“My soul is full of longing for the secrets of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me." – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Discovery isn’t made by keeping both feet on the beach. As we covered more than 180 miles on board the National Geographic Orion, we were surrounded by the vast sea. But after a brief stop in East Timor, we are returning to the fast-growing cosmopolitan city of Darwin, the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory.
In the comfort of our luxurious ship, we can only wonder about the Macassan traders who regularly visited and traded along the Australian coast in their small, seaworthy vessels (perahu or prau) for hundreds of years. Originally from Southwest Sulawesi, these voyagers revisited places from the Kimberley to Arnhem Land, contributing to the language, art, economy and genetics of the northern aboriginals, significantlly affecting their culture. Known as Macassans trepangers, they came to Australia to collect trepang (sea cucumber or bêche-de-mer) and called the Kimberley, Kayu Jawa (“Wood of Java”). Fishing was traditionally done by hand, and their catch was boiled, dried and smoked before journeying back to Makassar or other Southeast Asian markets. Archaeological remains of their processing plants and fireplaces can still be seen today.
Our morning also presented us with some unexpected news, a reminder that nature is grand and powerful. We were informed that a volcano erupted near the isolated Island of Sumbawa, Indonesia, closing operations at the Darwin International Airport. After this unexpected surprise, life was back to normal aboard the National Geographic Orion.
As we cruised steadily along the Timor Sea, Jeff Mauritzen enlightened us about what to pack and how to shoot our future dream destinations. Naturalist Adam Croop spoke about the new discoveries and scientific evidence of human migrations. Naturalist Larry Prussin shared his images and stories about Lindblad’s National Geographic trips to Alaska and Baja California. Darrin Bennett, our expedition leader, lectured about the Aboriginal seasons and how they influence the indigenous people of Australia.
Captain’s Farewell Cocktails were served in the lounge, where we all enjoyed the guest slideshow, definitely a highlight of our trip. The best moments, stories, images and photos captured through the eyes, hearts and lenses of our guests were shared in a relaxing environment.
After a stunning sunset over the sea, we close out our great adventure to the Kimberley, a remote place featuring some of the most extraordinary landscapes, cultural treasures and wildlife in Australia. We leave with the certainty that the Kimberley touched something in each one of us who has been lucky enough to experience its vast grandeur.
