The Bay

31 Dec

Dog Rock, The Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Coral Bay is a fever dream. Is sráidbhaile iargúlta* í, i lár the worlds longest fringing reef. Behind the arid, red dirt of the Cape Range, The Ningaloo (Nyinggulu) Reef seems to appear like some sort of taibhse or apparition, its pristine turquoise waters drowning out any memory or concern of the harsh land ashore. Spanning 300km, there is endless reef to explore. Its close proximity to land, le cúpla áiteanna only 5 metres from shore, makes snorkelling and fishing easily accessible. For 9 months I had the pleasure of calling this place home agus má bhfuil deis* agat, I suggest you do the same.

*(Sráidbhaile iargúlta-Isolated Village), (Deis-Chance)

Rugadh agus d’fhás mé suas i lár na tíre in Éirinn. Mar sin, ní raibh go leor íascaracht á dhéanamh agam. Like most who have a longing for travel, I too was fascinated by places ar an taobh eile don domhain. I became dúghafa* le YBS Youngbloods (A YouTube channel dedicated to camping, fishing and exploring remote areas of Western Australia, go háirithe* The Ningaloo Reef). I had been to Australia before, living the good old backpacker dream, travelling the east coast in a van. However, an bhliain seo, bhí eachtra* nua ag taistáil uaim. Tar éis míonna of emails and with the help of a friend, thank you Emily, I finally landed myself a job in Bills Bar, Coral Bay.

*(Dúghafa - Obsessed), (Go háirithe - Particularly/Especially), (Eachtra - Adventure)

I spent the next 9 month ag iascaracht, camping, laughing agus ag ól. Le daonra* 300 people, it’s not long until you’re fully integrated into this comhphobal*, getting invited to birthdays and even weddings. Níl focal agam i mBéarla, let alone as Gaeilge, cur síos a dhéanamh* ar Coral Bay. All I can hope is that some day you too get to experience this unforgettable place. Agus mé ag labhairt faoi unforgettable things, ní dhéanfainn dearmad ar aon duinne i gCoral Bay for a very long time. Is cumhin liom go minic, punching the boys boat out before work, frantically trying to squeeze every moment out of those beautifully calm days. Ag teacht isteach déanach i gcomhair obair, ach bhí sé ceart go leor tuisc go raibh iasc agat i gcomhair gach duine. On days off, 9am was Coffee Club at Fins Café followed by some 4WD out to Five Finger Reef or Dog Rock. Ní raibh mórán báisteach ann but if the wind picked up and an outdoor mission was off the cards, a family dinner inside was usually the answer. I may have gained about 10kg during my time in Coral Bay but the memories I made were worth every kilo.

* (Daonra - Population), (Comhphobal - Community), (Cur síos - Describe)