We are currently at the mid-point of our drive through the Outback, in Alice Springs, just south of the Tropic of Capricorn. We have passed through such a variety of scenery -- from the wet tropics at the Top End, to lowland bush with a fair amount of trees, to the red, rocky terrain of the center. It is very much like Arizona with large boulder rockpiles and red soil.
The outback is the home of Aboriginal Australia. On the one hand, it has been interesting to learn about the Aboriginal culture, beautiful artwork, ancient customs and wonderful music. On the other hand, the poverty that exists today is horrific. Having grown up near many Indian reservations, the parallels are striking to the problems that persist in the US. There seems to be tremendous unemployment, poverty and, unfortunately, an alcohol dependency. Certainly, that is not the case for the entire population, but it is very evident.
Car, ready to go from Darwin to Adelaide  | Katherine River Gorge, brush-clearing fires |
Darter bird | Yellow Waters, Kakadu National Park |
Yellow Waters, Kakadu National Park |
V:It appeared as though we were driving through Utah and southwestern Colorado, deja vu, as we proceeded southwards to Alice Springs. The landscape is so reminiscent of the western states. And Alice Springs has a bit of a Moab, Utah, feel to it, for reference for anyone who's been to Moab lately. There is not much traffic at all on the highway, so the kilometers seem to go by fairly quickly.
Hoping for more stable Internet connections tomorrow.
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