Brandi & Randy in Ramingining

Brandi & Randy in Ramingining, part 2

back to part one - back to the beginning - Ginger Root Home

Brandi and her classificatory sister, Lynnette Ashley, and son, on the fishing trip. Lynnette is the one who first named us and gave us a place in the Yolngu kinship system.

Pandanus weaving lessons with Djutarra, the master. We were told that she was a famous weaver and shown pictures of her travelling Australia, and then by chance saw her work in a Gallery far away in Cairns. It was a really sweet reminder of where we'd been. And we really appreciated the work she did with us, and the basket she gave us. More on weaving later...

A trip to go get crab. Let me tell you, the crabs didn't have a chance. Djutarra goes in with metal hook...

and crab comes out, only to get its legs torn off. Then it gets thrown in a bag with its fallen comrades, headed for the fire a short way away on the beach. This is the definition of "fresh seafood."

Walking in the mangrove trees, which grow on the shore where we went crabbing. It was like another planet.

Going after crabs in the midst of the mangroves. This was a very strange place!

Some of the children of Ramingining. The children were incredibly sweet and friendly with us... even instructive, spending a lot of time working on our vocabulary with us. But they turned shy when it came to last minute pictures before we had to leave.

And then it was back on a Cessna, this time with Missionary Aviation Fellowship, one of the few remaining missionary services in the region. We hopped all over the place on this plane, in order to get to Gove.

The view from above. Graham, the pilot, ended up being a huge lifesaver when things went awry on arrival in Gove. It was the only time I'd ever paid for a plane flight, and it ended up including a ride in the pilot's car from the airport into town, to find us a place to stay for the first two nights!

It's hard to see through the haze, but this picture is trying to show the bushfires burning around Arnhem Land, one around the center of the shot, one small one to the right. During the dry season, there are always fires in Arnhem Land, spread by the Aboriginal people. More on that later.

Next... we show up on someone's doorstep

Brandi and her classificatory sister, Lynnette Ashley, and son, on the fishing trip. Lynnette is the one who first named us and gave us a place in the Yolngu kinship system.	Pandanus weaving lessons with Djutarra, the master. We were told that she was a famous weaver and shown pictures of her travelling Australia, and then by chance saw her work in a Gallery far away in Cairns. It was a really sweet reminder of where we'd been. And we really appreciated the work she did with us, and the basket she gave us. More on weaving later...
A trip to go get crab. Let me tell you, the crabs didn't have a chance. Djutarra goes in with metal hook...	and crab comes out, only to get its legs torn off. Then it gets thrown in a bag with its fallen comrades, headed for the fire a short way away on the beach. This is the definition of "fresh seafood."
Walking in the mangrove trees, which grow on the shore where we went crabbing. It was like another planet.	Going after crabs in the midst of the mangroves. This was a very strange place!
Some of the children of Ramingining. The children were incredibly sweet and friendly with us... even instructive, spending a lot of time working on our vocabulary with us. But they turned shy when it came to last minute pictures before we had to leave.	And then it was back on a Cessna, this time with Missionary Aviation Fellowship, one of the few remaining missionary services in the region. We hopped all over the place on this plane, in order to get to Gove.
The view from above. Graham, the pilot, ended up being a huge lifesaver when things went awry on arrival in Gove. It was the only time I'd ever paid for a plane flight, and it ended up including a ride in the pilot's car from the airport into town, to find us a place to stay for the first two nights!	It's hard to see through the haze, but this picture is trying to show the bushfires burning around Arnhem Land, one around the center of the shot, one small one to the right. During the dry season, there are always fires in Arnhem Land, spread by the Aboriginal people. More on that later.