Darwin: dugongs and jet fighters
Darwin: dugongs and jet fighters
I’ve seen dugongs, or perhaps the same one twice. While rowing back to the boat a few days ago, one surfaced close to the dinghy, took a breath, and dove, displaying the forked tail which my dictionary says distinguishes him from manatees. Actually he didn’t dive as much as just sink. Dugongs don’t do things quickly. Then when I was on deck with a drink at sunset, a dugong surfaced near the boat. Last evening I thought I saw another, but it turned out to be a giant sea turtle.
The air forces of ten nations have begun war games over Darwin. Because the anchorage is not far from the airport, jet fighters are roaring over what was a quiet harbor. They have chosen the Northern Territory because of the empty air space and the relatively small population. I can’t argue with their logic. This is “The Big Empty.” But if you are one of the relatively few people beneath those planes, you almost regret the need to practice war.
I’m out of here and on my way to Bali a week today, or maybe yesterday.
----------
The photo is taken from the grounds of the Darwin Sailing Club near high tide. Obviously it is a pretty place, and the food is good. All the boats that are more than specks are local multihulls and centerboarders anchored in what becomes at spring low tides a foot or two of water. THE HAWKE OF TUONELA might be the most distant background speck to the right of center, but I can’t be certain.
Saturday, June 14, 2008