Darwinian evolution?

July 24, 2025

Darwinian evolution?

A map of Darwin

What can one say about Darwin. It's certainly brash, certainly modern but, to me, neither one thing nor the other. Where my hotel is (Darwin Waterfront Lagoon) wouldn't be out of place on the Costa Blanca or the Adriatic - except there's nothing old. There's a large public swimming area in the lagoon with what looks like a wave machine, a Conference Centre, fishing boats and a cruise ship terminal. Overlooking the manicured public area are hotels and apartments, and running in arc along side the apartments a wide range of restaurants, cafes and bars catering for all tastes.

My hotel is what's called an apartment hotel - which explains why I have a hob, cooker, dishwasher, fridge freezer and a washer and dryer. Plus an iron and ironing board. It's huge, but I suppose like everything in Australia space isn't at a premium. From my balcony on the third floor I stare at a muti- storey car park.

Getting off the Waterfront is quite an adventure. You take a lift up five floors where you're deposited onto a walkway which takes you to a pedestrian crossing and up some steps before you hit what I suppose is one of Darwin's main streets. Along the street is the Governor's building, a smart new Anglian Church, loads of redevelopment - there's a plan showing what's being built and when, a huge information centre and then loads of shops.

Some are really high end. There's a Mall with only two ultra expensive boutiques. Along the street there's a bookshop, Aboriginal arts and craft shop along with a few little cul de sacs with a range of small, not very busy shops. I visited an art gallery with loads of expensive aboriginal painting for sale. There a few that caught my eye, but at A$7,000 each I passed up the opportunity. I did, however, buy a native print - full of colour and it made me smile.

Go to the end of the street and turn either left or right and you go past local shops, take aways and eateries. There are one or two older building - now given over to the corporate life. One spruced up, what I think might have been stables or store rooms is now emblazoned with KPMG.

I can't say I saw much of Darwin, I saw more coming in on the coach from the railway station. It is quite hot but not very humid, but even so I found the heat a bit much. That's my excuse for not exploring much of the capital of the Northern Territory. Also I didn't see much wild life and there were very few Aborigines where I was. You do see lots of corporate statements about working with and respecting the local native peoples and their traditions.

This lunch time I waited to be shown to a table at a Korean restaurant, but no one seemed to be interested in my trade so I went to place I had a meal at the previous day. So far I've had traditional English breakie at the hotel, scallops, large prawns, raw tuna but no kimchi. This evening I may be lucky.

The population where I'm staying is mixed. Lots of older people in various states of disrepair and quite a few young people - no doubt attending the local University of Darwin which is close at hand. This may also explain why most of the serving staff at the restaurants etc are young.

It's 20:00 on Thursday 24th and I'm off for dinner. Tomorrow I board the cruise ship and look forward to 10 days of pampering and lots of wild life and stunning scenery and sea/skyscapes.

A few random shots...