Broome

17 April 2012

April 7th, 8th, 9th.

This small town is actually bigger than I expected. It even has two shopping centers and a Mac Donnalds, at which I try unsuccessfully to get a wireless connection.

This was a good idea after all, the caravan park, since they have a pool. I decide I’ve earned a relaxing WE. Besides, everything is closed for Easter WE so I might as well take my time.

On Saturday the close briefly open for half the day so I go shopping for a new pair of pants, mine are definitely ruined. I tried unsuccessfully to find a bookstore in town, “there’s a newsagent in the shopping mall” says a lady when I ask for direction. Sounds to me Broome people don’t read, well most of them are tourists anyways.
Oh well, I might as well be done with my book by the pool then.

Sunday, time for a big cleanup. I empty the car, vacuum it (thank you Ludo and Seda for the small vacuum cleaner, it works a treat), bleach the fridge, and make some room for my passenger. I even have time for a shave and an hour at the pool before the caravan park rules dictate I must vacate my lot.

Not to worry, I’ll go to the next destination : Ochre Moon. A cosy Bed and Breakfast in the quiet part of town, run by Franck and Maryanne, from Sydney. They moved here a decade ago to “semi-retire” as Frank put it. Lovely couple.
Again, afternoon by the pool, afternoon nap, relaxing time.

Shit it’s 6AM, I should go to the airport to pick up my passenger for the next two months. Good thing my phone has a calendar and reminders… The temperature is good tonight, Claire will have her first taste of the heat tomorrow.

Easter Monday, best breakfast ever, but of course everything is closed in town so we pay a visit to the tourist information center to plan our next few days in the area. Lunch by the sea on Gantheaume Point and afternoon at Cable Beach; after a quick visit at the only museum in town which explains Broome’s pearls industry. Before the Europeans settlers arrived in the area, Aboriginal People used to wear pearl for jewellery, which of course attracted the colons. They enslaved the locals to fish for pearls, until the Japanese proved to be even more accurate divers. Once the Pacific War started, Broome was bombed by a series of air strikes and all Japanese in town were sent south to prison camps. This also explains the famous Chinatown in Broome.

Since everything is closed in town, we might as well have a beer at the local pub. Well this was interesting. It took me a while to register why the waitresses wore nothing but a G-string and stilettoes, and why the clientele is only male… Nevermind, it’s part of the local culture I suppose… A friendly Aboriginal woman asks us to buy her another beer, but Claire quickly pours half her own glass into hers instead. Sadly this does not do for the poor woman who’s convinced we spiked her drink now.

A storm is brewing outside and instead of the famous Staircase to the Moon, we witness the most spectacular thunderstorm ever.

Distance to-day : 177km, total: 10698km.