Fish
November 11, 2008 on 7:59 am | In Travels | Comments OffMore on food!
We went fishing yesterday…our first serious fishing attempt. Just a few hundred meters up the Rose river from the gulf and threw in the lines. I reckon we waited no more than 2 minutes before our first bite and from then on we were pulling in our lines every couple of minutes.
We came home with about 12 snapper, 2 cod and 2 kite fish. Anneliese and I took 3 of the snapper, gave the 2 cod and the 2 kite fish to some locals and the guy that owned the boat took the rest (he was going to give away most of his fish as well).
I tell you what, there is nothing like fresh fish with mango salad….ohhhh man!
Mangoes
November 11, 2008 on 7:56 am | In Travels | Comments OffAnneliese has come to Numbulwar as a nurse. I also needed something to do and so applied for and got a position running the CDEP over here (a bit like Work for the Dole, but involves more direct activities with the community).
One of the projects I have been running with is getting the area revegetated. Im talking with the local people about various bush food and bush medicine trees that we can plant, as well as trees to get the area growing again (the sand dunes have been slowly taking over the town and we plan to reverse this).
So Ive been getting a horticulturist in to help me, he knows a lot about local vegetation and works well with the local lads. He also just happens to manage a mango plantation. We had decided that it would be great to get a whole bunch of mango trees growing around the town, so the kids and people can get a feed from them now and again (we also have a bunch of cashew trees and a whole heap of other types).
The best way to grow mango trees is from seed. Its a very interesting process actually, you eat the mango (the best part of the whole procedure) then dry out the seed, which is actually a husk. You then cut this husk away to get the seed, which is wrapped in a tanin coat, soak the seed and coat for a day in water, peel the coating off and then plant the seed. I reckon Ive got about 2 to 300 mango trees growing in our back yard at the moment.
To help this process along, the horticulturist brought a plane load of mangos down for us to eat. we gave some away (with the promise of returning the seed) but still had heaps left over, so we froze a bunch of it and have been eating mangos almost non stop since….mmmmmmm love em. We have even had mango crumble, hehe. Anyone want a mango? Just come over.
Funny thing…
November 4, 2008 on 7:38 am | In Travels | Comments OffWhile just re-reading the post now, Anneliese and I both noticed that the background picture on the blog is actually very similar to the view we have in this community.
Coincidence?
Numbulwar
November 4, 2008 on 7:31 am | In Travels | 1 CommentIm actually quite surprised that we have left it so long before adding to this blog…or to the pictures.
If it wasnt for Dan’s comment we would have left it longer most likely.
We worked in Adelaide for a few months and then headed North to work in Arnhem land. Another community called Numbulwar, which is on the mainland, just below Groote Eylandt. The township is bordered by the Gulf of Carpentaria on one side and the Rose River on the other side (you can see it on google maps, or check the map on our website).
Numbulwar is a beautiful community, but its been ill maintained for quite some time and so there is a lot of work to be done there. Anneliese is working as a Registered Nurse for the Health Clinic here and I am running the CDEP for the community (CDEP is similar to work for the dole, but its a lot more proactive. Its designed to provide working projects that better the community and hopefully get participants into full time work).
Both jobs are keeping us very busy, there is a great deal of work involved and to be honest its something we hadnt expected to be doing. But we are constantly surprising ourselves these days.
We have visited Katherine Gorge while here at Numbulwar and gone on a helicopter flight. We have seen the beautiful Nhulunbuy community (right at the tip of the gulf) and we have taken a boat up the Rose river and seen some HUGE crocodiles in thier natural element.
Its a very interesting journey we are having at the moment and at this stage we are not sure how long we will stay or what we will do next.
One thing I will say though. These communities are normally quite desperate for workers. It can be a pretty rewarding experience and while the pay may not always be the most you will get, there are usually many benefits that offset the cost of living. You will see and take part in many things you would never have expected. If you are in the city, looking for something more, wanting to make a difference….or be part of a change, then give some of this remote work a try.
Hola folks! Ill push myself to get some pictures organised and onto the website shortly.
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