Desert Park, Didgeridoo Show and camp grounds Alice Springs

We went to the Desert Park on the outskirts of town and it was wonderful. A very natural attraction set in a  native landscape and filled with native birds and plants. It was a bird watchers delight for Wil! We started the day listening to a local aboriginal ranger talk about the local aboriginal clans and the sorts of tools and food they used and ate etc and also about the 'skins' which is a very intricate map of the different clans and who they could marry so as not to interbreed. Very interesting. Such a sophisicated culture especially when it came to preserving the natural environment with their bush knowledge. Its at this talk that we learnt the aboriginals in central Australia didnt play the didgeridoo or use returning boomerangs. Its was clans further north towards Darwin that used them. We were also shown what a 'woomera' was and how it was used -it is a tool which launches a spear giving it more power. Thus the town Woomera was named after one, being a place where they launched things!
The didgeridoo show was fantastic -amazing the array of sounds it can make and after having a go we had a new appreciation of the skill involved! Harry was the only person to put his hand up to go on stage and have a go loving music as much as he does. He also loved the drums and since then has put both instruments on his birthday wish list! Andy bought him a pipe from Bunnings in Darwin and hes been practicing making the right sounds every day. Hoping he will accompany the national anthem at school assembly when we get home!
The caravan park at Alice was sensational with lots of added extras which we enjoyed -great facilities including the pool, however it was still a tad chilly at that stage to fully enjoy it -unlike now in the 30's in Darwin!
Hope you enjoy the photos of the birds, mine are heaps better than Matt's thankfully lol!

Alice Springs - reptile fun!

Alice Springs was fantastic! We soaked up the town here, not venturing to any of the surrounding area as we'd had our fill at Uluru, the Olgas and Kings Canyon. It was still jam packed though as there was so much to see and do in and around town. A highlight amongst many was a talk on reptiles at the local tavern around the corner from our caravan park. They put on a delicious $10 roast with all the trimmings, had a guy playing classic country music on his guitar and then of course the reptile show. As well as the interactive part as you can see above which the kids loved! the guy gave a very informative talk on snakes which debunked the myths and made me feel a whole lot better about the dangers. A few days later we visited the Reptile Centre where he was from and was lucky enough to get a talk on crocs as well after which i felt a whole lot worse about their dangers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At last, photos of Kings Canyon including Wil's dot painting

Well, i think i've finally sorted out technical problems and hope to update the blog as far as Darwin before we leave for Kakadu tomorrow morning. From Kakadu we head down the centre a little again then across the middle towards Cairns. There will be limited internet again for a couple of weeks but from Cairns we should be well connected til home!