Late afternoon and the light is beautiful
This is our last day in Kakadu National Park. we have taken a week slowly absorbing the diversity and culture of this unique place. This morning had been spent cruising along the East Alligator River now it is late afternoon and we are walking up to view more rock art in the Ubbir site. The light is at that magical golden time that surrounds the landscape in an aura of magic.
Sandstone rock outliers, the art is on the top corner behind the tree
Rock art high up. How did they do it?
This rock art is attributed to the “Mimi’s” or spirits of Aboriginal Dreamtime as it is so high it would be impossible to reach for normal beings.
The outliers are cool and would be a special place in the heat of summer. Many of the drawings around here are of food and animals. Drawings are often layered on top of older drawings and show the archeologists the changing nature and culture over the years.
Photos cannot capture the magnificence of these places
High on top of the rock out crops looking toward Arnhem land escarpment
Finally we reach the top and can lookout over to Arnhem land where we had been on the morning cruise. It had been a rocky climb, at times on hands and knees, and as it was getting close to sunset we decided we would not stay for the evening show of the sunset as it would be a difficult climb down for us.
It was now we realized why we had been almost on our own as we climbed to the top, because, as we went down, we were passed by hundreds of people on the way up to watch the sunset. This is one of the major highlights of kakadu and all the bus tours organize to have their customers there at that time.
Here are a few of the thoughts from Aboriginal elders that were on boards around the park. It nicely sums up what is “Kakadu”…..
This is a very good reason why National Parks and World Heritage sites are needed
Hi Just found your blog via Stephanie-Frugal Down Under. I think you stayed on her couch.
Looking forward to following you on your travels.
Savingfortravel
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Thanks for dropping by. We had a great time at Stephanies, will be blogging about it shortly.
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It’s so interesting that ancient peoples all over the world valued their arts very highly, yet now in so many places it is considered too expensive, too elitist, too nonessential.
I have great respect for such peoples and places. Perhaps they are spiritual partly because the souls of the people were involved in their creation.
May all such sites be protected strongly.
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An interesting point I was told and confirmed at the Darwin museum was that”Aboriginal art” only became commercialised in 1971. Prior to that it was only used by the Aboriginals as body paint in ceremonies or on tribal artufacts
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This is so exciting to visit this place with you. Thank you. The drawings may be higher up because the ground at that time was also higher up. The winds and rain perhaps have worn away the ground level. Or maybe they used their own kind of ladders? Just a thought oh and also put it there knowing it would not get so worn by the weather.
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G’day Sue, that is a very valid point about the ground gradually wearing away. After all the drawings have been there thousands of years
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