{"id":1039,"date":"2010-08-17T18:48:13","date_gmt":"2010-08-17T10:48:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mayl.id.au\/?page_id=1039"},"modified":"2017-08-17T00:51:00","modified_gmt":"2017-08-16T16:51:00","slug":"adelaide-pg-8","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/?page_id=1039","title":{"rendered":"Adelaide Pg 8"},"content":{"rendered":"

The guide at Ngaut Ngaut was a wonderful lady with a beautiful smile who explained about the markings on the cliff, the local diet, the tribal traditions and names and a whole lot more.\u00a0 I think her name was Cynthia \u2013 oh for a better memory!\u00a0 She told us that the small dots on the carvings represented how many days it would take to walk to places represented by other markings, it really was fascinating.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been to other talks like this but none as in depth.<\/p>\n

She told us that McDonalds didn\u2019t invent the \u2018golden arches M\u2019 and we all laughed.<\/p>\n

\"Aboriginal

Aboriginal 'Golden Arches' at Ngaut Ngaut<\/p><\/div>\n

This one has been there for thousands of years!\u00a0 From memory it was about 4\u201d high \u2013 not as small as this photo makes it appear.<\/p>\n

After she\u2019d finished talking to everyone I asked her about the man I\u2019d seen in the brochure photo and she told me that he had been her husband but he had died, and she showed me 2 photos of him in a locket around her neck.\u00a0 I don\u2019t particularly know why but I got all emotional but she nearly joined me.\u00a0 It was as if she and I were both feeling one another\u2019s reactions and we were making each other worse.\u00a0 She turned to answer questions from other people but I had to turn and face the cliffs with David waiting for me to pull myself together while tears streamed down my face.\u00a0 I just felt such a loss for not meeting \u2018The Man With The Beautiful Face\u2019, and for his wife who obviously had loved him deeply.<\/p>\n

After the talk we had some free time to wander along the boardwalk looking at the cliffs and markings and look at, or buy, some things the family had made on a craft stall and also have drinks of cold water \u2013 well needed in the heat!\u00a0 The crafts were really beautiful but we didn\u2019t buy anything.<\/p>\n

Then we all boarded once more for our lunch.\u00a0 We had no sooner finished lunch than there was a lot of excitement on the starboard bow and we came to a stop.\u00a0 Alongside was the most beautiful 2-storey glass houseboat which had got itself stuck on the bank so our 2nd<\/sup> in command and BJ went off in the tender to see if they could help.<\/p>\n

\"Boatel

Boatel in Trouble<\/p><\/div>\n

They tied us to the back of the Boatel (as it was named) and hauled it away from the shore but the person driving it promptly did the same thing they\u2019d already done and almost beached it again.<\/p>\n

Most of our passengers were all hanging over the edge taking photos of the Boatel and the Boatel people were hanging over their edge taking photos of us.\u00a0 And the thing that made me giggle most of all was that they had their underwear hanging along the side of the boat drying in the breeze for us all to see and include in our holiday snaps!<\/p>\n

In the end our 2nd<\/sup> in command had to board the Boatel and drive it for them.\u00a0 He was not very complimentary when he got back on board the Princess!<\/p>\n

The next excitement was the speed boat rides and David, Donna, Chris and myself kept ourselves to the back of the line as we wanted to all go together.<\/p>\n

\"Speed

Speed Boat Joy Rider<\/p><\/div>\n

We also hoped that the last ride would be the best value for money as far as speed and bounce was concerned.\u00a0 There were 2 trips before there was room for us and it looked like great fun!\u00a0 Everyone was fitted with a life jacket by BJ while they waited for their turn.<\/p>\n

The seat backs were obviously not folded down the day we rode in it but the above is the only photo I have of the boat in question.<\/p>\n

When it was our turn to get on board, David and Donna – the two most adventuresome – took the front seats, which was no surprise to anyone.\u00a0 I sat behind David on the port side and Chris was behind Donna on the starboard.\u00a0 Everyone was seated and then off we went, whhhheeeeeeeeee!!!!!\u00a0 First we raced ahead of the Princess and then suddenly turned which sprayed water all over us and made us all laugh with delight.\u00a0 Then we raced far behind waving at Maria, still on the Princess taking pictures of us, as we passed by.\u00a0 Then we turned again, complete with more spray, and the best was yet to come.\u00a0 Remember the picture of the wake from the Princess?\u00a0 It was like a fairground ride bouncing over that, whumpf, whumpf, WHUMPF, with water cascading fairly forcefully over us at times.\u00a0 I held my glasses on with one hand for fear they\u2019d fly off me and everyone was laughing exuberantly between gasping for breath when the water stopped.\u00a0 It was such a buzz and such an extreme difference to the stately pace of the Princess.\u00a0 We begged BJ for more and he obliged with the round trip again before berthing once more.<\/p>\n

\"Totally

Totally Drenched<\/p><\/div>\n

Not sure if you can tell from this photo but the colour of David\u2019s top is actually the lighter colour down his right side, the front has changed darker because he is dripping wet!\u00a0 You can tell from my skirt that I\u2019m the same, and you can see that our hair is plastered, dripping, to our heads. \u00a0Goodness knows we\u2019d had to be brave to sit in the cold puddles on the seats to even start our ride LOL\u00a0 Despite it being a hot day we were happy to go and have a warm shower after this and put on some dry clothes.<\/p>\n

There was \u2018light entertainment\u2019 in the dining room featuring our piano player so, as you can imagine, David and I elected not to indulge.\u00a0 Instead we took a game that I\u2019d packed from home into the aft lounge and played a few rounds and had cups of tea until it was time to get ready for dinner. \u00a0Well OK, the drink beforehand \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Tonight was the Captain\u2019s Dinner and we were very honoured to see that his name plate was on our table!\u00a0 We had been asked to \u2018dress for dinner\u2019 (if we wished!) so here are our outfits for this night.<\/p>\n

\"In

In Our Best Gear for the Captain's Dinner<\/p><\/div>\n

We were all invited to join the captain and officers for pre-dinner drinks, sherry, wine or orange juice and chat, which was very nice indeed.\u00a0 Donna and I both followed these with a Procrasstinating Pelican.<\/p>\n

I have to say that this night I do remember dinner!\u00a0 It was a seafood buffet but it was the unveiling that was spectacular!\u00a0 Jason announced the menu as he did each night but this time the rollerdoors were down around the buffet servery until announced and the lights were turned off in the dining room.\u00a0 As the rollers rose, the lighted scene behind was like something from a movie set!\u00a0 Dry ice smoke smouldered and drifted from the dishes above crisp red and white cloths and the 2 chefs were there with their tall, snow-white hats and the Murray River flag was proudly displayed.\u00a0 Unfortunately I was a bit slow in taking my picture so didn\u2019t get the full effect but hopefully you can still imagine what it would have been like.\u00a0 I wasn’t expecting dinner to be a photo opportunity!<\/p>\n

\"Chef's

Chef's Gourmet Seafood Buffet<\/p><\/div>\n

Some of Jason\u2019s announcements had been for passengers disembarking the next day and asking them to settle their bar accounts before going to bed that night.\u00a0 This was not something we wanted to hear as Chris and Maria would be leaving us in the morning.\u00a0 These past 4 days were definitely one of those times in life you\u2019d like to freeze and remain in.\u00a0 Do a \u2018Groundhog Day\u2019!<\/p>\n

\"Chris

Chris & Maria<\/p><\/div>\n

Thank you Chris & Maria for being such wonderful friends on our holiday!!!<\/p>\n

Now here’s the Captain, at the big Captain’s Dinner, trying to make out he was only fed bread and water LOL\u00a0 Granted, he did have small portions of everything but it really was not as he is making out here…<\/p>\n

\"Poor

Poor Dieting Captain<\/p><\/div>\n

Once dinner was relished to the last morsel there was dancing for those who wished.\u00a0 For the most part though the members of our table just sat and talked and laughed and pretended that the morning wasn\u2019t going to arrive.\u00a0 There was one slow mushey dance that I dragged David up to do and that was lovely.\u00a0 We rarely dance but it\u2019s lovely once in a while.<\/p>\n

A lot of the staff were going to change tomorrow as well so we were to say farewell to BJ, Lyndon, the captain and some of the waitresses.\u00a0 85 passengers were getting off and only 40 replacing them so we were having a smaller staff as well.<\/p>\n

And all too soon the night really was over and we went down and said \u201cGoodnight duck ducks!\u201d on the way into our cabin.<\/p>\n

\"Proud

Proud Mummy Duck<\/p><\/div>\n

Fri 20th
\nWe woke even earlier than any other morning to date.\u00a0 We were waking earlier and earlier every morning and the whole time I was thinking how \u2018out of whack\u2019 it would make us when we not only returned to Perth, 2\u00bd hours behind, but our usual lifestyle of going to bed at 2am and waking at 9.30.\u00a0 We\u2019d awoken this day before 6am making it 6 hours earlier than our normal routine!\u00a0 A huge difference for the mere 2,700 kms that we were from home!<\/p>\n

Anyway, today David was the Birthday Boy so I gave him his 3 cards and no presents that I had with me.\u00a0 A bit meagre but he never was a one to want a fuss so was completely happy.\u00a0 We celebrated his special day by taking our cups of tea and packs of biscuits out to the bow to enjoy the peace and freshness as we had done the day before.\u00a0 Actually, we needed Earl Grey tea for me from the aft lounge first and got a 2nd<\/sup> pack of biscuits each as well.\u00a0 Well, it was a special day \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 I do only mean the little packs with 2 biscuits of course!!! LOL<\/p>\n

After showering we went up for breakfast which was at the earlier time of 7.30 today to allow those disembarking time to be organised and the staff time to make up their rooms for the new passengers.\u00a0 Jason had a lot of announcements to make but one of them was to wish a very happy birthday to David and everyone joined in with the wishes.\u00a0 For those wondering, that was what my \u2018love note\u2019 to Jason had been; the request that he announce David\u2019s birthday this day.\u00a0 I was really happy that he\u2019d chosen to do it at breakfast because we still had all the passengers we\u2019d befriended on board.\u00a0 David told me off for dobbing but was happy really.<\/p>\n

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The guide at Ngaut Ngaut was a wonderful lady with a beautiful smile who explained about the markings on the cliff, the local diet, the tribal traditions and names and a whole lot more.\u00a0 I think her name was Cynthia … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":571,"menu_order":8,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1039","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1039"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1039\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3870,"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1039\/revisions\/3870"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}