okay, my actual degree is in Education – drum roll please, yes I was a high school teacher - Physical Education and Health Science if you please. My second job was somewhat related in that I also lectured at the University of the Northern Territory in Curriculum development (part time), as well I also moonlighted as a bartender at a local seafood restaurant (Neptune’s Doorway)in town. Full days and full nights, but teaching had its benefits as school started at 7:30 am and ended at 2:30 pm in an attempt to beat the heat……it didn’t work, but fortunately I was able to be at the beach on my windsurfer by 2:45 pm most afternoons. Yes, school was that close to the beach!
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| Birds Eye Chilli's for sale at the Parap street market on a Saturday morning - Darwin, Australia |
The great thing about Darwin was the social aspect of almost everything you did, with plenty of BBQ’s, pub nights, street markets and of course the Mindil Beach Casino all within a stone’s throw of the city. I had always dreamed of traveling the world ever since I was a small child. I was a voracious reader (still am), and so loved stories of high adventure in far flung corners of the world, no matter what story it was or how exotic the locale it always piqued my interest…. This was my number one thing on my bucket list – “travel the world and don’t come back until you’re satisfied and seen it all!”
It was rather strange – one day I just had the urge to quit my job……it happened rather suddenly really, there I was minding my own business driving to school one morning and a powerful impulse came over me to get off my bum and do what I’d always wanted to do. So with that impetus and two years worth of savings in my bank account I quit my job(s), sold all of my possessions (car, furniture etc….) and brought a backpack and a one way ticket around the world. Man you should have seen the look on the principal face the day I walked in and handed him my resignation – priceless!
Now, if you’ve seen the movie Hangover, you’ll appreciate the send off my mates provided me (less the Rufies) as I departed - initially for Asia and then all points west late that afternoon in early 1985. I had the world at my feet, no timetable or agenda to work against – just me and my whims for the next year, (if the cash held out that long!) I was on my way to the adventure of a lifetime and a date with destiny!
Stay tuned for next weeks installment……turbulent times ahead.
Stay tuned for next weeks installment……turbulent times ahead.
Cant wait for the next installment - fun filled years in Darwin. Love reading about my own back garden now I am on the northern hemi...well my countries back garden! Will ask you to mix up a cocktail if we ever end up in same city!!
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