It was harder than I thought when I sat down and tried to figure out a day that was fun and exciting that I would remember going forward. I’ve had the luxury of having many of these days to choose from. So I am going with the time I spent in Australia as one of those times.
While I was serving in the Navy, my ship visited the port of Darwin, Australia. Many of the old salts on board would tell stories of Australia and how it is a paradise of sorts for American sailors. I heard everything you could imagine to hype the eventual port call more than what it already was. Upon landing in Darwin, my shipmates and I started the trip off with a visit to one of the local watering holes. Reputation did apply for the locals. Once word got out that we were from the U.S. navy frigate in port, beer was continually bought for us and we were not allowed to return the favor. Australians can drink beer! I thought this was awesome because they were doing this because of the history of their country and their deep involvement with the U.S. Navy during WWII. Australians hold the U.S. Navy in very high regard. It felt very nice to go someplace other than the good old US-of-A and feel and be treated better than at home. Amazing!
Later that day I ate kangaroo for the first and only time in my life. I can honestly say that it does not taste like chicken. It was actually quite tasty. This meal was at the “Hogs Breath Saloon” in Darwin. I also remember my first experience with an Aboriginal was during this same meal. The local native walked up to our table, asked for a cigarette, one was provided and then asked for a beer. My friend smiled and offered him his newly arrived pint. The aboriginal then took the beer and went bottoms up. The beer was gone in a blink. The local said, “Thanks mate!” and proceeded down the street. We all looked at each other and started to laugh. What the hell just happened there?
I was later told that giving the local native the beer was very bad. The Aborigines natives are very much like our North American Native American’s, their tolerance for alcohol is very low and has other mental side-effects. The overall Aborigines experience is another essay all together.
Moving back toward the story, our day eventually took us back to the hotel where we found out our neighbors in the other rooms were Portuguese paratroopers. If memory serves me right, they too, like to drink beer. So, with that common shared interest, we initiated diplomatic relations as ambassadors of the United States and drank with our Portuguese counter-parts. It was a great time! However, the paratroopers had some real bad BO. It’s one of those European things I guess. They don’t believe in deodorant?
The night finally took us to a local club where all of us were eager to see if the Australian women were the sexual animals that you heard them to be after the various stories you heard from various sailors, far and wide. I still can’t tell you one way or the other. That night we all met a group of ladies from Europe who were on “holiday” for the year in Australia. Was I devastated by this change in events?
I can say that this day and the other days I spent in Australia will never be forgotten. I look forward to the day I can actually return. “No worries” is the social mantra of Darwin. While I was there I had absolutely none.
