5- Darwin Australia Pearls to Battles

 First stop in Australia is today at Darwin arriving at 2pm, and taking forever to clear paperwork before passengers (PAX) could leave the ship.  Australia is careful to stay free of Hand and Mouth Disease (HFD), a highly contagious animal disease affecting all cloven-hoofed animals.  A safety recording played every 30 minutes with the dos/don'ts. The same recording, Quite loud. In all areas of the ship. And they passed out brochures as we left the ship.  Ok - we got the message.

Australia has a population of 27 million people and is very nearly the size of the United States, With less than 10% of the population. Gina Rinehart is the richest person ($26 billion USD) in the country having made her fortune mining iron ore. Mining is important business: copper, gold, silver, lead, zinc.  A gold rush occurred in 1851, one of only three gold rushes in the world.  Per the scientists money does grow on trees.  Over goldrich areas, tiny specs of gold travel through the roots, and  trunks, ending in the leaves of certain trees!!! Sadly many of the retired mines are eyesores across the country, with no effort to repair the damaged grounds. Its too costly and very ugly.

Pearls are big business in Darwin, a great business in good financial times - when people buy such luxuries.

Darwin harbor area was attacked by 188 Japanese planes in WWII to destroy oil reserves, similar to attack on Pearll Harbor. They were not prepared to defend the harbor.  It was Australia's Day of Shame.  Only 6 of the 188 planes were destroyed.

The tide waters vary greatly, it's about 26 feet between high and low tide. High tide is lovely, low is a muddy mess!

Our day started with Norwegian treats from Mamsens: their specialty waffle and cinnamon roll.

The pilot boat showed up mid morning to drop off the local pilot to get us safely into Darwin's harbor.

There was a heavy afternoon rainstorm.  Many PAX got caught in the downpour.  We stayed dry waiting for our late afternoon tour, and enjoying English tea time.

The rains cleared just in time for our Eco-Tour a boat tour at the harbor.   It was about 30% eco, 30% comedy, 40% history, and ended with the most beautiful sunset. We traveled up a narrow waterway outlined by mangrove trees, some flooded as the tide was at about 16 feet.   Many old and worn boats were anchored along the way.  Some of the boats had been there so long, they no longer floated.  

                                    

                                            Boat sunk. Only the mast is showing.

Mangrove trees.

                                    My favorite photo of the flooded Mangroves.

                                                The eco-tour ended with the beautiful sunset.