We are underway on the Silver Discoverer en route to the Indonesian island of Matakus. Finally.
We’ve been on the boat since midday, but sailing didn’t happen until 8.30 pm and we’re headed for a different destination to the one on our itinerary.
Not that this really matters because we’ve signed up for a Kimberley cruise, not an Indonesian one. Seems that foreign cruise lines like our Silversea aren’t permitted to cruise around one country only — they have to visit at least one other nation. Hence the detour to Matakus, which apparently is nicer than Saumlaki, the one on the itinerary.
Left Melbourne on Wednesday and were upgraded on Qantas so a pleasant 4+hr flight to Darwin, capital of the Northern Territory and popularly known as the nation’s Top End. A population of 150,000, it looks as if it was built yesterday — and to some extent it was, as the city had pretty much been totally destroyed by Cyclone Tracey in 1974.
An odd city. In many respects it resembles a Queensland beach resort except muggier. It is really hot here. Temperatures around 37 all day but humidity in the mid 90s makes it feel extremely uncomfortable.
After checking into the Hilton (excellent accommodation) we invested $70 for a 90 minute hop-on/hop-off bus tour of Darwin — well worthwhile and gave us a good overview of the city. Some amazing houses and apartment blocks and great views over the Arafura Sea, which one does not swim in unless you are keen to be a crocodile’s next meal.
Dinner was at an Italian restaurant, Il Piatto, at the SkyCity casino. Right on the water and perfect for cocktails while we watched the sun set.
Great seafood meal and excellent wine. So ended Wednesday.
Now for today, Thursday, Anzac Day, April 25. Missed the Dawn Service and the chance to hear Bill Shorten address the crowd but we did make it to the parade through the city.
Cheered on by the local crowd:
Then on to the Silversea ship. Quite a different feel to the previous two cruise ships we’ve been on as this one is part of the “expedition” fleet — smaller and more compact (and sadly the suites are not sound proof).
We’re on Deck 4 (of 7) and the room (sorry, suite — must use their terminology) is compact but very comfortable and the champagne on ice to welcome us was appreciated while I frustratingly watched the Essendon-Magpies game streamed from Melbourne (we – Essendon- lost by 4 points!)
Met a few of our fellow travelers over dinner (superb) — seems most are Australian with a smattering of Americans. We were introduced to all the guides who are going to teach us all about the Kimberley.
One is Brazilian, who announced he was from a town no one would know of called Ubatuba! We used to have a beach house there when we lived in São Paulo, so of course we talked to him afterwards to “matar saudades.”
End of Day One.