Meine Sicht der Dinge
Pictures
Litchfield
May 31st
Yesterday I finally (after 8 months I now have been in Australia) went to see the Litchfield National Park. This national park is located 12o km south of Darwin. It was a very funny trip! We started a bit late, so we only had a look at four of the many sights in the park. First of them were the Magnetic Termite Mounds which are built by termites that somehow can feel the magnetic field of the earth. So there are hundreds of termite mounds standing all in the same direction. Looks funny 
Typical for a tourist I had to make a picture of me in front of a gigantic termite mound:
Me in front of a gigantic termite mound
It was quite hot, so after we stood aroung in front of the gigantic termite mound to take all the pictures, we had to go for swim! Buley Rockhole was the place we drove to next. We had the chance to cool down a bit and lay in the small waterfalls to relax.
Relaxing in the water at Buley Rockhole
After this we needed some restrengthening and had lunch. We found a nice place to stay. A bridge over a creek, where we could eat while our feet were dangling in the water.
Lunchtime
Then wedrove to the Florence Falls. This was a really amazing place. First you could have a look at the water fall from a viewing point, and than go the bottom edge of the water fall. I just had to pass the 135 steps. Down was alright, but back up again a bit annoying…
The amazing Florence Falls
Last but not least we drove to the Wangi Falls. Unluckily the water there was closed for swimming because of a salt water crocodile seen the last couple of days swimming in there. But still, the look at the falls was impressive enough:
Wangi Falls
So after this an amazing day at Litchfield Park was over. Now I am very keen on going to Kakadu National Park as well. You can see all the other pictures here.
Bass in the Grass
May 24th
Yesterday I was at BASS IN THE GRASS, a local music festival and the biggest up here in Darwin.
To be honest I was really disappointed with the festival. The bands that played were really boring. I am open to all kinds of music (though I do prefer some good house music), but what they played just didn’t rock the crowd. I think if I were a local, I would have known some bands and enjoyed it more. The acts I liked were: Gabriella Cilmi (she sings “sweet about me“), Jessica Mauboy (I liked her last single “Been Waiting“) and Sneaky Sound System. There were lots of people and way more than at pure sounds in the park, but I still prefer pure sounds. Maybe it’s because they only play one kind of music – not only because that’s the kind of music I like, but also because the atmosphere was constant on a high level. Whereas at bass in the grass the jumping crowd was interrupted by some slow country(?) music.
I took some pictures with my broken camera, and was suprised that most of them looked alright, although you couldn’t see what you where taking pictures of (broken display, remember?). You can find those pictures here.
Arafura Games opening ceremony
May 10th
Yesterday I’ve been at the Arafura Games opening ceremony. It was a great show. Just imagine an olympia opening ceremony in small and you have this one. There were some show acts like dancing and running around in funny choreographies with flags, but also performances from Jon Stevens and Christine Anu. The part I liked most was the sky diver landing in the middle of the field with the big Arafura Games flag. Though it was a bit boring to see all the nations walking in – it just takes too long. But to give the evening a good finish there was of course a big fireworks (not like the disappointing one at the mindil beach last week). The pictures I took can be found here.
Sailing trip
May 4th
Today I went sailing. Dave (a coworker) invited me to join him for a short sailing trip. We started at the sailing boat club in Fannie Bay and went down the whole way to the wharf (and back of course).
Our sailing trip
It really was fun to have the control over the boat and to be on the water without hearing the noise of an engine. Here a beautiful picture of our boat:
Our boat
You can find all the other pictures here.
Back from the other world
Apr 21st
The other world? Yes I mean Bali.
For people like me who never have been in an asian country before, going there really means going to a different world. First of all I was approached by some guys at the airport. They carried my bag and because they were wearing uniforms and I still had to pass the customs, I thought they are officials. It turned out they were just some porters trying to make money. So I had to argue with them a bit, to get my bag back without paying them a tip.
After this first experience I struggled directly into the second adventure. Driving with a taxi through the traffic. Sounds pretty normal, but on Bali there are like thousands of motorbikes driving between the cars. That’s just unbelievable until you really experience it yourself. Finally I made it to the beach resort and enjoyed a bintang and had a look at the pool.
Bintang - The famous beer
The pool at night
On saturday I first went to the beach and got sunburned really bad (skin starts to peal off right now).
Lovely Nua Dusa beach with all the watersport boats
After the lazy time at the beach I went to the waterbom waterpark in Kuta. I always dreamed of going to such a waterpark when I was a kid and watched the Baywatch episode where they rescued some people in such a park. And the waterbom park in Bali is just amazing! They have slides where you speed up to 70 kph. 70! kph! On a slide! Wooohoo!
Of course later that day I went to Kuta to have a look what Bali after dark has to offer. There is one big street with all the clubs right next to each other (like in Lloret in Spain, for those who have been there). Every club is bigger than the one next to it, so going out for a drink isn’t a big problem there. The only annoying thing were people coming to you asking if you want some drugs or the hookers grabbing your arm and trying to convince you of coming with them.
The next day, after I checked out, I went again to the Kuta city center. This time I went into the discovery shopping mall, which is located right next to the famous surfer beach at Kuta. In one of the shops I saw a drink called “bird’s nest”. Of course I had to try it. It tasted awful. Just like birdfood made liquid. UARGH!
Most disgusting drink ever: bird's nest
So I am back now in Darwin and I have to say that although Bali really is a different world, I would go there again. But next time I am going to stay longer and I try to have a look at the countryside as well as the temples. But when you can go there for free (my company paid the whole trip ) even a weekend is a nice holiday . If you are interested in all other pictures, you can find them here.
Pure Sounds in the park
Apr 5th
Yesterday we went to Darwin’s biggest outdoor dance festival: Pure Sounds in the park. As we arrived there weren’t a lot of people, but it started to fill up and later on it was really crowded. The music as well as the lightshow were very good so that most of the visitors really started to dance instead of only sitting on the grass. The best part of all was the guy with the waterhose in front of the stage that made everyone completely wet (including me )!! All in all it was a really good festival and I’m looking forward to the next one – find my pictures here.
Great lightshow at the Pure Sounds in the park festival in Darwin
What a week!
Apr 4th
I’m back in Darwin after an awesome (but exhausting week).
It all started on monday, with our flight being delayed for a couple of hours. As we finally arrived in Perth, I jost got to my room and slept, because the next flight was scheduled at 5 am the next day. After our flight to Curtin we changed planes from a Boeing 737 to a small Cesna. This last flight finally had Koolan Island as destination. It was very impressing ’cause of the nice view. Especially the shore was almost like paradise.
Paradise?
As we arrived on the island we worked the whole day. Work itself wasn’t very interesting the first day- but the things I saw were. For example the very big gear they use on a mine site, like trucks:
Big mining truck
The next day was more interesting because it was a boat trip planned around the island. On the boat we discovered half of the island and saw some interesting places. After that, when we were back on the island, I was able to take some pictures of interesting gear (and myself):
Me in a big excavator shovel
Me next to a big truck spare part 
On the last day on the island I was also able to take a picture of the very beautiful sunset:
Sunrise on Koolan Island
On thursday we got back to Perth and had a meeting there. In the arvo we went to the little creatures brewery in fremantle. The next day (and the last day of the trip) we again had a meeting. After that there was still some time left to go to kings park and I had a look at the Perth skyline:
Perth skyline
It was a great trip and I took a lot of pictures. You can find them all here.
Territory Wildlife Park
Mar 28th
Today i visited the Territory Wildlife Park. Well, to be honest it was too much i saw to explain it all. But there were some highlights. One was the wallabes coming really close so that you could hug and feed them. The other was the python i was allowed to hold (first time for me). All the pictures arec located here.
Feeding a Wallabe
Me holding a snake for the first time
Picasa Webalben vs. Blog Gallerie
Mar 17th
Seit langem ueberlege ich schon, ob ich die Bilder die ich aufs Blog hochladen nicht vll. besser in Flickr oder Picasa hochladen sollte, statt in meinem Blog selber. Da mir Flickr absolut nicht gefaellt, bleibt eigentlich nur Picasa uebrig.
Picasa hat fuer mich den Vorteil, dass ich mich um den Administrationsaufwand der Bildergallerie kuemmern muss und ich meinen zuneige gehenden Webspace nicht weiter beanspruchen muss.
Fuer den Nutzer hat es den Vorteil, dass man mit seinem Googleaccount bei Picasa sehr einfach Bilder kommentieren kann, was hier in meiner Blog Gallerie nicht wirklich funktioniert.
Die Blog interne Gallerie hatte ihr Bestehensrecht eigentlich nur durch die Integration im Blog selber.
Also was denkt ihr, was ist die bessere Loesung?
Truck parade at Darwin CBD
Mar 15th
Heute morgen war ich im Coffee Club (Google Street View Link hier) im City Center frühstücken. Plötzlich war von draussen ein lautes Hupen zu hören und als ich rausschaute, fuhr die Polizei mit Blaulicht vor und dahinter ca. 100 riesig fette Road Train Trucks. Alle am hupen. Ganz schön imposant so viele Trucks auf einem Haufen zu sehen. Die Parade dauerte ca. 15 Minuten und dann war der Spuk auch schon vorbei. Hier ein Bild dass ich auf der Mitchell St. gemacht hab:
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