Broome had always been a place that I wanted to visit. The lure of the tropical climate, it's eclectic cultural influences, and the red, white and blue of the coastal landscape captivated me and my incessant wanderlust.
We stayed at the Bali Hai which was pretty lovely.
I know it's nit-picking, but I wish the decor had adhered more closely to Bali style - so many elements were spot-on, but the corrugated iron (while giving a big nod to the local architecture) just felt all wrong.
But enough nit-picking.
The whole resort has a beautiful smell. It's an incense-y smell, but it's not incense. It lingered in my room every time I came in and it was so nice!
My room had three showers and a huge standalone bathtub. One shower was outdoors (very Bali-style but with hot water), and two were opposite each other for a double shower. The bathtub was luxurious.
Safe to say, bathing was well covered!
Bonus points for the general store across and down the road with yummy bacon and egg rolls!
It was overcast, and getting late, but we followed advice and took the cameras to Gantheaume Point.
The light was creamy delicious.
I don't know if I had been there in the hot sun if I would have loved it as much, but I did love it.
The place is beautiful.
Apparently on the very low tides (which can be extreme) you can see the footprints of three different dinosaurs embedded in the sea floor.
So it's pretty special.
The next day was a visit to Sun Pictures, an outdoor cinema that has been in operation since 1916.
My tilt-shift and I loved the details there.
Matso's Brewery for a Desert Lime and Wild Ginger cider is a most refreshing must!
Another overcast sky gave me creamy afternoon light at the jetty.
Fishing rods
and fishing nets (I really love this picture!).
The last day in Broome I spent visiting Willie Creek Pearl Farm.
Broome grew around it's pearling industry so it was only fitting that I learn a bit about it.
The Willie Creek tour is educational (though I sat at the back of the class)
and includes a boat trip to see the cages.
Thieving from the farm is kept to a minimum by the watchdog duo of bull sharks and crocodiles who lurk in the opaque, jade-coloured water.
It's so inviting, but then it isn't.
Exploring a little further north, on another white sand beach, I was no more tempted to swim than at the pearl farm. But I photographed this flower because I love the way that things so far away can seem so close. On Fiji's coral coast, this flower grows on the black sand of Sigatoka Sand Dunes, and on W.A's coral coast, here it is again.
Broome Speedway.
I would love to watch the cars here!
So I scratched the itch and followed my dream to visit Broome. What did I think?
I loved it.
I wish it wasn't so expensive to get to, and I wish I could have taken my kids with me this time. A good excuse to go back, though!
Broome airport was outdoors. As in, the waiting areas for the gate(s) were outdoors. I have never seen that before.
Testament to an awesome climate, I guess!
Taxiing in our plane we were welcomed aboard, via the intercom, and introduced to our captain.
I queried the stewardess over his name and she confirmed that I knew him, so I asked her to tell him it was Jacqui, the nervous kindy teacher on board. Many years ago, John was a dad at the kindy I worked at. I knew he was a pilot and had told him how scared I was of an upcoming flight. He took so much time and care to explain how safe it was, and told me all about the training they had to do, and what was involved and how well trained the Qantas pilots were. He is a really lovely guy.
Next thing I knew I was being named over the intercom for a special welcome aboard!
It's not what you know, it's who you know.... Made me smile.
Needless to say, I was not nervous at all on that flight home!
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