“Each day holds a surprise, but only if we see, hear or feel it and encompass it in all its glory.”

In our short time here in the Northern territory, I have been given a different perspective of ‘welcome to country’. When we had school presentations or church things that always began with a welcome to country, my perception was always about acknowledging the indigenous landowners and acknowledging their presence on the earth that we stood.

However, I was given a different insight into what it really means by one of our guides. He stated that ‘welcome to country’ was so much more than simply welcome to the area because ‘country’ to the aboriginal includes the sky above, the blue in the sky, the ground below, the earth, the waterways, the clouds, the water in the waterways that feed the earth, the natural beauty of the surrounds that we live in, and today, this was definitely my understanding of this colloquial phrase.

Today we had chosen to view Katherine Gorge by helicopter.
What an amazing experience! So many images come to mind as I now struggle to write it all down!
The beauty, the natural surrounds, the sky, the water below – the Jawoyn Country… but first of all let me truly start at the beginning!

Nerves had already overtaken me as we drove in the car the 20 odd kms to the Nutmilik National Park where we were to view the Katherine Gorge by air. On our way driving along the road, my darling husband espied the remains of a small plane in a tree, and nonchalantly commented about the dramatic ending to that plane. Oh of course that helped my nerves! Not that I have a nervous disposition, but sometimes it is the fear of the unknown that makes me think weird thoughts and tries to desperately keep my feet on the ground, but the little girl inside of me will follow her husband and attempt most things … and I say ‘most’ because not always will I follow him … but this time I did!

Arriving at the tin-hut that represented the helipad administration, I spy the small helicopter on the helipad that I assumed we are to fly within. However, this helicopter was very small and did not have any doors on it … two passengers were already sitting on board with only a harness stopping them from falling out. Of course this did the most amazing things to my bowels and off to the toilet I went again … and again … and again! However, my nerves were somewhat dispelled by the arrival of the helicopter that we were actually going to fly in – still small but only needing to fit Marc, I and the pilot and yes, you guessed it, it came complete with doors! Big blue ones! This time I felt better. I was given the front seat beside the pilot (so I guess so I could see where we were going to crash if needed), but it was to be truly an amazing journey.

Our pilot flew us along the entire Katherine Gorge – all 13 gorges. Words cannot really evoke the images we saw. To see the river twisting and winding its way along the rock valleys with the sheer sandstone cliffs framing the clear green water … to see the river at its narrowest and then at its widest points; to simply gaze from the heavens above at this natural waterway so long, so huge, no other manmade buildings around at all, just nature at its finest here in Australia.

This was an opportunity to also be given the experience of actually exploring rock art without barriers as we landed ( on extremely small helipads I might add here) at two areas of the National Park (only by permission of the Jawoyn aborigines). Actually climbing up and over to the rocks themselves and then having to lie down flat on your back and scramble under a ledge to actually perceive the rock art, hundreds of years old, that was painted on the roofs of these ledges (eat your heart out Sistine Chapel), to then climb and wade across the tops of small waterfalls and through small plunge pools to view different artwork depicting the food and fish that was available here  was amazing– each picture drawn told a story … This was like having your own private art-gallery that you did not have to share with anyone. This was so different from viewing the fenced-off rock art we had previously seen at Kakadu. Kakadu was amazing – but this was magical!

And the magic extended to the highlight of the day. We landed at another secluded site adjacent to a plunge pool below a small waterfall. No other humans within kms of here. The water was crystal clear with variants of green reflected within. This natural pool was surrounded by clusters of various shaped sandstone boulders and cliffs protruding from the earth encompassing and protecting this, our private ‘pool’. As you looked up to the sky you could feel the protection of the giant boulders, the tranquillity of the cliffs enclosing this small  waterfall and natural pool, as the images of the sky and surrounds reflect and dance on the water below.

And to our surprise our guide turned to us and said … it’s all YOURS for 45 minutes or so”… and then left.

So what do we do? Obviously we sit down and enjoy the gentle breeze and the natural surroundings of this magical place. We feel the tranquillity as we view the rocks and dip our feet in the water. Of course, isn’t that what you are supposed to do?

Wrong! Not likely. No, we have our swimsuits with us … but…. Not Marc. Not my husband. He stands there, strips off totally naked and plunges into the clear waters.

What do I do? Me – generally prim and proper who stands there mouth open, viewing her professional doctor-husband swim across this natural pool, to then sit on the rocks naked soaking in the sun in the middle of this green clear environment. The little girl inside me peeks out, says, “Why not?”, and I follow suit! Off comes the clothes and this white body glides into the water and gracefully (in my mind’s eye anyway since there is no-one else within km’s) swims and floats across to the rocks as well. Of course the experience would not have been the same unless the ‘Mermaid like’ photos of bodies draped across the rocks were taken – and they were. Even of this grandmother mermaid complete with her rolls and bumps!!! But who cares! A La Naturale!

What a wonderful experience.
Now we totally understand why the guide left us on our own!

We had bought our swimmers with us, but who wants to wear bathing costumes when you are surrounded by nature and you simply wish to co-exist with nature. What better way than to be naked in this pristine clear water, to really feel nature move around you, to feel at one with the water and this absolutely magical environment. We both enjoyed this wonderful environment in so many different ways.

My unruffled ecstatic feelings about being one and communing with nature (at my age) eventually changed due to the coolness of the water and my shyness and trepidation about being caught naked if the guide returned. These forced me to leave the calmness of the water and to again become all prim and proper. I dried off by the conventional means of a towel and regained my normal attire.

Marc did not mirror me. He preferred to let nature do the drying by alternatively either seating himself on a warm rock or by moving off to take various photos, all naked. It was only as the time ticked on that he felt he needed to get dressed and approximately 50 minutes or so later from our initial plunge, our guide returned. Once again we were seated on the rocks groomed, dressed, demure, and professional.

Oh Nothing like before!

We had definitely felt like we had been ‘welcomed to country’ – in all its’ meanings!!!!!