Another day in Darwin

Tuesday was an important day for the solar car team as the car had to undergo static scrutineering and the team needed to register – see more about that here. Our team was the first to undergo scrutineering and so we had another early morning. For mom, dad and I things were a bit boring after the first hour. We weren’t able to be on the floor where the scutineering was taking place - we were upstairs on the balcony looking down. Dad wandered off outside to go and do some birding, but for the most part I stayed in the comfort of the airconned building. We eventually managed to get a vehicle to go home to get lunch organized for the team, and then back to the showgrounds to wait around some more before, finally, being given the nod to leave for the day. Dad and I dropped mom at home for a snooze and we hit the shops! Specifically dad was wanting a bird book, and we wanted to pay park fees for a visit to Kakadu National Park. We did a walk through some other little shops and I found some lovely items for presents which I gleefully bought!

Back home we were once again cooking for supper. We were just about done when we got a message on the WhatsApp group – drinks on the beach! 30-minutes later the supper was ready and the team in two cars still hadn’t decided on a place for drinks. Sigh! But finally Nic sent through a map and off we went. We ended up having drinks at an awesome fish and chips shop, and we ate supper there too. It worked out very well for us as we planned on heading to Kakadu on Wednesday and returning on Thursday so the team would be able to have Tuesday’s supper on Wednesday, score! After supper we returned home to pack for our night away at Kakadu National Park – looking forward to some good birding!

First day in Australia!

After arriving in Darwin on Sunday afternoon, Monday was our first day on the job. Most regrettably there was no opportunity for a sleep-in and we were up showered and ready to be picked up at 07h00. Of course while we were waiting outside to be picked up (in the SWELTERING heat) dad was already birding!

The team picking us up was late, but over the next few days we were to learn late was normal. It seemed to me the team was rather disorganized and all over the place (though with that many people a degree I understand), but somehow they made it work. To read more about my time at the Hidden Valley race track on Monday with the team look here.

Nic and I at the track.

After our time at the track we hit the shops, unfortunately not Woolworths (so no collectable cards) but a shop called Cole’s. Mom, dad, and I are part of the team as their caterers, so we are feeding 21 people, three meals a day, as we travel and camp through the outback, as well as 20 people the week before, just lunch and supper. That is a lot of food! So Monday’s trip to Cole’s was not the one and only, but one of very many! We filled three trolleys with food and stuff, and went home to recuperate! The trolleys need a mention though. The trolleys look like your normal, average, run of the mill trolleys. But they are not, they are evil crab-walking trolleys! Seriously. Then put a couple kgs of food, water and milk inside, and you need super strength to be able to turn and maneuver the beasts. Then add a slight downhill slope and it is a recipe for disaster! Luckily we avoided the disaster but it was a close call!

After loading the car, we headed back to our blissfully airconned house to offload groceries, pack all the food away, and start cooking the first of many suppers. We had beautifully gas barbequed chicken, potato mayonnaise, and green salad. After supper was done, we washed dishes and cleaned the kitchen, to then start organizing lunch! Cooking and cleaning is also something I will be spending a, sadly, large amount of time doing – that IS my role on this trip in any case!

Our house.

Finally in Darwin!

Well we landed safely in Singapore at Changi Airport, and had a brief time to browse some duty free shops before boarding our next flight to Darwin, Australia. I may be the only person who says this, but I really would have liked some more time at Changi Airport! On our way through to the boarding gates, we walked past the most beautiful orchid garden and obviously needed to stop and take photos (along with many other travelers!). We saw such a small section of the airport but I believe there was a lot I missed out on. What I did find fascinating were the travellators – conveyor belts for people. Instead of walking from one side of the airport to the other, you can catch short rides on these travellators, not that they moved any faster than average walking speed. The next 4-hour flight from Singapore to Darwin was not great, we got food but the seats seemed tiny and, horror upon horrors, there were no movies to watch! That said I ended up sleeping through most of the flight, I was exhausted!

We arrived in Darwin to heat and humidity never before experienced – and that’s saying something from someone who has lived in Durban! And it was one of the cooler days apparently! We drove straight to the house we were staying in (spacious and entirely airconned) for a quick shower before hitting the shops for supplies. As we arrive at the one parking lot near Woolworths (yes they have them here, but not exactly the same) we came across a large baobab! How cool!

Shopping was an interesting experience, and disturbingly expensive. Converting everything is scary! But we have to eat, and so we bought stuff. What’s cool about Woolworths in Australia is that with every $20 spent you get a packet of collectable cards of ancient animals – stickeez got nothing on these! If you get a special magnifying glass with UV light you can see hidden facts on the cards – yes I’m hooked! Each packet contains three cards and a sticker, and I have a happy little collection! Unfortunately Woolworths here is like the Woolworths in South Africa – a little on the pricey side – so most of our shopping has been done at Cole’s, who do not have cool collectable cards. Sigh. Shopping done we retreated home for supper and an early night – jet lag!

En route to Singapore!

So as I write this we (Mother, Father and I) are making our way to Singapore, jetting at a delightful speed of 920 km/h at an altitude of 11277 m asl. But perhaps I need to take a few steps back to clarify how and why I find myself on this plane.

My dear younger brother Nicholas is doing his Masters in Mechanical Engineering through the University of KwaZulu-Natal this year, working on designing an electric vehicle. Last year (2014) for his honours project he was part of the team that built a solar car, which took part in a race from Pretoria to Cape Town. The team did very well despite a variety of technical difficulties, and placed third overall, and first within South African teams. Due to this success, they managed to procure funding to take part in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia. Yes this is relevant – I’m getting to the point!

About 2 months ago daddy dears sends an ominous message: Can we Skype? We need to talk. Gulp! After exchanging the usual pleasantries between parents and a daughter living a fair distance away, dad gets down to business. He has decided that we need to have one last family holiday… to Australia and New Zealand!!

We will be spending 3 weeks in Australia, which will primarily be spent helping Nic and the UKZN team in whatever capacity they need. Mom has been tasked with catering (for 21 people!), and dad and I will assist mom, along with whatever other jobs that need doing. The race itself only starts on the 18^th October but there are pre-race checks of the car and welcoming ceremonies and the rest so we arrive in Darwin (where the race starts) on the 11^th. The actual race is from Darwin to Adelaide, through the outback, literally camping on the side of the road wherever the car stops at 5pm each evening! How awesome! The UKZN team also have a blog, so go check that out to follow the team on the race: ukznsolarcar.blogspot.co.za.

After a few days in Adelaide after the race, we head on to Auckland, New Zealand, where we spend 3 weeks with family who I have not seen in over 10 years! This will be more of a tourist holiday with lots of sightseeing and adventures! So I thought it would be good to dust off the olde blog to share this trip with those I’ve left behind.. Sorry you couldn’t fit into my suitcase!

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks. I gave notice on my amazing little cottage in Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, and put my life into storage. I had a week in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, in which I did washing and cleaning and shopping and unpacking and repacking and somehow managed to be way below the weight limit (only 17kg – whoop!), just don’t ask about my hand luggage! So far my first experience of international flying has been pretty awesome! Except that the person in front of me put his chair into reclining mode as soon as we were in the air, making working on my laptop incredibly difficult! Sigh to you sir! But now for a nap, although there are so many tempting movies to watch!

Pretty awesome supper for airplane fare!

Family travelling in style.

Singapore here we come!