There is no doubting the location.
On a warm tropical night, I’m in the company of great friends and a mob of kids. Sitting front and centre – perched high, the wheels roll, the kids cheer for the lights of Christmas have been turned on in the North West Australian town of Broome http://www.visitbroome.com.au/ in the Kimberley. And what better way to see them but atop a double-decker bus, no less.
A sweet ride for seeing the Christmas lights
Double-decker buses, decorated boab trees, camels dressed to delight and a night filled with laughter-candy canes and joyous anticipation of children viewing Christmas lights.
Camels are dressed to delight & are festive.
Christmas tree Broome style. Boab’s lit up a delight.
Santa finds his way to all corners.
Viewing Christmas lights on the top deck of a double-decker bus in the top end of down under. “Does your town have its special/quirky thing at Christmas”?
Driving around Broome looking from above the street level, at all the different designs was wonderful. Some with local and traditional themes, others more traditional, all equal in effort and preparation.
Four mates. Sharing the wonder-enjoying the show.
Pic By Clancy Parker
Pic by Clancy Parker
The glittering array of lights was only matched by the sparkle of wonder and anticipation in the kid’s eyes. As passing satellites and shooting stars pass above in the vast Kimberley sky, for a second, lost in a moment -“Do you think Da that was, well Santa?”
Lost for words-lost in the wonder.
Smile, it’s Christmas.
Stopped in her tracks with enchantment.
“To believe is the wonder.”
Small regional towns are pretty close, with kids on the bus cheering and acknowledging mates on the street outside decorated houses. Saying G’day, appreciating good work, acknowledging viewing, it was just the “ vibe” as was once famously said.
The bus would stop regularly, kids from the decorated houses making their way onto the bus-candy canes for all.
By the end who knows if it was the magic of the lights or the Kimberley night, perhaps the sugar or the special moments with mates. In the end “Life is about moments-create them, don’t wait for them”.
There are many things one can do, buy and think about at this time of year. But perhaps doing something a little different or quirky and engaging in the wonder and anticipation of the kids who want to “believe” while sharing a moment of laughter with friends and family is the simplest and most rewarding gift we can give others and ourselves.