Voices From The North
Hear the latest from the team at Faraway Bay where guests experience the remarkable beauty, isolation, history, and natural and cultural significance of this remote slice of outback Australia.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monty is back from the dead!
Our friendly pet black foot monitor lizard called Monty (by Mirra our short-term cook) has returned, after running off for a few days.
Mirra was worried she’d killed him by feeding him so much, but it turns out he just went off to hibernate.
Once he’d shed his skin he was back and just in time too – he returned just 10 minutes before Mirra left so he obviously wanted to say goodbye.
When Mirra left he left too – probably thought his luck was up. But just the other day he was back again.
Now he wanders through whenever he feels like it, no doubt hoping to see his old mate Mirra and catch some kitchen scraps.
Steve McIntosh
Mirra was worried she’d killed him by feeding him so much, but it turns out he just went off to hibernate.
Once he’d shed his skin he was back and just in time too – he returned just 10 minutes before Mirra left so he obviously wanted to say goodbye.
When Mirra left he left too – probably thought his luck was up. But just the other day he was back again.
Now he wanders through whenever he feels like it, no doubt hoping to see his old mate Mirra and catch some kitchen scraps.
Steve McIntosh
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Faraway Famous
I’m really happy to be back at Faraway Bay again for another stint as head chef. I love it – nice people, beautiful surroundings and great local produce.
One thing I’ve really enjoyed is the cooking school with Chris Taylor, which is on this week. I’ve never met him before but I've picked up some great tips, and he's pretty cool.
The rumours are true – I’ve just released my first album called Further (which is available from itunes). It’s acoustic guitar and I recorded it with Ben Franz from the Waifs.
The National Australia Bank has bought four of the songs and they’re going to put it on an ad. I couldn’t really say no to something like that. I think the ads start on TV in August.
I do get the guitar out most nights at Faraway Bay, so if you’re staying, you might get a personal performance.
Sam Smith
One thing I’ve really enjoyed is the cooking school with Chris Taylor, which is on this week. I’ve never met him before but I've picked up some great tips, and he's pretty cool.
The rumours are true – I’ve just released my first album called Further (which is available from itunes). It’s acoustic guitar and I recorded it with Ben Franz from the Waifs.
The National Australia Bank has bought four of the songs and they’re going to put it on an ad. I couldn’t really say no to something like that. I think the ads start on TV in August.
I do get the guitar out most nights at Faraway Bay, so if you’re staying, you might get a personal performance.
Sam Smith
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Driving Us Batty!
One thing for sure, you never know what nature will dish up next at Faraway Bay. This week, we found a massive colony of red fruit bats in the mangrove creek system. There must have been 3,000 bats there – that’s the biggest colony I’ve ever seen of red fruit bats in one place.
We were also lucky to spot a group of rare Irrawaddy dolphins – there were six in the group. It’s not common to see them and it’s usually hard to get up close, but we were sitting on the boat and they just swam right past us.
The old man of the sea, a giant male dugong has been in the bay a fair bit lately. He comes in every day, pops up his head and swims off. He must be more than 6 foot long, which is why the crocs don’t bother him.
Steve McIntosh
We were also lucky to spot a group of rare Irrawaddy dolphins – there were six in the group. It’s not common to see them and it’s usually hard to get up close, but we were sitting on the boat and they just swam right past us.
The old man of the sea, a giant male dugong has been in the bay a fair bit lately. He comes in every day, pops up his head and swims off. He must be more than 6 foot long, which is why the crocs don’t bother him.
Steve McIntosh
Friday, May 9, 2008
Faraway Bay is Open!
After five months off including a whirlwind trip to Europe to attend an international tourism conference, followed by a double knee replacement operation for Bruce in Sydney, and then the national tourism award win in Canberra, we’re finally back in the place we love the most.
It’s been a hectic time making sure everything is ready for guests.
Bruce and I are so pleased to welcome a new face to the team, CC, whose real name is Denise but no one calls her that. I’ll let her explain how the nickname came about later. CC is Swiss, she dates our boat skipper Ben, and is a fantastic addition to our crew.
Of course, Faraway Bay wouldn’t be the magical place it is without manager Steve McIntosh who returns for his 7th season. Steve has been taking guests on bush walks and has some interesting finds – he’ll post some news about that soon.
Sam, our chef is also back for another stint, and we’re very happy he’s brought his guitar again. Sam keep guests entertained in the evenings with his beautiful acoustic guitar playing. The exciting news is he’s just released an album and four of the songs have been bought by National Australia Bank for their television advertising.
Life is good at Faraway Bay and we’re looking forward to a busy 2008 season.
Robyn Ellison
It’s been a hectic time making sure everything is ready for guests.
Bruce and I are so pleased to welcome a new face to the team, CC, whose real name is Denise but no one calls her that. I’ll let her explain how the nickname came about later. CC is Swiss, she dates our boat skipper Ben, and is a fantastic addition to our crew.
Of course, Faraway Bay wouldn’t be the magical place it is without manager Steve McIntosh who returns for his 7th season. Steve has been taking guests on bush walks and has some interesting finds – he’ll post some news about that soon.
Sam, our chef is also back for another stint, and we’re very happy he’s brought his guitar again. Sam keep guests entertained in the evenings with his beautiful acoustic guitar playing. The exciting news is he’s just released an album and four of the songs have been bought by National Australia Bank for their television advertising.
Life is good at Faraway Bay and we’re looking forward to a busy 2008 season.
Robyn Ellison
Labels: Bush Camp open