Sunset @ Mindil Beach Markets
Mindil Beach markets is an icon to all us ageing delinquents. This was a second visit. The first I lost the photos like a Wally, however this visit the sunset was just magical.
Now every Thursday arvo and Sunday, this place goes off. We arrive around 4.30pm. That
is a good time as the parking area is still quite empty, and the stall holders in some cases are still setting up. Being a little early also beats the cast of thousands that arrive for this institution, and we can get a meal without having to line up.
However before going to the markets we visited Darwin Museum which is just up the road from the markets. Now I have said it a million times, I am not into museums, however really wanted to go to this one especially for the section on Cyclone Tracy. The exhibition was very moving, and the sound booth that captured the sounds and devastation during the event was just unbelievable.
Now we have been through a few cyclones. Cyclone Steve, which passed over head of us at Trinity Beach in 2000. Of very recent times on the edge of cyclone Yasi........but nothing would ever prepare you for Tracy. I wasn't allowed to take any photos, however if you are ever in Darwin, that is a must see.
During my previous blogs, I have been a little critical of Darwin, however the more we move around its town ship and northern suburbs, it has grown us quite a bit. Plus the weather is more bearable with days of around 28 degrees and cool to cold nights. The skys are clearing with the smoke haze being a predominant feature of late, however all the burning off seems to have ceased, making way for crystal clear sunny skys.
Now back to the market.............we parked the Val in a spot where we could get out of very quickly and headed off to the markets proper for a bit of a wander around, and get some real Chinese food. Now Mindil Markets is really a food fest, with a sprinkling of crafts, clothing and other peddlers, doing their best to make them richer and the visitors poorer. But that's the way life is.
The bride off and running. Two hours from when this pikkie was taken it was wall to wall people.
Two hours before sunset at Mindil Beach
Now as the afternoon wears on it is tradition for the multitude to bring their chairs, nibblies and grog and just hang out on the lawn, waiting for the sunset and getting comfortable for the nights entertainment.
The crowd building up on the lawn to the right of us
Still building
Now about three quarters of an hour before the sunset, the throngs of people start to jockey for their positions on the sand dunes and on the beach of Mindil to get the best advantage for those memorable photos.
The bride settling in for the spectacular
This is only a quarter of the crowd waiting for sunset
Building, building
Ceeeeeee I told ya. It is bigger than a Cecil B De Mills production
Let the show begin
The start of the decent
Check out the sailing boat
Sliding away
As the sun slowly sinks in the west
Nearly gone
Good bye Mr. Sun
All Over Red Rover
We left the beach and headed for the Val and homeward bound back to Berry Springs. This time we didn't get lost as I have managed to fix the power supply to the GPS.
Stay tooooooned Darwin Dam
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