Day 65 –Kakadu Jabiru – sunny 29

Had payed for our permits to Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) to venture into Arhemland, the permit allows you to go to Injalak Art Gallery for the day. To travel along this road you have to cross the East Alligator River, a tidal river, so if you miss the tide you basically have to sleep in your car at the crossing. You are never allowed to stop on this road, if you do the police will kick you out.

We did 10km per hour for most of the road so we could take in the gorgeous scenery and take photo’s, once in the town you can only stop at the Gallery and nowhere else.

Paige and Bill

Bill showing us some of his work.

For such a little building we stayed here for a good couple of hours, watching the artists at work and have a chat. Bill was patient enough to explain the use of colours and The art gallery was full of beautiful weaved baskets and paintings, some of the baskets take over 3 months to make.

All the other visitors that came out here this morning would only stay 15 minutes or so, they didn't even talk to the men painting or the ladies weaving.We didn't see the point of making the effort to come out here if you don't try and experience it, if only briefly. We had morning tea on a table that was out the back and then slowly headed out.

Unfortunately I missed the day the rangers and the locals taught the weaving, but today they did painting at the Merl camp. Paige got to do her Aboriginal painting using the wetland reed as a paint brush. Levi found looking for bugs more interesting.

We didn’t realize it at the time until I started to write all the things we did today, it was a massive day. We then went to Ubirr Rock, had some lunch and did the walk to the lookout. The artwork here wasn’t as impressive as Nourilangie, but the view from the top is brilliant, we are definitely coming back for a sunset.