1000 Ways to Die in Australia: The Middle East is a Cakewalk Compared to the Aussie Outback blogs.timesofisrael/1000-ways-to-die-in-australia/ By Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory – It was not the information we wanted to hear. As the receptionist showed us the long 4-wheel treks to the famous waterfalls at Australia’s biggest park, he shared that a German tourist had died at one of the falls just two days earlier. Outside it was an infernal 110 degrees at 80 percent humidity. It was hell on earth. The hiker had evidently made it to the Jim Jim Falls but died of dehydration on the way back. The rangers knew that because they saw pictures of the falls on his phone. I was saddened but not surprised. This was rough country, perhaps the roughest I had ever seen. Kakadu National Park is a place of awe, majesty, and wonder. Beautiful and incredible, it has few parallels on earth. But it also seems to have so many ways to kill you what it would truly humble that new comedy about the American West. Having married an Aussie and knowing the community here from my two years in Sydney as a student, I travel back to Australia to visit family, lecture, and promote books about once a year. Ever since being enthralled by Ayer’s Rock (Uluru) in Australia’s red center and the remoteness of it all, I wanted to go back to the outback near the top of Australia at Darwin. Debbie and I had four days in between my lecture appearances in Sydney and Melbourne and decided to make the trip. Darwin is deceptive. Firstly, Charles, the founder of evolution, never made it here. Rather, his ship the HMS Beagle did and they decided to name the town after their former naturalist. It looks in pictures like perfect tropical beaches, the waters turquoise blue. But it’s a tease and you can forget about swimming. I asked the concierge at the hotel which are the best swimming beaches. “Oh, you can’t swim in the beaches here. Not now. Not ever. If the sharks don’t kill you, the saltwater crocodiles will. And if they don’t tear you limb from limb, the Jelly fish will sting you to death. Of course, even if you survive you’ll step on a rock fish and get the nastiest pain of your life. But you’d probably make it.” Oh, positive news at last! He seemed to be enjoying sharing with me the many ways I might meet my demise. Continued - blogs.timesofisrael/1000-ways-to-die-in-australia/
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 15:17:58 +0000
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