East Alligator River again today, this time in a boat, with the very excellent Guluyambi Cruises, owned and managed by the traditional owners of the various clan estates in Kakadu. Anna goes straight for the river-side seat before remembering the abundance of crocodiles [Anna: I made a huge mistake…so vulnerable].
Our guide takes us along the river, stopping to explain uses of plants, for a closer look at crocodiles [Anna: so, SO many crocodiles], pointing out some locations Aboriginal people once lived by the river and eventually to walk up to a view over the river. The guide is funny, quite sarcastic about the government’s inability to recognise that there’s a people here who have figured out how to survive 60,000 or so years and fail to ask for or heed their advice. I feel pretty sympathetic to his opinion, though I do hold out a little more hope than him. (He reminded me of my high school art teacher, Mr Mac, who was the main reason I survived school at all.)
After the cruise we head back to Ubirr to get a better look at the art. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves, quite special.
[Click on a photo to open a full-screen slide show]
