The One Day Tour (TOD) 2.0 Day 45 - The Wonderful Manuel

Only one activity today but a what a beauty!

Top Didj Cultural Experience is a rather cumbersome name for what is a rather wonderful experience. Based on the life experience, skills and gentle impish personality of an Aboriginal man known only as Manuel, this is the experience that the streets of Katherine are not. Manuel is an artist, a musician and a man of more than sixty years: many of those living traditionally. He doesn't know his birth date and no one does. When he eventually got his driver's licence, the authorities made up a date just so they could complete the paperwork. A few years ago, he was invited to travel to Canada and confronted with the same problem, the Australian Government deemed his birth date to be 00/00/1956!

He told us of his origins. He played songs on the didjerido and sung accompanied by the clap sticks. Both were good but it was when he introduced us to his style of painting that the morning really took on a new direction because he didn't just show us how, he had us painting he raark or cross hatch style.

It was difficult and I found it frustrating but still very interesting. Sue of course took to it with all the skill of the established artist she is.

There was a demonstration/participation in spear throwing but the most fascinating practical exercise was making fire from two piece of wood where one of them wasn't a match. A base stick is prepared with holes and notches leading from them to the edge. Sand is placed in the holes and then a thin stick is rotated quickly. The sand acts as an abrasive and eventually coalesces into an ember which falls from the slot. The ember is then placed among some dry grass and the application of blowing from the mouth soon sparks this into fire.

All through the morning, Manual spoke English and Language and taught us the words for items.

Click for today's photos

A fantastic morning. Manuel also gave us warnings about places not to visit in and around Katherine because of petty crime.

In the afternoon we finished the shopping we started the previous afternoon. Much quieter in town.