Opening of the Arafura Games and miscellaneous things

Dear All

Last week, one lunchtime, I went backt to Dripstone Cliffs and actually got out of the car and walked a little way along that path. I discovered a stairway to the beach, and also that the path led to a lovely grassed, shady picnic area at the next beach.

1) Here are the very stable steel steps to descend to the beach at Dripstone Cliffs.

2) And here is the view to the left when you descend.

3) Here is my first look at the nice shady, grassed picnic are which also houses a Surf Lifesaving Club!!!!! It didn't look very active during the week.

Prior to that, late on Monday afternoon (the public holiday) I watched the Labour Day March for Darwin which started at 4.30 pm down the town. Quite a sensible time, given the climate. The major retailers were open until about 4 pm

1) The local constabulary keep the traffic at bay while the marchers get ready (out of sight to the right mostly)

2) It was all very casual. No floats, only people with banners.

3) I had to put in the Education Banner! I took a lot more photos but this is a sample

Then I wandered on to the Darwin Harbour area and discovered a lot of things I hadn't noticed when we went to Stokes Wharf the week before.

1) Here you can see the lagoon where swimming can be done safely. The building on the right is under construction - apartments, I guess. In the rear you can see Stokes Wharf. In between there is an expanse of 'definitely unsafe' water - crocs, stingers, etc. It is all public space and I took this photo from the top of a lift which takes you to a walkway that goes across the to main street of Darwin, Smith Street. There I met the priest from the Cathedral, Fr John msc, who was on his way down for an afternoon dip. If you enlarge the photo you can see a walkway across from a middle wall to the grass area. I came around that way.

2) This was taken looking across that lagoon from where I was walking up towards the lift mentioned below the first picture.

3) Darwin has a 'wave' pool now and this is it, but unfortunately the wave generator is turned off every hour or so for a rest, which was when I took the photo. That pool is beside the lagoon. It is very popular and looks like a lot of fun. Three lifeguards patrol the area and children under 100 cm (I think) must be accompanied by an adult. If you enlarge this picture (double click) you will see the lift I was referring to in the glass area on the left of the building at the rear.

On Saturday evening we Darwin Sisters (5 of us) went to the opening of the Arafura Games. Our seats were in O -about the middle of the alphabet coming down from the top of the stand at Marrara Stadium.

(1) You can see us going in (except for me, that is).

(2) That was the view inside. We were on some of the red seats at the left side of the photo.

(3) The official cameras swept around the stands and showed people 'in situ' (literally) - here you can see me, taking a photo! On the screen!

(1) The next photo below shows the young girl dancers at the beginning with their flags. They looked lovely in their flowing costumes

(2) The girls help the parachutist who arrived - with much anxiety in the crowd that he might not be able to get down in the right place - he was up in the air and looked as though he would land on the roof. In this photo, the girls are picking up the big Aratura Games flag which was attached to him and are helping him get loose from his harness.

(3) The athletes came out next. I was pleased to see that these games are 'mixed' - with both able-bodied and disabled athletes all together.

(1) The next picture shows one of the banners carried by each country. These were prepared by Schools in Darwin and elsewhere in the Territory and the kids made a wonderful job of them. Each had a symbol such as an animal or something for the country. This was one of the smaller groups. The Australian one was huge and had groups from each State. Timor Leste had a large group, which was pleasing because we had heard they had had trouble with visas. The smallest was one person from a European country - Latvia? She still had her flag and support group. I believe there are about 5000 athletes. As I go for my morning walk, they are very much in evidence.
(2) Australia even had this group of Sports Medice people - most not looking terribly 'athletic'! Right at the end of the Australian States and the Defence Force groups.

(3) During this last section, a lot of costumed dancers did all sorts of things int he centre together with the young girls who were out earlier, and then went to this 'shrine' at the side where they lit flames. I have other photos showing lines of performers carrying torches. The song was about 'Light the Fire' or similar (Jon Stevens).

(1) The children's choir was beautiful with two young soloists there in the midde.

(2) This was the beginning of the multi-cultural/Asian dance item I mentioned in the 3rd photo above.

(3) Jon Stevens was still blasting out and the fireworks started and kept going. I have lots of photos, but this one will suffice.

This has been a marathon, because I have had so much trouble loading the photos. It has really used up all my spare time this weekend! Future blogs will be simpler. Hope you can follow it all. I finally got my first Certificate IV Assignment in and was pronounced 'Competent'. That is one down, thirteen to go. Actually, I have sent a second one in, but it has not been assessed yet.

Lots of love from Rita