Everyone talks about visiting Australia, and how it is a must do! Many people even talk about adventuring on an Outback Walkabout! It has started to occur to me that some people may not actually know what a Walkabout actually is. Generally speaking, those that are asked say that it is just a night out or a few days out in the wilderness of Australia. In some ways they are right, and from a holiday perspective this is definitely one of the more accepted ways of describing in (in ridiculously short detail), but the idea of a Walkabout is actually very different.
First of all it isn’t designed as a holiday experience, for people to try out. It is actually a rite of passage to become a man! Male Australian Aborigines take onto them this momentous journey in order to become the man they are supposed to be. Basically the Aborigines would trace back through the “Songlines” of their ancestors and attempt to mime or imitate the same heroic acts that they once went through!
“Songlines” are a part of the animist indigenous belief system; basically an experienced traveller can find his way through the wilderness by singing a song with words that relate to specific landmarks. These could be waterholes, mountains or rock formations, anything that has visual impact! If the song is sung in correct order it was actually possible for some indigenous peoples to travel massively vast distances to reach a desired location. It is also said that, because these Walkabouts can span hundreds of kilometres that they pass though different areas that speak in various languages. These songs then incorporate these different languages so that when travelling though these culturally diverse regions others could understand you!
These songs are passed down through the generations and act as a very detailed mapping system that allows the younger generations to complete their walkabouts. A single walk about can vary in time to complete, but if hundreds of kilometres are needed to travel it, then they could take years!
Want something a little more relaxing than an Outback tour, or Walkabout, you may well be interested in trying your luck at some Spa hotels!
