Christmas island
From Hedland to Christmas Island within a matter of weeks, my decision to come here for prac an easy one, and now 9 weeks later a decision I’m so glad I made. Since visiting Cocos during covid I was set on doing my prac over there, I mean….it’s a tropical island and it’s in WA! I hadn’t heard of Christmas, or moreso forgot about it, only vaguely hearing something being mentioned about the crab migrations whilst over on Cocos. Then when organising prac many months ago, not only was Cocos becoming a logistical nightmare, but I remembered a work colleague mentioning that she did her final prac on the island and had nothing but amazing things to say about it. So I was set, I was going to Christmas, except the school had nowhere for me to stay (they tried) and I had no money to pay for accommodation. Facebook community groups pulling through with my first 5 weeks confirmed house-sitting for a couple away on holiday. The other 4 weeks after that I would just have to wing and hope for the best….I was going. And so went I did. Since deciding to go, I was reminded about what everyone else knew about Christmas Island, its detention centre the forefront of everyone’s minds and had me thinking I would potentially be teaching the children being held in detention. Thankfully I, and everyone else was wrong, happy to hear that there were not only no children being held in Christmas Island’s detention centre, but that the entire structure was short lived with only a few detendees left.
The last 9 weeks on the island have been 9 of the best. After 5 months in the Pilbara, I was itching to spend some decent time back in the ocean, and I got enough of that to last me years. The lifestyle here can only be described as chill, with before-school and after-school swims, snorkels or dives quickly becoming routine. Just like Hedland, the people made the place and I will always be in debt to my friends at Parks (+ Tom and Steph) for making my time on the island so perfect. The school lent me their troop carrier (literally used for carrying the school kids too and from places) and so getting around was easy. Without a car, Christmas Island is practically unwalkable in terms of getting around. distance wise it’s achievable, but the elevation means a trip to the supermarket will take an hour and one mammoth incline.
The adventures here are endless, with so many 'not so hidden hidden gems and a jungle so large there is a real chance you’d get lost if you ventured too far without some kind of navigation. From outdoor ed camps to classes to the kids, my experience at the school was unlike any other and one I don’t think you’d get anywhere else. The kindness of staff, students and parents alike was something unfortunately teachers don’t get too often in the city.
It was a culture shock, with the island community made up of mostly Malay and Chinese culture, and one of the last places in Australia where you’ll still hear the Muslim call to prayer played routinely each day. It was refreshing to see a culture still so highly valued, in food, shops, clothing and language, and I learnt lots about just how different, but similar my own and their beliefs and values lie.
Food is hard to come by, fresh food sees locals literally lined up at the shops after the freight drops of that fortnight’s (or month’s) supply. Post will take months, if it rocks up at all, and other than the op shop there are no clothing stores in sight. For food, foraging and eating of the land became something I learnt lots about and began to realise just how processed the food we eat back home is, even if it’s a ‘fresh’ banana. Papaya, banans, coconuts, jackfruits, avocadoes and of course fish just a few of the foods I lived off, collecting the from public (and sometimes private) trees. Nothing was more refreshing or satisfying than cooling off with a coconut you chopped down and cut open yourself whilst on a remote beach, or eating a catch one of your pals made just hours berforehand (mostly have the boys to thank for actually cutting said coconuts down adn Tom for said catches).
There’s so much I can say about Chrsitmas island, but mostly a thanks to the friends that call C.I home. The dark and stromy cocktail nights with fresh coconut water on the beach, freediving personal bests and 4wdriving my dream car, everything about my time here was perfect, and Christmas Island is a place truely like no other, and I’m so glad WA gets to claim it as its own. If you ever find yourself on the island, these were my favourite spots.
The Rumah: A magical wedding, sunset, cocktail, and live music spot with 180-degree views of the ocean and palm trees lining the grass, you’ll catch glimpses of whales here during the migration season.
Dolly Beach: Dolly was my favourite beach, a decent walk in meant you carried your esky, tent and anything else you needed for the night, but worth it for the most epic beach camp experience ever. Collect a coconut (and hope they don’t land on your head) and it felt like a day on the set of survivor. Also one of the beaches were turtles nest, one night lucky enough to catch a mumma coming up to lay its eggs.
Lovers Beach: As the name would suggest, this secluded little patch of sand down a cliff makes a perfect window to watch the sun go down. If there’s a car in the carpark, leave them in peace, and watch out for sea urchins !
Greta Beach: Another turtle nesting spot, but also unfortunately in prime position to get piles of rubbish washing in from Indonesia/Asia. The school kids and community spent the whole day there cleaning the thousands of kilos of rubbish, all for it to return in just a week. It’s so sad, and nothing was more heartbreaking then watching a mum try crawl her way through the plastic to try and find a patch of sand to lay her eggs in.
West White Beach: As the name would also suggest, here you’ll find the whitest shelly beach with contrasted bright blue turquoise ocean. From within the ocean the towering green cliffs and fridgeate birds makes it look like a scene from jurassic park! - I honestly thought they were dinosaurs.
The Cove: The cove is the main local swimming spot with access from the beach or jetty, and a drop-off as deep as 80 metres only a couple of hundred metres from shore. This is where most of my time was spent, journaling, swimming, snorkelling, or my new hobby, freediving. I fell quickly in love and started pushing my body, my pb is 35 metres and i was pretty stoked.
The Bosun (Or golden Bosun Tav) was a fan favourite, close to homes and the main attraction for beers and rather expensive meals. One thing you need to be willing to do on Christmas island is spend lots of money!!!
There’s so much more I can say, I truely love it here and do not want to leave. Thank you C.I !!