Unearthing Treasures
Elvin and Eshlyn Pal uncover ‘Treasures’ through word of mouth.
Whilst travelling around Australia we find ourselves chancing upon some fantastic finds, places and experiences. These special moments are like treasures unearthed. Usually we only find out about these from talking to locals or some unassuming signage at the local shops.
Here are just some stand outs from our last two years of travelling.
Din with an Ex-Pearler, and learn all things Pearling.
This place kept coming up in conversation with the locals whilst we worked and lived on Thursday Island, so we jumped on board and jumped on a boat to see for ourselves. The boat pick- up was inclusive in our tour and proved to be short but exciting, spotting some crocodiles along the way!
In this slice of paradise amongst the blue waters of the Torres Strait, we docked to the private jetty where we were met by the friendly team and the ex-pearl diver and man behind Kazu Pearls, Kazuyoshi Takami, himself. We were treated to a scrumptious multi-course lunch of authentic Japanese cuisine served in the beautiful gardens.
Some of the best sushi that we have ever had! The menu for the day is dictated by what is caught locally by the staff including a tasting of the pearl oyster meat. All meals are prepared by Kazu himself.
After a fulfilling and beautiful meal, Kazu humbly demonstrated how the pearling process works in his workshop. You can feel his passion and witness his skill in all things pearling. Then, we were given the opportunity to shop and view intricate and ornate pieces incorporating these opulent pearls. Souvenir shopping was definitely more meaningful now that we understood the real value of a single pearl.
Meet the founders of Australia’s own Buttongrass Jade!
In the far south, as far as the road will take you, we stumbled upon a gem of a shop: Lunarus Gemstones. Here we discovered real treasure, Tasmanian Jade. Jade is prized in Asian, Aztec and Māori cultures and it was a surprise to see our very own high-quality deposits here in Australia. The owners of this shop, Chrystine and Boris
Ellis, were the ones who actually discovered these deposits locally on the West Coast. They certified and named it Buttongrass Jade. It’s named after the native tussock grass for resembling its different colour changes throughout the seasons.
Stopping by here, not only did we manage to get some real lovely and unique souvenirs but we learnt a lot about the unearthed treasures that lie within this amazing little state! We even partook in agate fossicking down the road, bagging our own colourful treasures. We also set foot inside the incredible and majestic crystal caves, Hastings Cave.
If you love gemstones, geology or jewellery, make this a must do on your next Tassie adventure! Checkout AdventuringPal’s Adventures in the Hastings Cave: