If you do your homework, you can get free guided tours in Kakadu. They are usually pretty good as the original land owners typically do the tour. I don't know the guides name, but I know it was Gary's uncle. I had a really long chat with his nephew and appreciated the chat. Both of us, a little uncomfortable at first, but by the end shaking hands and getting on like old mates.
One thing tho - nephew and uncle could use a dose of Norska. At 9am, the stench almost bowled me over. Apart from that, great to chat to.
The guide took us to some rock art which was followed by a walk up to the famous Ubirr lookout. Pronounced oo bir this site is a must see. It's a hike up to the top and some of the oldies didn't give it go, but they really did miss out. This view and the lands below were used in the filming of Crocodile Dundee. Just breathtaking and the photos whilst nice, don't do this place justice.
Remember - click on the pics for a big pic
Every Aussie has seen our guide. During the "men's" business dance in Crocodile Dundee, Gary's uncle was in the front row dancing.
Also another tit bit - in the movie, they originally had Hog's say to Linda, in one of the scenes overlooking the land, "This is my land". The local tribe found out and cracked the sads. It's not his land, it belongs to the specific aboriginal community. They forced a change to the dialog.
The pic below depicts an aboriginal from a distant tribe being caught fishing and catching fish on their lands. He was captured and put in cave and a big stone put in the entrance, where he eventually died. At least now, they only fine you for not having a fishing license :)
I went to the lower Ubirr boat ramp. Previously owning a boat and seeing the mayhem that happens when inexperienced drivers try to launch and pick up, lets be honest is funny. Up stream I see guys fishing in the water. A few metres downstream, two crocs. What the f%^*? It was only when I went to the boat ramp at upper Ubirr did I realise, these guys were fishing on a dam wall which is used by 4wd to go across the river.
From the lower boat ramp, you can see the fisherman and if you look hard, the two cros. I'm sorry - but NO WAY!!!
Two crocs only 10-15 metres from the mini dam wall.
This is the lower boat ramp. It's concrete followed by mud. I stepped in the mud and it was sticky. If you truly stepped in this muck off the boat, your numbers up. The croc sunned itself just opposite the ramp. He / She aint stupid... easy food maybe coming!!
Some more art work..
Every so often someone fishing at Cahills Crossing miscalculates and ends up as croc dinner. Now you are that far north, assume that every creek, river, waterhole, etc, has a resident saltie! In the days of the annual Yr 11 B/nook trip to Melville Island and Top End, the first stop was croc farm in Darwin. After watching feeding time, were no problems with kids trying to sneak an unauthorised swim for rest of trip!!
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