Fighting in Darwin

March 23

Well this afternoon we finally arrived in Darwin, 4 days after leaving Broome. The Kimberly was all closed so there wasn't really anything to see between here and there until we got right outiside of Darwin. It was a really boring drive as it took us three days to reach the only interesting stop before Darwin. Litchfield National park is about 2 hours outside of Darwin, and the best way to descibe it was this. The park has several fresh water pools in which waterfalls cascade into or out of or through that you can swim in. These pools are actually safe to swim in, as the BIG crocs don't come into this part of the park, also they are trapped and moved from this location, so we mere humans won't become a crocodiles lunch. Just so everyone else is aware of this fact, they are called Salt Water Crocodiles, but they still mostly inhabit fresh water, it is just that they CAN also live in a saltwater enviroment. So even though you are crossing a fresh water river, doesn't mean that there won't be any salt water crocks lurking below the surface. Apparently most tourists don't understand that. Continuing on these pools are really cool and fun to swim in, one has this huge waterfall plunging into it, and fish swimming around. I can't describe it anymore as I would fail horribly, but I can tell you about the cool Lizard we ran into. Yeasterday we were hanging around in some of the pools with 3 German chicks and 1 Northern Aussie girl. I was down stream with 2 of them jumping into the deaper pools when we heard a blood curtling scream from up river. I dove into the pool, swam accross the current, climbed the rock wall, lept for a tree brach and swung onto the path running like there was a 12 foot croc inches from my ass. I arrived to find both women very calm drying their hair.
The Northern Australian pointed towards a 2 foot lizard and said "There is a water monitor over there." (A very undagerous lizard)
I was trying to link the scream and the lizard together, as he was just sitting by the waters edge looking at it flow by.I asked "Anything else?"
Northern Australian "No I just wanted to show you the lizard"
Me "Was the scream necicary?"
Northern Australian "Well no, but I find that if you scream like a Bitch everyone comes running."
I had to admit she had me there as my three other companions from the lower pool arrived. I ran into her later that night at the campgound where I found out she is actually a tour guide and pointed out to me all the diferent rocks that the aboriginals used to use for paint, without screaming this time though. Upon arrival in Darwin I got in contact with Simon and Claire who we met at the Broome hostel last week and flew over the day before we left. We met up for a few minutes before Chris and I sat down to to finish the argument that started months ago. The Rock in the middle of knoware debate. Chris wants to go see Aries Rock, I don't. So the debate had to be finished today, do we go to Cairns or to the center for a rock, 2000km out of the way, 4-5days extra out of the time scedual (which is already really tight as we have to be back in Sydney in 20 days to give me ample enough time to sell the car), cost 500 just in fuel,and this would effectivly kill any spare time we have in Brisbane and such which is where all the young people are (and thus where I really want to stop and meet them). This is also a lot harder to find anyone to give a ride to as it is a weird road to take (Darwin, Alice Springs, then Cairns) meaning that it will be just me and him for about 11 days strait, something I know I will not enjoy, we need new blood in the mix, something we sorely missed from Broome to Darwin. We spent almost 150km arguing strait one morning, that should tell you how bad it is getting.I honestly don't think it is worth the effort the long drive for a rock. In the end I decided to do it, but I don't think I made the right decision, I feel like I am being taken advantage of. I feel this way from the argument especially after Chris said this
"Comon, do it for me."
A huge amount of anger flooded through me with this remark. Do this for him, I have spent 4,000 buying the car, 450 insuring it, 150 for new breaks, 300 for new tires, 450 for new belts and a harmonic balancer, 250 for new shocks, 130 to change the transmition fluid, and anouther 100 for oil and filters (grand total 6000). Not including half the fuel and a lot of the camping gear. He uses my cell phone to get jobs, he uses my computer to back up all his pictures and music. Chris has spent only 500 so far for this kind of stuff plus half the fuel. I admit I have used his shaver a couple of times, but his argument about the I-pod being the most useful tool he brought that I use I will flatly deny as on several ocations I have been wanting to huck it out the window at high speeds as I am getting incredibly tired of his music. We went to Tasmania so he could do all these hikes (which I readily admit I hate), we worked for a month in Margret so he could afford fuel, he refused to spend 30 bucks on a hostel in Albany (still wanted to spend 500 on fuel to Uluru). I am still trying to figure out what part of this trip was mine. (Possibly Murry river, but that was on the way to Adelaide) When he said "Do this for me" I was really pissed off as without me, or my car, he wouldn't be doing any of this. I told him he should book a plane ticket to Alice Springs from Sydney during the 2 weeks we are going to be there so I can sell the car (if I don't get back early enough I risk loosing major money when I re-sell it) but he said he didn't like that idea. I told him that I have to have enough time to sell it, because if I have to take a hit on it, it is going to cost me. He asked "You are going to argue over 500 bucks?" I said yess, especially when you argued over 30 to stay at a hostel. He replied that 30 dollars a stay builds up over time, I said that 30 goes into 500 17 times, and I never asked 17 times. In the end I gave him 4 days, something I am not sure was a good idea. Chris said he would pay for the loss on the car, something I know is even worse, as there are 2 ways to destroy friendships, lend money to them or getting a loan from them, especially when they don't have the money to repay you right away.

In other news when we arrived in Darwin we turned on the news and found out that Perth got blasted by a horrible storm. In shock I called Gerard to find out what happened. Well the pool is empty of water as pipes cracked, trees are uprooted, flood damage is rampant, and that is only at his house. Gerard said that you wouldn't recognize the city anymore. People were surfing down the streets, at his work the water was up to his knees, and in the library at the university all the books on the bottom 2 shelves are under water. They figure over 150 million worth of damage was caused, and the insurance companies are kind of not answering the phones right now. Gerard said he would send me pictures soon. Personally I blame doctor death (Sarah) as she was doing some gardening for Gerard and Jane and I think she killed all the plants. So before they could wilt and thus be discovered as the "Butcher of Gardens" she made a deal with the devil to brew up one hell of a storm and destroy all the gardens so that she could hide the evidence of her horrific crime. Only a vegitarian could have that much hate towards plants. Of course the devil couldn't miss out on such a good opportunity, and made sure the storm destroyed everything good in Perth, including the wonderful pool. Speaking of storms, it has rained 3 times since I got to Darwin, 6 hours ago, well goodnight.

Editing note, put this up as I wrote it, I could have cut a lot of it out, but not all of travelling is smooth, which is why I think that I left it as it is. If I cut it out I would feel that I would be almost lying, this is part of the trip, and therefore it is part of the blog.