02/01/2001
  Darwin - AUSTRALIA
  S 12°27   E 130°50
  +52

We haven't slept for more than 30 hours and the computers keys seem smaller and smaller.

The short night flight from Denpasar seemed to be endless. After long Asian hugs, and a flight of 2.30 hours on too small chairs for a Nomadic Car@van and at last, the arrival on the Red Continent and the troubles in the customs (see Anecdotes)

But here we are in Australia, the biggest island of the World, the New Continent. You may have forgotten it: its capital is Canberra. 

During the air transfer, the Car@van only traveled with the 5 Team's members; a time to be with ourselves and to make a point of the situation. The harmony is back in the group: Marco and Theo discuss about anything, Aleko and Vale continue to tease each other... for stimulation, Maya doesn't seem to hide behind the camera anymore.

And tomorrow, we expect the coming of new Nomads... Come on Virtuals, join us !

See the video.

Darwin airport - 5.00 am

A new aseptic zone. In front of us , an endless queue of passengers waiting for a tight interrogatory. 3 ladies, with a pale complexion, stand behind heightened offices, watched by many video cameras.

- Where are you coming from ? Why are you coming here in Australia ? Are you carrying plants, fruits, animals, mud (on your shoes !)... or any wooden objects with you ? If you do, you must tell us immediately, because of our quarantine policy. And if we find something, the fine is 100 $ min.

We feel like being in the New York airport. After an hour, we can at last get our luggage back. A big customs officer come towards Marco and Aleko :

- Something to declare ?

- Hem... yes... we answer, quite hesitating. Marco has his beautiful red djembé with him, bought in a luxury Balinese shop.

- Ok , line n°2, the man says with a martial gesture.

In front of us, an old man protests: he was just confiscated little black wooden boxes. Our anxiety grows bigger.

Another customs officer:

- So, you got something to declare ?

- Yes sir, this beautiful djembé, we are musicians you see and...

But it's already too late. The man has already taken the instrument with a large smile.

- This might be infested. If you want, you can pay 60 $ immediately and you will be able to take it back within two months, after the leather has been treated. We may also send it to you in Europe, but it's very expensive... Otherwise, we must destroy it.

- 2 months ! We astonished. But we only stay one month in this country, we are Nomads !

But it's useless, the man doesn't want to hear anything about that. Tired, angry, we must leave Marco's djembé...

In the plane, I imagine to be Captain Cook, one of the greatest heroes of the Australian conquest, in 1770.

When we arrive, I'd like to be Sir Darwin, the scientist who traveled around the globe to study the living species.

Walking in the streets, I think about Chatwin, the writer who describes what we will see, now !

Theo.

 

Only 58 days to achieve the Round the World Tour, but the way is still very long: half of the Planet !

We need your help !

Australia is huge and it won't be easy to imagine all the options with the voting form only. We'd really like to listen and follow your advices.  

Here's how we'd like to organize ourselves... free, on the road, yeah ...! Vale and Theo already came in Australia and know a little bit about it; for the others, it's the first time. We now wait to be taken by your choices.

The voting form - now on-line - will set the rules of the Game.

Explore: you choose the spirit of the trip. Continue: you choose the direction to take. (on 7 millions km2)

Now go on ! We wait for your VOTE !

 

We'll rest for 2 days, cause we are really tired ! Then, we'll look for a mean of transport on which cross the New Continent... back on the road, between kangaroos and koalas.

The Journal will be back on the 4th, but we'll talk together Sunday the 3rd, on Chat, at 1.00 pm. GMT.

Have a great week-end !

Team Car@van 

Guide our next steps,insert contacts & info on  

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