My Personal Arnhem Land Aboriginal Culturel Experience by Cindy Petersen.

Cindy Petersen accompanies members of the Northern Territory Tourist Commission as they check out an Arnhem Land Aboriginal Culture Tour.

Another beautiful day welcomed us on the morning I was escorting the Northern Territory Tourist Commission with Mark Crummy, Manager Destination Marketing, Kym McInerney, Manager Campaign and Online Marketing and Ian Ford, Manager Strategic Research . We were embarking on a hunting safari Eco Cultural Tour with Traditional Land Owner for Berraja, Michael, along with BAC Ranger Stuart Ankin. After a brief run down on the days events, with much anticipation we all jumped into the TV vehicles and headed of for another glorious day in Arnhemland.

After traveling through traditional sun burnt country for approx 1 hour, we arrived at the beautiful coast of the Arafura Sea. We were briefed earlier today we were going to spear mud crabs while the tide was out. So we all sprawled out of the car, got our back packs ready, spears in hand we were ready. After the normal 200 metre mud walk we finally arrived on the gorgeous white sand, with tiny ripples of water flowing through. After another 500m we arrived at prime mud crab country. Stuart and Michael carefully showed us what to look for in the sand where the crabs hide, also making sure we all had our shoes on as it can be very dangerous stepping on an angry crab with no shoes on. So we were into it, walking casually through the sand (which was also very relaxing on the feet), looking for the crabs. It took no time at all and there were mud crabs being caught left right and centre. After our casual 2 hour hunting trip and a very generous 10 mud crabs to our credit, we decided it was time to taste these crabs cooked in the traditional method.

Rather than walk through the mud again, Stuart and Michael decided they would take us on an alternative route home, which happened to be in knee deep water in prime croc country. Stuart reminds us all, their powers of observation are much better than ours, so stick close and move when I say move. To the left of us in the water was a small 1 metre croc, but where we were walking Stuart showed us there were recent croc tracks from a very decent size croc, so be alert. But of course we were all in the safest of hands and made it back no worries at all.

Before we knew it the boys had quickly started a fire and the crabs were on, not much was happening now as all eyes were watching the cooking of the crabs with drooling anticipation. With in the next half an hour the crabs were all ready and the taste buds were being rewarded for their wait. It was sensational, and everyone was soon lining up for seconds.

We decided it was time to pack up for the day, as on our return journey we would be stopping to look at bush tucker. The fact that what we would think is just a bush, but is actually a fruit or a medical ailment is truly amazing. We returned all feeling very proud of our big day out in the wilderness, it had been a brilliant learning experience, surrounded by an environment that world class photographers would be envious of.