FOREIGN OBJECTS
We have seen a lot of travelers from other parts of the world, doing various routes around Australia. A lot of Europen backpackers and even some family travelers in RVs. Many wicked vans are keeping us amused (bemused?) with their crazy artwork, and often even crazier passengers.
We have spoken with families from England, France, Holland and Germany. They were nearly all on whirlwind tours of the Top End during their 6 week summer breaks from school and work back home overseas. The kids were trying to talk, but often the English translating wasn't too good. Hugh found soccer a good tool of communication - and you don't even have to talk.
Gavin conversed with many of the young backpackers. Usually late in the night when he was telling them to shut up. They seem to have a habit of congregating at picnic tables close to our camp. Often with endless supplies of alcohol, and no need for any sleep. (well actually they often slept on grassy verges, or on warm rocky outcrops around waterfalls and gorges during the day.)
While camping at Cape Range NP there were some enterprising young pommy chefs. Obviously they were traveling on a budget. They befriended some of the more successful fishermen, offering to cook their catch of the day, then sharing the meal with them.
We came across some French boys at Ningaloo Reef - a marine sanctuary within a national park. Most snorkellers were just in bathers with mask and snorkel swimming around the coral. These blokes had full wetsuits, net carry bags and underwater cameras. They came out of the water with a beautiful spider shell, and proceeded to put it into their backpack. Gavin confronted them about this and they went the " no understand English" tactic.
Gavin then followed them to the carpark and got their rego. We went to the ranger station and reported the incident. Later that day the culprits were found with a whole box of creatures living in their shells from the reef. Not sure if they were charged or just evicted from the national park.
You can understand my amusement then when I walked into a toilet block and the sign behind the door requested 'please don't flush foreign objects down the toilet'. "Why not?" I asked myself.
We have seen a lot of travelers from other parts of the world, doing various routes around Australia. A lot of Europen backpackers and even some family travelers in RVs. Many wicked vans are keeping us amused (bemused?) with their crazy artwork, and often even crazier passengers.
We have spoken with families from England, France, Holland and Germany. They were nearly all on whirlwind tours of the Top End during their 6 week summer breaks from school and work back home overseas. The kids were trying to talk, but often the English translating wasn't too good. Hugh found soccer a good tool of communication - and you don't even have to talk.
Gavin conversed with many of the young backpackers. Usually late in the night when he was telling them to shut up. They seem to have a habit of congregating at picnic tables close to our camp. Often with endless supplies of alcohol, and no need for any sleep. (well actually they often slept on grassy verges, or on warm rocky outcrops around waterfalls and gorges during the day.)
While camping at Cape Range NP there were some enterprising young pommy chefs. Obviously they were traveling on a budget. They befriended some of the more successful fishermen, offering to cook their catch of the day, then sharing the meal with them.
We came across some French boys at Ningaloo Reef - a marine sanctuary within a national park. Most snorkellers were just in bathers with mask and snorkel swimming around the coral. These blokes had full wetsuits, net carry bags and underwater cameras. They came out of the water with a beautiful spider shell, and proceeded to put it into their backpack. Gavin confronted them about this and they went the " no understand English" tactic.
Gavin then followed them to the carpark and got their rego. We went to the ranger station and reported the incident. Later that day the culprits were found with a whole box of creatures living in their shells from the reef. Not sure if they were charged or just evicted from the national park.
You can understand my amusement then when I walked into a toilet block and the sign behind the door requested 'please don't flush foreign objects down the toilet'. "Why not?" I asked myself.
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