We set off early to make our way up further to Karratha. It was quite a far distance, but we got there without a hitch, that is until we got to the one and only hostel in Karratha. The reception lady was 'away' for over an hour, and when she finally answered various people's calls, she announced that there was no room at the hostel. As it had already started getting dark, we began to drive round to try to find something slightly reasonable. One place, which
looked like a travelodge... $299 per night? "i'm sorry, is this the Hilton?" I refrained from answering aloud.
Everywhere else was pretty much just as expensive and it slowly dawned on us that we would have to spend the night in the car. After staying in Macdonalds for about 3 hours, abusing the free internet and then watching some more Dollhouse, we then had the task of trying to find somewhere to park up. This isn't as easy as you'd think, considering we didnt want somewhere in the middle of nowhere, and also nowhere where it'd be too light and we would be at risk of discovery by police. In the end, we settled for a little side road next to a few stores. Sleeping was
difficult, especially considering we could hear scurrying and scratching from our little hitch-hiker, but we managed a few hours. Unfortunately, we had managed to park up right outside a gym... so at 6am we were awoken by no less than 20 cars full of the early risers keen to get in a morning workout! We then drove back to Macdonalds to wait for daylight.
MONDAY 15th JUNE
At about 7.30am we set off to the next town, which was Port Hedland. I drove most of the way and Sarah slept, so I took the opportunity to listen to every song that I have of the Puppini Sisters! This certainly kept me entertained for 2 or 3 hours. There was also alot of great scenery to look at, lots of large rock formations - even one that was like a little Uluru (Ayers Rock).
*pic to be given by Sarah.... eventually....*
In good time we got to Port Hedland at around 11am. It is a strange place, more a mining town than anything else. We went into a newsagent for a muffin and coffee and were told that BOTH Port
Hedlands 2 hostels had been closed down!!? - GREAT. So we had no choice but to push on to Broome, which was the destination anyway. The drive from Port Hedland to Broome was by far the most boring drive either of us had ever done and consisted of the same surroundings the whole way and was also a completely straight, level road. We actually got excited at passing a car, as a welcome change to nothing. We somehow managed to get to Broome. Getting there, we were greeted by a sign announcing 'CHINATOWN'. I don't want to say that we'd become racist living in Sydney, but there is a large percentage of the population here that are of the asian species. As soon as we got to Broome, we set about finding space at a hostel... which proved difficult as the 2 we would want were fully booked for the next 3 days. The other 2 were 'BEACHES' which was a new Hostel/Hotel Resort and was alot more expensive, or 'LAST RESORT' which was the cheapest. As we were very very tired and exhausted from driving so far, we settled for the last resort. Well... it's not called the Last Resort for nothing... truly awful. Dirty, loud and the bathrooms were disgusting, not nice enough for a PUB toilet. But we didn't really have much choice.
TUESDAY 16th JUNE
The next day we decided we'd had enough of that and agreed to stay at the expensive place for a night, until the YHA became free. Beaches was a refreshing change and probably the nicest Hostel we've stayed in, so far anyway. It boasts a large bar, large pool and a short distance from Cable beach, the best beach in Broome.
We didn't really do too much other than exploring Broome and getting aquainted with the area.
I'd procured some internet time from the
reception desk and on turning on my laptop, discovered that it would not let me into my own user account?! It still hasn't - very weird. Luckily everything is still on it and I was able to move everything over to 'DAN2' account, but I've still lost all my favourites and internet bookmarks, which of course are very valuable to me. In the evening we rented a movie in the resorts private Cinema - some old vampire movie that Sarah insisted we watch. - Young blood? something like that, but it was quite funny, in a vintage/rubbish sort of way.
The next month on....
We moved into the YHA Kimberley Klub the day after, which would be our home for pretty much a month, whilst we waited for our tax refunds to come through. Sarah had filled hers out through Work & Travel, for $70 and also 10% of the result. I for one have given Work & Travel enough of my money so decided to either do it myself on the government website, or wait until 1st July to fill it out online through this accounting firm online. This was $50 one off payment and it was guaranteed to be the highest return and speed. As it turned out I got mine on Monday 13th July and it's now Friday 24th and Sarah has still not gotten hers through. (trying not to do the 'told ya so' dance) - in my experience, Work & Travel just should not be trusted.
In the first few days, Sarah shocked me by announcing that she had no money left and that she was going back to Sydney, which was really not what we had discussed doing. I considered all my options, basically I didn't really have enough money to do more travelling, i.e. the east coast, as that's the expensive part. I didn't really want to go back to Sydney as it would now be even colder and wetter. Which left me the only option of staying where I was, in the sunshine. - As it turned out Sarah had been able to borrow some money from her parents to be able to support
herself until her tax refund had come through.
Throughout the month, we spent our time by the pool, watching movies, going to the beach, topping up our tans and walking around Broome. It is surely a lifestyles of dreams that we could do nothing but just survive for a month in a town which never sees rain and is 30 degrees every day. As relaxing as it is, it quickly became quite tedious and you quickly realise that doing nothing really isn't all that great - lets hope I can remember this feeling when I'm sick to death of whatever job I'll be doing in the future. With regards to getting a tan, my skin is a curious thing. After a very short time, my skin has become completely resistant to sunshine and tanning. Even wearing no SPF yields no results (yes i know i shouldnt). - This is surely the worst characteristic I could have taken from my fathers dark half-portuguese complection which is resistant to
burning but always retains the tan. Oh well it can't be helped, hopefully it'll be possible to go to Thailand on the way home and that sun will be different.
We have been trying to sell the car, but with no luck. No-one will buy it as it was registered in South Australia and would need all sorts of tests done on it before it could be re-registered here. We had taken it to various places and a nice gentleman (yeh right) agreed to just take it from us, but that he didnt actually want it. Well he got his wish, a few days later, the car would not even start. Surely, the little creature(s) had bitten through the wrong wire and killed the ignition of the engine - terrific.
Other than that we visited the worlds oldest open air cinema to see the first showing of Transformers 2 - It was a fantastic movie, full of great special effects, which were not lost considering that the Cinema still used a 'REEL' in the old style projector.
I also went off on my own to Gantheume Point to climb around the rocks. - Apparently this is not a very sensible thing to do, as this is where the Crocodile was spotted on his way to the Cable beach, which was when we were evicted from it. (Also there was a caterpillar which nearly crawled into my ear - which
apparently can spit acid at you - i took a picture).
Anyway, after a month of doing the same thing, i.e. nothing, I was completely ready to get out of Broome and on with the adventure. I still had quite a bit of money left, from my savings from home, but when you're staying with someone with no wish to spend money, then there's very few activities to be done. I did manage to see Harry Potter 6 before we left which I thought was MAGNIFICENT! - and that's quite a word to use!! but it surpassed my expectations! - especially all the bits they had added which werent in the book.
We also went down to Town Beach to see the local phenomenon called 'Stairway to the moon'...
It was quite pretty... but the photos didnt really come out that well...
Sarah STILL hadn't gotten her tax from horrible Work & Travel so she rang to complain and they forwarded her $2000, which meant that we could FINALLY get out of Broome and do the East Coast. They told her though that she wouldn't be getting much more, as the government have taken alot from her. - so let's recap....
my tax was $4500 - and I got back $4150 within 14 days and it cost me $50 online. -
Sarah's tax was $6000 or more, she paid $70 and then 10% on the end... and will probably only get $3800...
So i've lost $450.... Sarah's lost $2200 or more.... (told you so dance going mental to be performed).
So anyway we booked in for an 11am flight to Darwin on Monday 19th July.
Shortly after booking the flights and hostels etc, I noticed on facebook that my friend Jenna, who I had met many months ago in Sydney was also in Darwin, so we arranged to meet up as soon as we were there.
MONDAY 19TH JULY
We checked out with no problems to get our 11am flight, which had no problems other than quite alot of daunting turbulance when the plane came near to landing. We landed at about 2.30pm in Darwin (time difference included) and checked in to the YHA, which was clean, neat, friendly and conveniently located.
We were in different rooms, as had booked all our flights etc separately. Within seconds of getting into my room I started chatting with this lovely Irish girl called Caroline, who invited me to 'TITS ON TUESDAY', an infamous night out the following day.
Having had a look at the 'what's on' board, I told her about a Quiz night at the VIC pub, which had bar tab prizes, so her and her boyfriend Keith should join me and Sarah and Jenna and help out with the quiz. Sarah and I then had a walk through the main streets of the town and whilst exploring, found the Waterfront area, which is quite a new area, half still in development. There we found the man-made beach and the Wave Lagoon which looked like tons of fun, we also found the conference centre.
We had considered meeting Jenna for food, but apparently the 'VIC' had food there, so we all went down there ready for the quiz. - unfortunately when we got there they had JUST stopped serving food, so all I had to eat was a packet of crisps - uh-oh.... drink and no food :S
Anyway, the quiz started (team name - "Jesus knows", after Caroline's answer to "what is your team name?") and we were very surprised at how well we were doing. Round one down - 100% correct, so i went off to get 2 jaegerbombs (special) and after having them the compere asked for a volunteer from each team to bring up the sheet. - So I thought, sure that's not difficult. When I got up to the stage area, each volunteer had to line up and then try their best to play this makeshift didgery-doo - which was made out the end of a vacuum cleaner. Just as the compare
got to me, he demonstrated how to do it (very poorly). Not one to be outplayed... especially musical instrumentwise, I gave it my best shot, which was actually surprisingly good and i came 3rd and got 3 points for our team. - The other 2 seemed to have had lessons and even did little tricks and things with it. - hmmm not fair.
Anyway, after another very successful round, they asked for another volunteer, so Caroline went up. This round, the volunteer had to bend down and pick up a cardboard box with their teeth, simple huh? Caroline was by far the best. THEN the compare cut the box down so that it got lower to the floor. This was repeated until only 2 contestants were left - one being Caroline. I went down to the front to shout/scream encouragement for Caroline, who of course was alot better than the other girl, so we won 5 points for our team.
OK so the 3rd round, we definitely got 100% as they were all music questions and between us, we had a good range of musical tastes. For the challenge, we tried to get Keith to go up, but he was a complete wimp and wouldnt do it! hahaha. So Sarah went up. For this challenge, the compare shouted an item that the volunteer had to run and get from their team. We were doing well, until the compare called out "lighter". None of us being smokers, of course we couldnt find one. - after much shouting of protest that none of us are dirty smokers, unfortunately we did not get any points.
When it came to the results, we went downstairs to the bar area - it was announced, that by 1 measley point, we came 2nd and won $50 at the bar!!! fantastic. ciders all round (Caroline's idea). We then danced the night away.
It was a completely random night but one of the best (as so often happens). I was maybe a bit too drunk... but that's what you get for drinking on an empty stomach.
TUESDAY 20th JULY
Me and Sarah got up at 10am to check out some prices for flights to Cairns, which we eventually booked for the Thursday - coincidently this was Jenna's flight too. I then had a bit of a nap as was feeling a little hungover haha. In the evening we went to a bar & grill place called the Hogs breath, which was a bit pricey but the food was delicious. We especially liked the salt and pepper shakers, which were in old Corona bottles - see picture.
After waiting over an hour for our mains and also being SO full that we could hardly move, we decided not to go to 'TITS ON TUESDAY' - which was echoed by Caroline & Keith who were too tired for it also. Back at the hostel, as I'd had a nap, I couldnt sleep and was still awake at 7am. :(
WEDNESDAY 21st JULY
Sarah and Caroline had decided to go and do a 'swimming with crocodiles' tour day, which me being of sound mind definitely did NOT want to do. Me & Jenna, instead headed to the Wave Lagoon and spent about 4 or 5 hours sunbathing and swimming on rubber rings and boogie boards against the very vicious wave machine - WHAT a workout!
After all that, we went to OUTBACK JACKS (I swear there's one of them in Staines) and had these Salads - which were actually HUGE - and were more like a large main meal! In the evening, we just sat around drinking and chatting etc, listening to the slightly off key singing of this woman at a market next door. At around 9pm I decided to go to sleep, as our shuttle bus was at 2.50am in the morning (which I only JUST got to... woops).
THURSDAY 22nd JULY
Very early start to the airport. The flight was fine, other than Sarah being checked about a million times! haha. We got dropped to our hostel and moved our bags into the room. As it hadnt had it's bedding changed yet, we had a little walk into town to get a scope of Cairns. It was hotter than we'd thought (not as hot as Darwin) and VERY big. Very spaced out, with lots of shops and surrounded on all three sides (not the ocean) by high hills/mountains. We had a bit of a nap and then went to town for our free meal. The hostel which we were staying was $18 per night, which included a shuttle into town and a free meal!!! - all for around £9 !!
stay tuned.
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