Have You Ever Seen One Of These? (29-31/3/09)

SUNDAY 29TH MARCH

Today we say our goodbyes to Jo, Kev, Juppi, Max and the rest of Winton. It’s been better than I expected out here. I thought it would just be full of Aussie rednecks when I first arrived. We have an afternoon flight from Longreach at 16:15p.m. Because there isn’t a bus on Sundays, Jo is giving us a lift. On the way in I didn’t really look at the scenery, as I was too engrossed in a book. On the return journey I wish I had something to read. All we saw were green fields (as opposed to the usually brown ones due to the flooding) two emus and a greyhound bus. Driving anywhere in the outback you really don’t see much. No wonder crazy truck drivers kill backpackers; they need something to do to pass the time. We arrived at Longreach for our flight and said one last goodbye to Jo and Juppi. Whilst waiting for the plane we saw six young Aboriginal lads who looked like they’d just been to a gay cowboy fancy dress party, the rules must have stipulated that you must dress exactly the same as at least one other Aboriginal gay cowboy, because all of them looked the same. There wasn’t much to say about the flight to Brisbane itself. I was still terrified as usual. However on check-in the lady at the desk didn’t even weigh our bags. As I’ve said before they’re mainly there just to piss me off. This lady should hold seminars for check-in staff on ‘How Not To Be A Cunt To Every Passenger You Speak To.’When we got into Brisbane city, Louise forgot which way it was to the hostel. After nagging at me for not knowing either, we did the right thing and rang up. When we made it there (it was turn right out of the transit station then take the second street on the right), there was no one at reception. Because of this we ended up talking to a woman who wasn’t even in the city via an intercom that works about as well as one at a drive-thru (sic) restaurant. After getting a whopper, three buckets of chicken and six litres of cola we were finally let in by said mystery woman. I entered the ‘security’ code into the safe (I bet you can’t guess the six digit code). We retrieved our key and finally made it to the room, still unsure as to how a woman somewhere in the middle of Australia was able to let us in with just an intercom.

MONDAY 30TH MARCH

Today we went to visit Australia Zoo, home of the famous ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin. On the way in to the zoo, our driver explained how Steve’s 11 year old daughter is now a star in her own right. If you watch the show she presents it is unimaginably awful in every way. It all looks false and I can’t see it being of any benefit to anyone other than the people at the top of the heap. People should be made accountable but I’m not in any position to pass judgement as she’s not my child.It was an OK day out, but I’ve been to better zoos; London Zoo for starters. And the six hours we spent there was too long. I suppose it would be different if we had children as there was plenty to keep them entertained, but for adults it’s a little disappointing; the croc feed especially so as it only lasted a couple of minutes. When you spend a fair amount of money for the privilege you expect to be entertained more.

TUESDAY 31ST MARCH

Today we checked out the city again; I didn’t have the gut ache this time so I was a bit more comfortable. Although Brisbane is a capital city, nobody lives here or so it seems. There are some of the biggest buildings in Australia in the CBD and most of them can only be half full because when you wander around during rush hour, you don’t see that many people. All in all it was a pretty non-eventful day and I’ve had a few too many lately.