I didn’t sleep so well again overnight and nor did Bec, but for totally different reasons. I failed to settle as a wave of apprehension washed over me, while Bec was feeling the ill effects of something she had eaten. It was nothing serious, but enough to have her make me clear the ensuite of ‘Frenchies’ in case an emergency visit to the toilet was required during the night. As for me, I was apprehensive about a special activity which I planned for later today, and about which I was having second thoughts.

So poorly did I sleep, despite the alarm being set for 8:30AM, I was up before 8:00AM, which was when I woke to the sound of the rubbish being collected and drowsily remembered that I had forgotten to drag our rubbish bags down to the curb. I half heartedly thought about chasing the trash truck through the park in my jocks, a rubbish bag grasped in each hand. It wasn’t a good look even in my mind, so I thought sparing the other residents the spectacle would be advantageous for all those involved. As it turned out, I needn’t have worried, as I had at some stage before hitting the hay, taken the rubbish out anyway. Even now, I can’t actually recall doing the deed.

It was just before 10:00AM when Liz and Greg rolled up the drive, picking us up for the trip to town. We are congregating at David and Heathers accommodation, before embarking upon todays planned activities. It also gave us a chance to have a bite to eat along with a rousing mug of strong java.

Following our breakfast of doughnuts and coffee, it was only a short walk to Crocosaurus Cove, a wildlife park right in the middle of the Darwin CBD. Heavily skewed towards crocodiles, it was from here that the source of my apprehension stemmed. One of the extras you can sign up for, along with peering through the fences and ponds at crocodiles, is the ‘cage of death’ experience. Enclosed in a plexiglass tube, you are lowered into the pond to swim with a crocodile.

Given that it cost me $160.00 and they had cleverly convinced me to charge it to the plastic yesterday when I booked, there was no escaping the fact that one way or the other, I was going to be getting wet today.

Before my allotted time to enter the cage, we had a chance to look around the complex, starting with a fish feeding display, before moving onto a croc feeding show, where I was reminded of the phenomenal power these beast possess. It didn’t help when the keeper making the announcements suggested that the best case scenario when it comes to a crocodile attack is that it entirely severs a limb, giving you the chance to make a clean, if bloody get away. Just what I needed to hear only minutes out from stepping into the water with one of these prehistoric beasts.

Prior to allowing myself to be dunked into the water like some kind of human teabag, there were forms to sign. I didn’t read it too closely, more out of concern than belief that things wouldn’t go wrong, but it mentioned something about being possibly being exposed to parasites within the water. Are you kidding? I’m about to swim with a crocodile, and they think I’m going to try and sue if I get a stomach ache from ingesting a water borne bug. I would hazard a guess that paragraph two had something to do with loss of limb or life, but I didn’t read that as I hurriedly signed my life away, before I changed my mind.

When my time came, I was pointed down the ladder, into the Perspex tube. About 8 feet high and half that across, with a perforated floor and sluices through the side, to allow it to fill with water, it dangles above the water from a block and tackle. With four crocs on offer, the most active one is chosen for your 15 minutes of fame, as people gather both above the surface and below in the aquarium like viewing channels, all I am sure hoping for a drastic malfunction in the apparatus.

The cage, is then lowered into the chosen tank, and is maneuvered by the staff, in an effort to give you the best and closest look at the crocodile. A croc named ‘Chopper’ was chosen for my adventure, and despite him been swimming about earlier, I feared as I was lowered into the cool water that he was not going to be interested in me. He spent a few minutes sunning himself, just out of reach of my safety cage. Enticed with a couple of chunks of food from above, he was soon on the move, circling my enclosure, as I submerged myself and was able to get within an inch (the thickness of the plexiglass shield) of his ferocious fang like teeth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worry, fright and anxiousness were the furthest emotions from my mind, as I gasped lungful after lungful of air, so as to stay beneath the surface for as long as I could, marveling at the slow, measured movements as I was circled like prey by this 5+ metre beast. It was the most exciting and fascinating thing I have ever done. How can one describe the feeling of literally being face to face, eye to eye with a giant man eating, killer crocodile. I’m sure I should have been at least a little bit scared, but like a bird teasing a cat from the safety of its cage, I was safe in the knowledge that so long as I didn’t slip my fingers through the slots in the side of the plastic tube, I could safely revel in the fact that I was doing something that very few people manage to achieve. What a rush! Although all too soon my 15 minutes were up, and I was being raised from the water, a smile as big as a crocodiles spread across my face.

It was then time to return to the van, where we checked in on the babies, before part two of our day. A harbour cruise, on an old, two masted pearl lugger, which was timed to coincide with the setting on the sun. I say timed to coincide, as our efforts to show the rest of the gang a perfect Darwin sunset were again thwarted by a dense cover of cloud. Not that we allowed that to dampen our spirits, as we kicked off our shoes, and lounged about the open deck to enjoy a couple of pleasant hours drifting about the calm waters of the Darwin Harbour. Nibbles and a glass of champagne were provided to assist with our relaxation as we imagined the sun lowering itself below the horizon, beyond the banks of obscuring cloud.

Owing to its heritage as a former pearl lugger, a display of pearl and nacre objects were laid out, and a taste of $120.00 per kilo pearl meat was offered. I would think that a piece of tenderer rubber could be found for a lot less coin, such was the texture, while the flavor was on the bland side of tasteless.

Docking back at the Cullen Bay Marina, it was decided that the few nibbles passed about during our cruise could not be considered to be sufficient enough to constitute dinner, so we headed back to town in search of an eatery at which to appease our appetite. A convenient Hogs Breath Café fulfilled our desires perfectly, with burgers and fries all round, before we called it a night.

Until next time, stay safe, have fun and don’t forget to write.