Butterflies but. . .

This morning we left Darwin and returned to Batchelor to have a look at the Butterfly Farm that we missed last time we were there. It was a lovely warm day with very little breeze so should be good for seeing the butterflies in action. We went in and met Chris Horne, the owner and, after taking our money (not all of it, just $20) gave us a photo album to look at that shows the history of the Butterfly Farm. It was a bedraggled album with most of the pages not attached any more but it was interesting to see how it all began. Following this Chris gave us each a carrot because he also has a bird aviary come menagerie with rabbits, guinea pigs, parrots, a peacock and even a couple of pigs. He took us to the butterfly house first saying there are lots of butterflies in here so just have fun, take photos etc. There was no explanation of which species we are looking at or anything, nor any labels or information boards up either. There were quite a few butterflies in there but no Cairns Birdwings or Ulysses and lots of plants; a feeder with a piece of cantaloupe on it and another with what I presume is artificial nectar in a dish. After I spent some time trying to get good photos we went out and into the menagerie although it was lucky someone was in there feeding the pig because the catch for the gate is on the inside and is rather unreachable. The first thing we noticed after the pigs was guinea pigs inside a penned area and Fin straight away gave them a carrot. They loved it but of course had a constant fight over it and it was funny to watch them. We have a soft spot for guinea pigs since Tristan used to keep and breed them for quite a few years. Then we noticed rabbits on our side of the fence coming up looking for carrot but we had already fed both of ours to the GPs since they were having such fun with the first one and were amusing to watch. The rabbits missed out. There was also a Galah that kept sidling up to wherever I was squatting down to take a photo and then I realized it wanted its head scratched so obliged and it seemed very happy about that. After this we went out and took a photo of the man-made waterfall Chris has made there then left. He is also building some cabins for more accommodation there; he already has a B&B in the house which is there. On the veranda were some polystyrene boxes with mesh on the front that were housing some caterpillars and others with chrysalises in them but again, we got scant explanation about them. In the house and on the veranda also are pictures of various gods and he told us that he tries to have all the god’s pictures up. Not sure why except he tends to be of the hippyish type from his clothes and the decor in the house if you know what I mean. It is not as professional as the Kuranda Butterfly house or the Melbourne Zoo’s one and I suspect Chris has his eggs in a few too many baskets to work on improving it to that standard but if you like photographing butterflies and cute little animals then it may be worth calling in.
Next we went to Adelaide River and stopped at the Inn there to have lunch then went to the War Cemetery. It is a beautifully maintained War Cemetery and a peaceful place to go to reflect on Australia's part in the World War II and the losses suffered by the people in Darwin and surrounding area.

I got a better picture of one of the roadtrains that you often see on the roads in Northern Territory so decided to put it up for you to see as well as a sign that I thought was unique. Actually, NT is very different to other states that we have been to in many ways.
We are now in Katherine in a cabin with parkland surrounding it and the Blue-faced Honeyeaters have been on our veranda looking for hand-outs as well as feeding in a bush just in front of it. There are at least four of them and they may be a family group judging by the different appearance of them but I am not sure that they live in families like that but just small flocks. Butterlfies have been flying past or through our patio also; big black ones but they are too quick to see their markings so I am not sure what species they are.
We had dinner at the caravan park restaurant; Fig Tree Bistro which has a very basic but reasonable menu with the tables and charis all outside and a live entertainer as well! He has an electric synthesizer and sings an ‘old favourites verging on country’ selection and he has his CDs for sale on a table nearby. We resisted the temptation to buy some.