Exploring Coober Pedy

Today we went exploring Coober Pedy and it was just awesome. We went into the opal showrooms first (not all of them because there are FAR too many to see them all). Brent bought me a beautiful opal ring for my birthday (an early present). We then went to a place called "fayes underground house". Its actually a home that is currently lived in however it is a huge part of Coober Pedys history. The house is a three bedroom dug out underground house and it was dug out by Faye herself, just 48 years ago. Faye is alive today and we seen photos of her however sh eno longer owns the house. The man who runs th etour "Colin" was absolutely lovely and showed us all through his beautiful home. He even had an idoor pool in the one room that was above ground. The underground house was extremely interesting as the temperature stays at a perfect 25 degrees celcius year round (yes, winter and summer). While in the house we met a man also on the tour whom was absolutely lovely (he was there with his equally lovely wife). He was telling us how great it is to see that young people are touring Australia and just living this lifestyle. He said that 40 somthing years ago his wife was six months pregnant and developed a bad heart condition and he almost lost her. He said that as soon as their child was born and she was well enough he bought a carvan and they began travelling (in the 70's) he said he just wanted to live and explore and enjoy life as he had become aware of how precious it really is. He was a wonderful man and his love for his wife was so apparent. It was lovely to meet people so like minded to us, people whom genuinely  had this journey change their life. For me, going underground was a huge step as I have an extreme fear of caves/mine shafts etc. I felt so nervous as we walked through but the fact that someone was continuously talking and that they had lived there for so long and been safe made me alot more comfortable. Thats not to say I wasnt pleased to come back out into the sunlight! hah!

We then went up to a look out that also housed a free "art" display. I wasnt very intereted in the art as it just looked like dirt piles and smashed computer screens but then again, each to their own. There was a free noodling spot that was actually inside a big metal bucket that also said "free opals" there was just a bunch of crushed rock/dirt in there but I sifted through the very fine particals and found a purpley coloured piece (well speck) of opal. The man came out and seemed really pushy and nervous, he shuffled us inside his home before we could even realise what was going on and took us into what I am assuming is a very much unlicenced opal shop (hidden in a dark room off the back of his home). He showed us his stuff and literally "yelled" at us "BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT" assuming we would give in and buy it. This was so unexpected and far more of an experience youd expect to have in a foregn country or city. His "workshop" looked fake/unused and im assuming his opal jewellery was the cheap, fake stuff you find at those "AUSTRALIA" shops they have at air ports. Probrably imported from hong kong, lol. It was a little scarey but we just said "no thank you" and he quickly turned off the lights and shuffled us out.

Every shop here keeps its lights off until someone comes inside. The towns electricity supply comes from a power plant run by diesel generators so electricty is a hot commodity. The people are very careful with it (aswell as water, of course). There is no where to attach our water hoses at the caravan park and water must be purchased for 20 cents for 30 litres. Showers are 20 cents for three minutes aswell. This hasnt been a bad experience for us though, its been quiet a great way to become aware of how lucky we are in the cities and big towns to have water so freely and readily avaliable. I love learning new things and am slowly developing a love of trying out new lifestyles, including ones that involve using things sparingly and being aware of our own consumerism. The water here comes from the Artisian basin and is brought in through pipelines and desalinated at a nearby plant. I have only really drank the water from our tanks so far but I will try some town water today and let you know about the taste, I have always wondered if desalinated water tastes any different.

When you drive around the town you see pipes coming out of the ground everywhere with whirly birds on top of them, these all lead to underground houses. 85% of coober pedys residents live underground we were told today, wow!