Highlights of Broome

The Broome history has certainly been a colourful one with all the danger, mixed cultures, incredible wealth that the pearling industry created The huge amount of lives lost – mostly young men – as a result of our lust for the illusive treasures of the sea. And so we too were bewitched – being allowed to hold an $100,000 perfect pearl in the palms of our hands, the perfection of the shape and lustre, the wonder of how it was created and the sheer panic that Sam was going to drop it on the concrete floor when it was his turn!! After being dragged out of what Gary described as ‘the millionth pearl shop’ I again sighed and wondered how I came to be married to a Baptist Minister!

We did the Broome ‘tourist thing’ and booked ourselves on a camel ride on Cabel Beach at sunset. Our camels were fitted with brand new saddles after an intentionally lit fire burnt out all of the owners equipment. Murder and skulduggery are not just relegated to the history of the pearling industry – it’s alive and well in 2006 – and extends to the camel trade. It seems this company wasn’t wanted back on the beach and a lot of money was gained and lost as a result of the fire.

We were saddled up and raised a long way up in the air for my liking. For years I had been looking forward to the romantic notion of the sunset camel ride on the beach but the reality with the three kids a tad different! Sam went with Caleb, I went with Rachel and Gary went with another woman!

Unfortunately Rachel and I were in the middle of the camel train and the only unsaddled camel directly behind us. He must have felt left out or lonely as he kept coming level with us and nuzzling his enormous head into my hip. These animals look incredibly cute until they open their mouths. Their teeth are yellow and grotesque and a few sessions with Peter Tolliday (orthodonist) wouldn’t go astray to improve their public image. I don’t think the two lots of people behind us even looked at the sunset as they were so hysterical with laughter watching me and “odi” the amorous camel. What a nightmare!

Our camel had black thick eyelashes four inches long and looked like she had bucket loads of mascara on. It made exceptionally rude noises from every orifice for the whole trip – then I found out she was a he – Buster (this then made perfect sense)! Buster looked like he was dressed in drag. Why do males always get the longer darker eyelashes? Another of life’s little injustices.

At the conclusion of the ride instead of gently sinking to the ground like all his mates Buster crashed Rachel and I to the ground with an almighty crash. This ‘Ship of the Desert’ slumped into dry dock without a lot of grace concluding nicely the spectacle that we had been all along for those behind us. Still being attacked by Odi we noticed Gary dismantling smoothly after a most enjoyable ride with the mystery woman!

A $100,000 pearl!!