Our flight to Darwin leaves at 11pm and arrives at stupid o clock the next morning but it is not too long. When we started this trip I had not been particularly looking forward to Australia as it did not seem as exotic as all the other places in between but as time has passed, talking with others and our 2 native Aussies I have become more and more fascinated at what lies in store for us as we travel through this vast and diverse continent. On the down side, we are arriving at the start of the ‘Big Wet’ and the forecast does not look particularly encouraging. Darwin can experience entire weeks of nonstop torrential rain and despite Peter Kay’s remonstration that it is ‘that fine rain’ which soaks through you, I can confirm that torrential rain (check out Koh Samui blog!) is much more efficient at it. On the positive side, at least we should be wet and warm!
Waiting for us in Darwin is a new bus, a new driver and Mills’ dad!. It is a lovely surprise for her. She is on her way home to Perth from London, after spending 3 years in Europe and was using this trip as a means to get home and visit her home country, which she had never done before. She had not expected her dad to fly to meet her in Darwin and this gives her a chance to celebrate his recent Big Birthday which she had missed whilst travelling with us.
Our new bus is a welcome return to Western standards and we quickly arrive in Darwin city centre. To me it looks like any other small US provincial town. Housing well spaced. Wide roads and sweeping avenues. Out of town retail centres and similar advertising. I am a little disappointed and a little bit thankful that communication and shopping etc will be easier and more like home.
Our hostel is purpose built, clean and well organised, with wifi access, an open air swimming pool and a pool bar. There is a large kitchen and open air (and under cover) eating area. Our rooms are not cramped and the streets appear quiet at 4am.
After a few hours sleep am back on my mission to resolve my computer problem. Hopefully, here it will be easier. The girl on the desk recommends a local company the hostel uses and I phone to check they have the facility to do what I need. The technician appears confident but confesses it could cost me a lot of money not to make progress. I am heartened by his honesty and take a taxi to the address given to me. The taxi pulls away but I see no sign of a computer shop. Looking around, all the garage lock ups appear closed and there is not a soul in sight as I wander round looking for signs of life in the baking heat. I have no water, no phone, no hat and no recollection of the name of the place I need to be nor the name of the hostel I am staying at. There is not even a passing vehicle to flag down for assistance. In one of the garages, I spot a guy at work, making digeridoos, and ask him for guidance. He berates me severely for putting myself at risk in such a stupid way (he’s not wrong) and eventually we come to the conclusion that the place I need is another 300m walk along the road. Did I leave my brains in London, or did I naively assume that because this place looks and feels familiar and everyone speaks English (sort of!) that I don’t need to take care?
Leaving my beloved netbook in the caring hands of the technician, I take a taxi back to get on with other outstanding jobs awaiting me. The hostel pool is like a warm bath and unchlorinated. I decide to attack a new challenge of learning to swim front crawl. Back home I swim every morning but am a one trick pony with my breast stroke. I have been determined to learn to front crawl and in this unchlorinated water, can make the attempt with the need of goggles. Donna and Liv are obviously past champions (or maybe even current champions) and offer good advice on Isobel and my techniques. I manage at least 10m without struggling for breath. Look out 2012 Olympics, here I come.
Exploring Darwin proves a bit more of a challenge. Not because it’s difficult but because there really isn;t much to see or do, after you’ve wandered along the sea front and supped a few pints in the bars on the main street. Most challenging for all of us is the cost. The Aussie dollar has gone from strength to strength whilst other currencies have plummetted and the cost of a pint is now €7.00 or £5.00. A bar sandwich sets you back £10.00. I could hire a motorbike for that in Bali.
That evening the computer technician confesses that he is unable to retrieve my data and that it will still cost me AUD270 to get my computer back. Devastated, I decide to blow the budget completely and treat myself to a posh dinner in a recommended restaurant. If I’m going to waste my money, I’d prefer to enjoy myself doing it.
Waiting for us in Darwin is a new bus, a new driver and Mills’ dad!. It is a lovely surprise for her. She is on her way home to Perth from London, after spending 3 years in Europe and was using this trip as a means to get home and visit her home country, which she had never done before. She had not expected her dad to fly to meet her in Darwin and this gives her a chance to celebrate his recent Big Birthday which she had missed whilst travelling with us.
Our new bus is a welcome return to Western standards and we quickly arrive in Darwin city centre. To me it looks like any other small US provincial town. Housing well spaced. Wide roads and sweeping avenues. Out of town retail centres and similar advertising. I am a little disappointed and a little bit thankful that communication and shopping etc will be easier and more like home.
Our hostel is purpose built, clean and well organised, with wifi access, an open air swimming pool and a pool bar. There is a large kitchen and open air (and under cover) eating area. Our rooms are not cramped and the streets appear quiet at 4am.
After a few hours sleep am back on my mission to resolve my computer problem. Hopefully, here it will be easier. The girl on the desk recommends a local company the hostel uses and I phone to check they have the facility to do what I need. The technician appears confident but confesses it could cost me a lot of money not to make progress. I am heartened by his honesty and take a taxi to the address given to me. The taxi pulls away but I see no sign of a computer shop. Looking around, all the garage lock ups appear closed and there is not a soul in sight as I wander round looking for signs of life in the baking heat. I have no water, no phone, no hat and no recollection of the name of the place I need to be nor the name of the hostel I am staying at. There is not even a passing vehicle to flag down for assistance. In one of the garages, I spot a guy at work, making digeridoos, and ask him for guidance. He berates me severely for putting myself at risk in such a stupid way (he’s not wrong) and eventually we come to the conclusion that the place I need is another 300m walk along the road. Did I leave my brains in London, or did I naively assume that because this place looks and feels familiar and everyone speaks English (sort of!) that I don’t need to take care?
Leaving my beloved netbook in the caring hands of the technician, I take a taxi back to get on with other outstanding jobs awaiting me. The hostel pool is like a warm bath and unchlorinated. I decide to attack a new challenge of learning to swim front crawl. Back home I swim every morning but am a one trick pony with my breast stroke. I have been determined to learn to front crawl and in this unchlorinated water, can make the attempt with the need of goggles. Donna and Liv are obviously past champions (or maybe even current champions) and offer good advice on Isobel and my techniques. I manage at least 10m without struggling for breath. Look out 2012 Olympics, here I come.
Exploring Darwin proves a bit more of a challenge. Not because it’s difficult but because there really isn;t much to see or do, after you’ve wandered along the sea front and supped a few pints in the bars on the main street. Most challenging for all of us is the cost. The Aussie dollar has gone from strength to strength whilst other currencies have plummetted and the cost of a pint is now €7.00 or £5.00. A bar sandwich sets you back £10.00. I could hire a motorbike for that in Bali.
That evening the computer technician confesses that he is unable to retrieve my data and that it will still cost me AUD270 to get my computer back. Devastated, I decide to blow the budget completely and treat myself to a posh dinner in a recommended restaurant. If I’m going to waste my money, I’d prefer to enjoy myself doing it.
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