I was so tempted to sleep in the hammock outside the room on Sunday night like Carol - would have been a good idea because the room was SO HOT! Had actually broken into a sweat by the time I clambered up into the top bunk whilst trying not to wake Dirk up who was underneath (a ladder would have helped!). Didn't sleep so well and we were up chatting until late so I had a bit of a lie-in (i.e. not getting up at dawn!) and Carol, Chell and I walked down to Cable Beach mid morning.
The beach was so beautiful and quiet, but we were a bit too scared to swim in the turquoise sea as there were jellyfish, sharks and crocs out there! It was SO hot, we sunbathed until I could feel my face roasting and we had drank all of our water (so around 20 minutes!) and caught the bus into town. We spent about two hours finding somewhere to get brunch! The power had gone in most of the restaurants around town as the city was having some sort of gas/electric changeover. We eventually found a Morrocan-style cafe to have a lovely big chicken salad and went off to look around the shops. By that time it was time to get the bus back in time for a meal with the group! The bus was driven by the friendliest bus driver I've ever met, she was so cheerful!
Had just enough time for some 'Hammock Time' (something so comfortable is addictive) before dressing up for our meal at Zanders restaurant by the beach. The table was a bit unbalanced because the quieter people were sat at one end and the raucous lot (i.e Chell, Jane, Carol, Maaike and myself) were at the other! Nice surf and turf and Carol and I shared a Malteaser cake which ended up being free as they didn't put on the bill! (I reminded them but they said not to worry!) Most of the group were heading back to the hostel but we were tempted to try out the Broome nightlife - unfortunately, being a Monday night, the word was that it was very quiet in town, so instead we went down the road to the Divers' Tavern for a quick nightcap. Chell and I hustled a couple of Aussie guys and beat them at pool - either they were trying really hard to let us win or they were really drunk, I'll let you decide!
Time for bed in my hot bedroom - I'm sure it was illegally too warm as you were literally breaking into a sweat as you enter it! Ah well, having a bed after two weeks of 'swagging it' was good - even if the bed was squeaking madly as I tried to get into it! There's a knack I'm sure!
The next morning we were up around 9 to catch the free bus into town as we fancied a big breakfast - not a 2pm brekkie like the day before! We were waiting for Chell to get ready (a running joke as she's ALWAYS the last) and thought we might miss the bus - but she was ready in time and we caught the bus in front of the hostel where the doors closed on me - but Carol had disappeared! We told the bus driver that there was one more of us and Carol started sauntering out of the hotel - we were all waving to her but she didn't realise that the bus was our bus and thought the driver was just being friendly! So I ran after her (first run of the day...) and thankfully the driver waited! What a kerfuffle!
Had a lovely 'Big Brekkie' at Shady Lane Cafe (the place is as nice as it sounds, underneath a big mango tree) where the power was on this time. Magazines and everthing, a proper girlies breakfast. Quick look around the shops, and Carol and I nearly headed back into the bush when we went the wrong way to find the internet! We just can't get enough of the outback! Of course Chell was happy to gloat about us being last for a change! Spent so long uploading my pictures that we had to speedwalk it across town to catch the last bus! Second run of the day!
Back just in time for our sunset camel ride along Cable Beach - what an experience. We walked past the trailer we needed to check in and walking in deep sand is tiring you know! Such a strange sight to see all the camels lined up on the beach - it's quite a famous thing apparently. Chell and I lined up for the first camel, which was the most troublesome of the lot as we had to quickly get our legs over before he was standing up. Chell let our a squeal and I expected to turn round to see her on the floor - but thankfully not. Set off down the beach and back up again while the sun glistened on the water - absolutely gorgeous sunset, and much smoother ride than the elephant in Thailand! We got to speak to the guy who was leading the camels - apparently it's a myth that camels spit, and they don't store water in their humps, just fatty tissue.
Getting off the camel was an experience! We had to lean back and he flew down to the ground with a crash! Our guide Ian met us at the beach and we had a couple of beers on the beach while the rest of the sun disappeared. Back to hostel for food and bed, ready for the next part of our tour early the next morning. Let's hope I won't have the HUMP!!
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