The Ghaderi's Go Down Under!

Zach trying a Croc Burger.


Zach at Crocodylus Park.




Sunset in Darwin Harbor.


Aquascene feeding the fish that come in at high tide.


View from our hotel of Darwin Harbor.


Termite mounds!


Emma thought the baby crocodile was "so cute!"



Many people think of going to Australia as a dream vacation. We always thought we'd go later on in life but one of the perks of being in India is our closer proximity to Australia so we decided to take advantage of it! Before our talk about our "dream" trip, let me share what I now know about Tiger Airlines. It's a new one and no one we knew had ever heard of it but they had great fares so we decided to try it. I now know the meaning of budget airlines. Now those of you that know me will know that I never look down on a bargain, BUT I would never recommend this airline to anyone. The seats were so jammed together that I felt sorry for anyone with long legs or over 6 feet tall. Emma was sure that the seats did not recline more than 1/4 inch. That wouldn't be bad on a short flight but we always boarded this airline after midnight when we are were ready for some shut eye. There was NOTHING complimentary on the flight. A bottle of water was $3.50. And they had the nerve to announce as they offered their $7.50 meals that outside food and beverage was not allowed on the plane! Luckily we had eaten before we boarded. The stewardess came through asking if anyone wanted a pillow or blanket and Farid said he would take a blanket. She told him it would be $12! Farid did without. Finally, after boarding Tiger Airlines three times we were told on the last leg of the trip that they didn't recognize our Indian visas, that they had never seen the type we had before and couldn't validate them. After several minutes and some heated exchanges with the manager, she finally said "We will let you on the plane if you sign this form releasing us from any cost should the Indian authorites not let you into the country." Go figure...

Okay, enough with Tiger Airlines. You get my point. The only good thing was that it took us to our destination! We spent most of our days in Darwin which is the northernmost city in Australia and the capital of the Northern Territory. We had a beautiful harbor view of the Indian Ocean from our hotel and we were able to take leisurely stolls through clean streets without anyone staring at us for being so "white!" We could walk to Aquascene where fish come in from the ocean to be hand fed during high tide. We toured the Museum of the Northern territory where Zach was able to see the youth exhibition from Australia's teen artists. He was majorly impressed with what he saw and couldn't believe they were only his age. We also went through a simulation of Cyclone Tracy that hit Darwin on Christmas Eve 1974. It was so strange to know this happened the same year as the tornadoes in KY that devastated Meade County where I lived at the time. I had no idea the significance that Darwin played during WWII. It was repeatedly bombed by the Japanese and there were many war memorials, including the USS Peary which was attacked and sunk during the first air attack on the city. Before we left Darwin we visited Crocodylus Park where we saw them feed crocodiles, got to hold them, and visited the small zoo there.