Tuesday, 21 August 2012

Darwin- Last Day-Found the Free Water Park




Awoke to checking out what to do today as Mark had said the free water park was closed. I was thinking, that’s strange to be closed on a wed and Thurs, so I looked it up, well to my surprise I found the Leanyer Recreational Park was open from Wed to Sunday and its Thurs today. “Mark,Mark”, come here, look the park is open. Kids were so happy when I told them; we are off to the Park. It took around 20 mins, but when we arrived it was huge. A really big pool, and 3 giant water slides and water play area and a giant bucket that fills up and then spills down on everyone. Lily loved the water play area and the boys were so exited they were going crazy, running around.  11am we arrived, it’s free so we could stay as long as we wanted. Always a plus when you bring your fridge and lunch too. Dylan and Mark were going on the big water slides, they are enclosed tunnel slides and there are 3 different ones. Dylan slid down the 1st one,’ Go Bananas”, as its yellow and 103 metres long, “I’m doing that again, that was fun”.  He then goes on the ‘Blue Blast’; this one is obviously blue and 105 metres long, apparently the easiest one to ride. Mark went yellow and then blue, too. Mark and Dylan went on the red slide called ‘Red Thunderstorm” however this one you had to go in pairs and sit on a raft and hang on. 125 metres long the ‘Red Thunderstorm”. Oliver was a no go, for the water slide, he was happy running in the water play area, where there were small waterslides. Mark was a little harsh on Oliver saying he had to give the big slides a go, he did climb up but hung on for his life when up so high and he said I just can’t do it. He was terrified and I stepped and in and said he didn’t have to go on them he didn’t feel comfortable. I then decided I would go on the easy one, ‘Blue Blast’, I know, proud as punch I was, going on this. I don’t think I’ve been on a waterslide like this since I was a kid on holidays in Mildura. Wow, it was fast and fun. Okay, Mark wants me to go the ‘Red Thunderstorm’ with him. How funny is this going to be, Dylan, Oliver and Lily wait at the bottom, I’m like “what, hop in that thing”, and mark tells me I’m in the front of it. Off we go, total darkness, yes you know what I did, screamed and closed my eyes, and boy were we flying that fast. I opened my eyes at one stage but couldn’t see a thing, up, down, sideways, water in your face and then a steep drop all of a suddenly, I was still screaming of course and then bang, daylight and a giant splash in your face. I was thankful it was over. Yeah, I did it; it was like being 16 again!! Kids were there watching Mark and I at the end.  More swimming in the 35 deg heat. Lily went to the playground area and played and there were about 8 Aboriginal children playing as they were there with their schoolteacher. One of the little girls was swinging and so was Lily, I asked her what her name was, she responded politely with ‘Sumi”, and she then asked my name and Lily’s also. She said,” that’s a pretty name”, that was our first encounter with the aboriginals. After about 4.5 hours of being at the water park, we headed back, but went via a camping store that sells parts, we were to see what we could do about the broken leg on the camper. Mark had rung, ‘Outback Campers’ I n Carrum Downs the other day and they said they weren’t standard and to look after the other leg, you should be fine. However, it can get a little wonky. We did pick up a pyramid stand that sits under the camper that can hold and stabilize it. There was this Sand fly and Mozzie stuff in the shop, so I tried the tester, ahhh, heaven, I need tubs of it. Yes we’ll have this too. Okay, off to the famous ‘Mindal Beach Sunset Market’, apparently the market of markets to go too. Opens 5pm-10pm, we get there around 5.30pm and its packed, cars everywhere.  This Market is renowned for its food, so we head straight to that section to fill everyone’s stomachs. Mark went for the Greek souvlaki, Dylan, Indian-butter chicken and I went the Thai. Oliver and Lily went for exciting bucket of chips. There was a performer due to start at 7pm and he was a fire performer. Boys sat and watched that while Lily had a go on the jumping castle and then we went looking at the stalls. So difficult though as its so crowded and I didn’t want to let go of Lily. She wanted something to eat, her favorite saying at the moment so we found a fruit stand and got a tub of watermelon, beautifully cut up and perfect to eat in the heat, it was icy cold. Lily and I found ourselves at the girly stands and she walked away with a gorgeous top and skirt, they don’t match but she chose them. (We won’t be wearing them together). Boys later found themselves at a jewelry stall and both got a genuine crocodile tooth to hang around their neck. They look pretty cool. Okay, its so hot, ice cream cool down time and its like 8pm. Got some beautiful shots of the sun going down too, as the market is set right on the beach. Another eventful day,We stopped off near Darwin Airport and watched the Jet Planes land to conclude 'Operation Pitch Black', very very loud they were. Bed late again,

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