Bush Tucker

Just in case you weren't clear on the crocodile issue, this was posted not too far past the "Welcome to Kakadu National Park" signs. I also put this image here because it is fairly representative of the roadside scenery. Kakadu itself is an enormous park; some 80 miles wide and 100+ miles long, but most of the Top End looks like this... lots of trees, no sign of humans beyond the road itself.






We stopped at the Mamukala wetlands for a nice late afternoon walk.




An absolutely charming Red-Winged Parrot...




and our second Yellow-Spotted Monitor.




What could be better in the land of crocodiles than a stay in a crocodile shaped hotel? Our room was near the right hind leg (which housed a staircase up to the second level), the restaurant and lobby were in the head, and the pool in its belly. This is a Holiday Inn, believe it or not, and it was very comfortable.

Note the "You are Here" line pointing at the crocodile's mouth.




Australians are (justifiably) proud of the vast array of interesting fruits, herbs, tasty animals, etc. that are native to continent, and it has become popular to use bush tucker (as this stuff is collectively called) in restaurant food. This is our bush tucker appetizer at the hotel:

lemon myrtle capsicum (green or red pepper) on bruchetta topped with feta
wattleseed artichoke
bush tomato relish w/ toasted flatbread
marinated mushrooms with goat cheese
leek tartlet with Quandong
pear and Kakadu plum (which are small, green, tart, and really nothing like actual plums) rocket (arugula) salad
kalamata olives with chilli jam