Matt Down Under
Ruby developer, founder of choc media, bushwalker, MacGyver fan and hobby photographer, German citizen and Australian Permanent Resident.
In 2008 I moved from Germany to Australia, the best decision of my life. On this blog you can find stories and photos about hiking in Tasmania and on the mainland, travelling, and life in Australia — my journey from Working Holiday to Permanent Residency.
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I posted a new photo album about my time in the Aboriginal community of Numbulwar.
Back in Darwin
Two weeks earlier than expected I am back in Darwin. It’s hard to adjust to city life again after two months in a remote Aboriginal community.
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Outback sunsets. I can see it every night and still can’t get enough (Taken with instagram)
The day the shop got cursed
Today was one of the funniest days since I came to Numbulwar. Over the last few weeks I’ve seen a lot of things that I had never seen before but today was one of those days when I almost forget that I’m in Australia because things are so different out here in this small Aboriginal town. One always need to be prepared for the unexpected.
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Today I bought a canvas painting from an Aboriginal artist here in my community. I didn’t know he lives just behind my house. There seem to be a few artists in Numbulwar and it is difficult for them to sell their work. So whenever there is a new face in town (like me) their relatives will offer them stuff for sale. Every couple of days they are knocking at my door and offer me original paintings, handmade neck-laces made from shells, or even handmade baskets in impressive quality. Usually I try not to buy since I’m a backpacker with limited space, but today I was offered this really great painting and couldn’t resist.
I have never been much of a fan of fresh sea food until I got into recreational fishing a few weeks ago. I guess I simply dislike killing and cooking things that have eyes.
One of the specialties in Numbulwar is mud crabs. There is no real market for it, when you want one you just ask someone who has a boat — they usually have some crab traps placed out in the river somewhere and every couple of days they go and check them.
A few weeks ago I was given one and fortunately at that time I was hosting some plumbers in my house who were also experienced fisher men and they showed me how to prepare, cook and eat a mud crab the right way. Interesting experience but I think I prefer fish.
Going fishing
Monday I met Allan who works at the town council in Numbulwar. I was hoping he could give me some information or maps about the places and areas in town I’m allowed to go and which ones are safe in regards to crocs or buffalos. Somehow we came across fishing and he invited me to join him or his mates on his boat, so today I joined Frank and Graham and we took Allan’s boat for a ride up the mangrove river to catch barramundi.
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Welcome to Numbulwar, Arnhem Land
Since last Thursday, I have been staying and working in one of the most remote and most exclusive places you could possibly be in Australia: in Numbulwar, a small Aboriginal community on the Gulf of Carpentaria at the East coast of Arnhem Land.
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Road trip Alice Springs to Darwin — Day 8
Route: Buley Rockhole — Darwin (~140 km)
We ran out of water in the morning, or at least the pump pretended it was empty which might have been because the car wasn’t standing on even ground. Since there was no water tank at Buley Rockhole and we only needed it for dishwashing and cleaning the car, we filled the tank with water from the creek.
