From Coast to Coast,Broome to Darwin in style.

[drron]

A few photos.First from the plane on approach into BME-




The spectacular scenery of Ganthaume Point and the lighthouse-





Not a bad shack for the lighthouse,fantastic view to boot.Very similiar to this view from a hospital cot-


But you have to watch out for the 4 wheel drives on cable beach-


Next Broome continued(and hopefully the pics stick).

[drron]

These computers really do have a mind of their own.The last pictures posted keep coming and going-at least leave a little red X now rather than disappear completely.Was talking to my PHO this evening and turns out he knows a little about computers so tonight I try yet another way to post pictures.So here goes.I think though it may only give a link.
As luck would have it the second and third nights of our stay were nights for the Staircase to the Moon,here it is hopefully-

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...09%2080062.JPG
Though there are other natural wonders such as sunset over Cable Beach-

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20118.JPG
And the camel rides at sunset-

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...h%20100049.JPG
A sunset cruise-

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...h%20100051.JPG
So lets just see how this goes first before I post some more.
So had an idea last night after reading RB's post.Until someone can give me a foolproof way I will post the picture with link underneath so even if pic disappears the link will remain.however Murphy's Law should mean the pics will now stick-or should we rename it Johnk's law now?

[RB]

These computers really do have a mind of their own.The last pictures posted keep coming and going-at least leave a little red X now rather than disappear completely.Was talking to my PHO this evening and turns out he knows a little about computers so tonight I try yet another way to post pictures.So here goes.I think though it may only give a link.
As luck would have it the second and third nights of our stay were nights for the Staircase to the Moon,here it is hopefully-
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...09%2080062.JPG
Though there are other natural wonders such as sunset over Cable Beach-
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20118.JPG
And the camel rides at sunset-
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...h%20100049.JPG
A sunset cruise-
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...h%20100051.JPG
So lets just see how this goes first before I post some more.

Love your reports but I was having more luck weeks ago looking at photos. Your latest solution lets me see the photos but not the ideal.

[drron]

Well here we go again-if the pics disappear the link will remain if you want to look.
Whilst there we tried to go to the Roey but it had been taken over for filming-Mad Ba*stards was it's name-

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...09%2090001.JPG
However we did get to have lunch at Matso's Brewery-

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...09%2090009.JPG
The lunch here was pretty good.I had the Threadfin salmon and chips which was perfectly cooked.Washed down with a selection of their beers-chilli beer,Monsoonal Blonde(with cardamon) and the Mango beer.I really didnt feel the need to purchase more for later sampling.The service here was pretty slow but we had plenty of time.Not a bad place for lunch.
That night we walked up to the Mangrove resort for the Staircase to the moon.This was the way to do it.Didnt get there particularly early but managed to snag the last front row table.Able to sit and watch whilst consuming a couple of bottles of white.Sat down next to a retired pharmacist from Tewantin-small world.This is my reccomendation for viewing this spectacle.
The night before we had gone to Town beach.We got there quite early and spent time at the markets they have there for the Staircase.A lot of Asian food available-not such great quality though.The viewing is not nearly as comfortable and the good spots taken quite early.This is grey nomad and backpacker territory and unfortunately manners dont figure in either of their qualities and a lot of pushing and shoving by the late arrivals.A couple of shots of the crowd-




http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20058.JPG
This is where most people view but their view is partly obscured by a rock groyne where the view is better but the manners worse-



http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20060.JPG
Here we stood next to a couple from Burnie where I worked last year,once again a small world.Both nights after the viewing we retired to our apartment,had great WA steaks washed down with a bottle or six of wine.
On our last day in Paradise we went out to Cable beach for a walk at sunrise-how we did it after the night before i am not sure!It became obvious that one of the problems with staying at Cable Beach is the number of young wanderers in their campervans with sleeping bags and mattresses all over the grass overlooking the beach.Fortunately none of this visible when down on the beach.The sun rises behind the beach but still fantastic-

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20091.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...09%2010009.JPG
for our last lunch before we boarded the Orion we went to the Aarli Bar.We went for their tapas style menu.We had lamb cutlets,pork spare ribs with Hoisin,lemongrass and chilli as well as grilled mushrooms,spicy lamb meatballs and shredded duck spring rolls.All were great and with 2 bottles of wine came out at $167.We voted this the second best restaurant we ate at in Broome.The best went to the Wharf,third was the Old Zoo Cafe.But we got very good experiences at 6 out of 6 places we ate.Certainly we will be back.
next-Broome,the rest.

[drron]

There are also plenty of other things to do in broome.Unfortunately it can be hard to find a local-most we met that lived there had come from somewhere else in the last few years.we were on a mission-our gardener when young had worked on one of the pearling luggers-the Buccleugh.Try as we might we found no one who knew what happened to it.
Just a few sights.First the lugger display-

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20003.JPG
The different phone booths-

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20004.JPG
The old open air theatre-

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20098.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20100.JPG
The historic arcade,well it tells of the history in posters-

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20001.JPG
And of course it is a major gateway into Australia-

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20103.JPG
finally it was time to return the Elantra to the airport.Naturally the rental car booths were unmanned as no planes due for 3 hours so just drop the keys.get a cab back to the luggers museum where we check in for the Orion.The cab driver is one of those true blue aussie characters had us in stitches though he left the radio on and the dispatcher helped out-fellows I'm just going out the back to p*** back in a minute.Comes back-now where did we send John(our driver).Pity it was suvch a short trip.
After completing formalities we are bussed to the Orion.That comes next.

[drron]

We have been looking forward to this cruise for some time booking about 18 months ago.It is expensive and there were some concerns about value.We need not have worried.It really is first class.As we boarded each couple is escorted to their cabin.ours is a French Balcony Suite.We had visions of sitting on our balcony sipping champagne watching the setting sun.This was the only disappoinment.The balcony is very narrow.But these rooms do have glass as the outside wall-sliding doors so the view from the room is great.The cabin was spacious.The bathroom though small had very efficient use of space-as mrsdrron said it was obviously designed by a woman and I agree.Too many hotels that are supposed to be 5 star have very poorly designed bathrooms often with very little bench space for toiletries.Here we had space left over.
So some pics(I am trying a different computer to see whether my problems are with my computer,though since I have posted direct from Picassa although the pics vanish they randomly make a reappearance!).

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20106.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20108.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20109.JPG
There was a little plate of goodies waiting-

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20110.JPG
And some sparkling-

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rQVWoyzfpk0/Sk...oome%20111.JPG
No time for that though as we were expected in the lounge for welcome cocktails,the champagne flowed.Then the life boat drill before going back to our cabin to unpack.
Next-the food!

[JohnK]

Very interesting trip report drron.

Now Broome is small but enough to fill in your days.

Days? Try a couple of hours.

I will write full reviews later with photos-however if any one is a computer whizz who can explain things in simple english i would like help.my photos keep disappearing after posting.

I just see a red X inside 2 boxes.

Lunch looks supurb!

You can see photo of lunch? Are you in another parallel universe as there aren't any photos in the previous posts.

[maggies1]

I couldn't open the photos either until I right click on red x then click add to favourites then go to your favourites and click on the photo and it will open. long winded I know but it works for me and I wanted to see the photos.
Great trip report. Can't wait for the cruise section.
Maggies1.

[russ]

drron, we hope you enjoy/enjoyed the orion! it's nice to know that australia can do world-class service when it tries! if you get a chance to do the rubber ducky thing at horizontal waterfalls, don't miss it!

also, thank you for keeping your clothes on in this one!

[drron]

Now that really is cool Russ.My pictures wont stick for me but they will for you.Yesterday was contacted again by the FT people who still cant work out what is going on.Since I posted the links to the photos they seem to come and go in random fashion.I have tried posting from 3 different computers and the result is the same.I have come to the conclusion computers are allergic to me.
I will continue next week-was going to do so this weekend but on call and actually had to work