16th, 17th & 18th Aug., 2012 - At leisure in Broome

Currently, we are enjoying a rest from travelling & are spending a leisurely time in Broome (the pearl capital of Australia).  It is a lovely tropical town, with a very cosmopolitan population & a really laid-back life-style.

Cable Beach

On the evening of the 16th, about a dozen or more of us went into town to listen to a group called 'the Pigrams' - we'd never heard of them but they were popular with our Australian friends, since their music is 'catchy' & makes for easy listening.  Several of their songs referred to Broome & the surrounding area.  People of all ages & races filled the venue to capacity &, by the end of the session, the dance floor was packed.  The music was great but the audience was noisy, to say the least, so we couldn't hear any of the lyrics.  However, one would never complain about noise, for fear of being considered "old"!

 

People-watching is a fascinating hobby & we couldn't take our eyes off some of the characters who were present - the shapes, sizes, clothes & hair-styles were a real education!

On the 17th, we got locked out of the caravan again!  The door closed on us & refused to budge, so Bob had to remove another fly-wire in order to reach inside & remove the keys from their hook.  We now have a spare set of keys hidden on the outside of the van, in case this should turn into a frequent occurrence.

With the panic over, Charlie then drove us to Willie Creek Pearl Farm, where we had a very interesting time.  We had refreshments, followed by an explanation of how cultured pearls are grown, then a boat trip to see where the oysters are farmed.  Afterwards, I almost got some pearl earrings but Bob had left his credit card in the caravan ... foiled again!

Back at the caravan park, I cooled off in the beautiful swimming pool - the heat can be exhausting but a dip in the pool soon revives me.

Today, the 18th, I started the morning with another drama ... this time, I got locked in the van's toilet & shower room!  Not much space in there so my relief, when I finally managed to release the lock, was understandable.  I'm definitely jinxed where locks are concerned.

By 10.15am., it was already 34C so the airconditiong units, in both caravan & car, were working overtime!

We went to Broome's market, which was really colourful & attractive.  There were many temptations - beautiful paintings, clothing, jewellery, arts & crafts & more pearls!  However, we didn't feel that the pearls were of the quality that we'd seen yesterday, so we drove into town & visited the Willie Creek Shop.  Bob had his credit card this time, so he bought me some lovely earrings, as well as three items to give as gifts.  The assistant gave us discount on our purchases &, apparently, we can also claim some tax back at the airport when we return to England.  I explained to Bob that you've got to spend, if you want to save!  Simple really, but he doesn't always understand that (I think it's a man thing.)