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Australia

Bec
2004-09-17 15:09:03

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space for human settlement.

It was finally realized that the traditional "White Australia" policy rejecting Asian immigrants was untenable and Asians are entering in growing numbers. So much so, that the difference between now and six years ago can be seen in the streets.

Broome
The Raspaley shopping centre on Carnavon street shown here and the Boulevard shopping centre on Frederick street are the only establishments of that size within hundreds of kilometres.

Pearl fishing used to be Broome's specialty. Now it's cultured pearls and Raspaley's Pearls ship their famous black beauties all over the world from this house on the corner.

This stretch of Dampier Terrace is all that is left of the Chinatown where Japanese pearl merchants plied their trade in Broome's pearl fishing days.

Port Hedland
Six hundred km further west we come to Port Hedland which is a railhead from which the iron ore from the huge Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Newman mines is shipped.

Evaporating sea water in extensive salt flats produced these shimmering mountains also waiting to be shipped.

Overlander
I had originally planned to stop in many places along the way but it was so hot and so humid that I skipped Exmouth, Coral Bay, Carnavon, Monkey Mia and Kalbarri to make a bee line to Geraldton, 26 hours by bus further down the coast.

This roadhouse, called Overlander, is one of those isolated places where we stopped to snack, stretch and scratch.

Geraldton
It was definitely cooler and dryer in Geraldton. Actually the weather was quite pleasant here.

I stayed at the Batavia Backpackers. This is one of three buildings, built in 1887, that served as a hospital and later as a prison before being abandoned and finally restored to become a superb youth hostel.

With about 25 000 people, Geraldton was the first place that felt like a town since leaving Darwin.

It is a charming town with an old-style town clock. The main commercial street is called the Mall but it is nonetheless a street with through traffic.

And here is the Maritime Museum with relics from the "Batavia" and other Dutch ships wrecked off the western coast of Australia in the 17th century after being blown off course on their way to the Dutch colonies that are now Indonesia.

Geraldton also has a fine beach, a fishing harbour and lobster packing plant.

I was anxious to see Perth so after a day I moved on...

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