Hello World!
On my way to the middle of Australia our first (significent) stop was Coober Pedy, famous for being the Opal Capital of the World.
And you may also know it as the “Underground-Town”. Honestly, when I heard that, I had this picture in my head of a complete town under the earth, in complete darkness (well with electric lights and stuff) and I imagined it to be quiet chilly down there. I was SO wrong with that picture, it’s almost embarracing.
There are actually also houses and shops OVERground and the houses that ARE “underground” are actually not underground but in these special rock-things. So that rock is above the ground and in that rock is a flat. The fascinating thing about these “houses” is, that no matter how cold or HOT it is outside, it ALWAYS about 20°C in there – which is also the reason why they live in there.
And did you know that it’s actually dangarous to fall in here asleep without setting an alarm?! Because it’s so unnaturally dark in there your body can get confussed and in a really bad situation you wouldn’t wake up anymore (if nobody else wakes you up). Crazy, right?!
To be honest I thought these rock-underground-houses are far more interesting than the opal, so I am not really able to tell you a lot about opal, except for: there are mainly three different types (worthless, expensive and super-duper expensive) and finding opal is basically like playing Lotto – you’re either lucky or not.
And in case you end up going there don’t miss out visiting Josephine’s Kangaroo Orphanage! It’s the only Ophanage in more than some hundret miles and they made it their attribution to rescue poor little Kangaroo orphans (no way, an Orphanage which rescues orphans, MINDBLOWING!) which hang out lonely and usually hurt on the side of the road.
I (we) had the honour to meet little Charlie and I promise you, he’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen! We were allowed to pet him and when we blew gently into his nose he gave us a sweet kiss on the cheek – and now tell me that’s not awesome?!!!!
Furthermore you can buy there aboriginal art and didgeridoos and there was actually an artist there while we were too, and it was wonderful watching him and especially hilarious when he and our tourguide gave a little didgeridoo-concert.
We had dinner in the only pizzaria far and wide and went afterwards to the only “pub” (belongs to the Hotel there) and had kind off a great time. We slept “underground” and although one of the girls was sure she saw a rat-like monster sneaking around we all survived the night.
Would you like to live “underground”?!
See you, Saskia xxx
TravelWithSaskia 