Indeed!!
Glad you got there and away safe and sound. The waters in those parts can be kinda trecherous in a blow and I've never seen rocks as sharp and as lethal as those on the coastline of C.I...
Quote:
Originally Posted by killarney_sailor
....There is a bit of tourism in both but the air fares are terribly high – AUD$2000 from Perth to Christmas and more to Cocos of course, so there are only a few guest houses, although there was a resort/casino built at Christmas by one of the Indonesian Suharto children. It failed as a casino and the hotel is open but mainly used to house people working in the phosphate mine.
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Interesting you note it failed as a casino, 'cause I've never understood why.
When I was over there briefly in 1995 it was Australia's highest-earning casino (by a loooong way!) with so much money coming in there were 2 federal tax agents permanently stationed there to make sure the money got to Canberra.
Staying at the resort and wandering around, we saw Chinese and Indonesian high-rollers fly in from Indonesia in their personal jets with thousands of $$ cash in their pockets. I remember it clearly because I've still not to this day ever seen so many $100 bills in one place at one time - it was like confetti strewn over the gaming tables.
I suppose it was a political decision - but either way it's Australia's loss.