Where is the real Australia? A place where Aussies and Aboriginals mix. Where the rugged feel of earthen antiquity and a small outback city meet. Darwin sits along the coast of the Timor Sea at the top end of the Northern Territory. The sea is deep green, spawning tropical breezes and a tidal shift that boogles the mind. One early September morning, I walked along the rocky bluffs adjacent to the downtown, for an ocean view. Small waves acquiesced beneath a sandy shore. After filling my senses with the incredible beauty, I walked back into town and returned in mid-afternoon. Almost shocked, I looked out to find the ocean had retreated over a mile! Mud flats and tide pools were all that remained. Red flags went up. Tsunami? After the powerful quake of 2004 that shook Sumatra and the Indian Ocean, I was aware that seismic events were more common in this part of the world.
Before I went into a panic I found a local and asked if there was danger. The elderly gentleman shifted his weight and flashed a Paul Hoganlike smile. In a deep Aussie accent he muttered, " It's the tide...mate...no worries."
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