The world according to K

Whilst I can ( it’s a bank holiday in Adelaide and everything – and I mean everything is closed) I thought I would take this opportunity to explain to you about the various Bed arrangements that I have faced so far.

In Asia – Travelling and accommodation was relatively easy- ie. for a couple of quid in most places you could get a room with A/C – own bathroom in a hotel. For food – well you just ate out. For 80pence – one quid or more you could get just about anything, besides in most accommodation there was no option to cook your own food- no kitchen facilities.

Then I came to Australia and the whole business of travelling is a different experience altogether. Forget Hotels – far too expensive – on a par with Britain really so you are left with Kipping with friendly friends you have met along the way – or the HOSTEL.

HOSTEL ETIQUETTE

Ok so for those of you who have done this skip on – but for those of you haven’t experienced staying in a hostel …this requires – flexibility , patience of a saint and an open mind. Hostels either provide mixed dorms- single sex dorms, or double rooms . Most dorms have 6 beds ( 3 x bunk beds), but some which are the better hostels have 4 room dorms with lockers.

So what have I learnt???

Etiquette

1, If you are the first to enter a dorm – it is your RIGHT – to claim a bottom bunk – less chance of a nasty fall out of bed- this is the ultimate claim. Likewise if you are the last to arrive in a dorm you are usually landed with the least space and top bunk.

2. To claim a stake on space you – immediately make up your bed- sheets provided and throw around some least valuable items of clothing – this is setting up your territory.

3. Nightime etiquette after 10pm – requires that you read by own torch or night light. It is not etiquette to arrive in late – switch on all the lights – fall over drunk or wonder where your bed ladder has disappeared to. Whilst in Darwin – a guy came into my room steaming drunk and it took him 15 minutes to work out that his step ladder had been moved – with all lights blazing at 3 am. I was thrilled.

4. Copulating couples- it is not etiquette to copulate in the bed next to fellow dorm mates. Believe it or not this has happened twice in a dorm that I have shared. The last time whilst the amorous couple got it on – I decided to cough loudly and mumble something like ” Dear God….find another public place..some of us aren’t sharing in your excitement…” the rustling stopped abruptly and the couple left early hours of the morning ..no doubt mortified that we had all HEARD them.

5. You must be prepared to share with the weirdist people – and some lovely people;

Nicest people I’ve shared with – is most

Most odd

However I’ve shared rooms with people who SNORE, Talk , walk , shout and fight in their sleep. Very disconcerting especially if they are ranting on in German or summit. Earplugs are a must.

The oddest person I’ve shared with was in Alice Springs ( well it would be wouldnt it ). There was myself – Gordon , and a Guy called Pete sharing a dorm. Pete at first seemed very mild mannered and friendly. However the fact that he wore camoflauge ( cant spell ) army fatigues plus a hat should have given me a clue . Well actually he was always friendly, but he proceeded to tell us that his brother died recently and on his deathbed his bro turned into an aboriginal!!. He spoke aboriginal and sang. Dave ( from Norwhich) had come out Australia to go to Ayers rock to settle and calm his brothers aboriginal spirit. All well and dandy I thought..let him.

At 5am in the morning I was awoken to see Dave standing at the foot of his bed looking out the window. I pretended to still be asleep but couldnt help but hear his chanting and chunnering on to himself.

On enquiring how we was next morning he told me ” strange things afoot, these bloody aboriginals woke me up this morning, chanting and singing ..didnt you hear it?’

I smiled nicely and thought- what would a mental health worker say?…I said no I hadn’t heard a thing…..AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH- was I glad to be outta there.

Cooking in hostels
Most hostels have fantastic kitchens and cooking facilities. So apart from the old trusty rucksack – you also trudge round with a freezer bag full of condiments eg. salt pepper – tea coffee, the staples to make a meal.

Some hostels have filthy kitchens – so you do not even bother to cook there

Thieving

So far I have been very fortunate with trusting dormfellows and travellers. Of course you take no risks, and lock everything and usually the most that goes is the your milk from the fridge . However I do have to report one loss that took place today at my lovely hostel in Adelaide.

I took great lengths annd money to purchase some goregous black silky knickers in Singapore from MARKS. So rare you get any form of luxury on your travels so knickers and a silk sleeping bag liner are my only luxuries.

Put my laundry in today – go to the dryer- to find everything there EXCEPT my 5 pairs of gorgeous black knickers. To most of you out there, this may not seem like the end of the world – and it isnt – but THEY ARE MY BLACK SILKY KNICKERS AND I WANT THEM BACK.
Mortified and knickerless.

Move on

So sorry chaps but I deleted all my photies of Coober Pedy and Adelaide by mistake on my camera. Thrilled to say the least – but use your imagination instead.

I took a tour still travelling with the scot Gordon to Adelaide from Alice via Coober Pedy.

Our guide was the hysterical one off called BT. She was an ex opal miner, had a voice like gravel – and looked as though she could handle most things standing on her head whilst whistling dixie. She was a hard case – and wonderful company. The drive from Alice to Adelaide is a humonguos 1600 km through well …nothing really. Pure flat desert only interrupted at times by a road house or bushes.

The only respite from this long journey was a place called COOBER PEDY.

COOBER PEDY
So imagine westerns of old- this was a isolated mining town where the men are men and the sheep are frightened ( not that there are any sheep..). It is the most weird town that I have seen so far. Most people due to the extreme heat live UNDERGROUND in houses tunneled into the sandstone . It is cooler undrerground and the temp is a constant 19 degrees. We actually stayed overnight in a hostel that was underground and that was indeed cool.

The town although not very old, is famed for its eccentric dangerous mix of miners and renegrades. BT our guide for the trip was telling me that she was a miner here and there going back 2 years ago. There is such a thing as OPAL fever ( this is what they mine- OPALS ) and you peg out a site and then well..dig. You either find nothing or make thousands of dollars if you find the perfect Opal stream. BT showed us the prize opal that she had dug up. IT was worth over 250,000 dollars but she hadn’t sold it – has it as insurance. She had the look of fever in her eyes as she described the finding of a “rock ” and she says one year she made absolutely no money the next – thousands and has bought two houses in Adelaide on the proceeds. She now works as a guide as she wants to get sensible. Quite a hard lady and amazing character.

The town itself is a flat, ugly town with a couple of supermarkets, an Italian restaurant – one bank and a police station. The houses are built into the side of the rock – and tunnels lead underground to bedrooms – fully fitted kitchens – lounges – you name it – just no windows and of course no natural light. I found it a bit depressing really and wondered what the suicide rate was in the town – no sunlight remember just a dust bowl above.

We had a tour of one of the mines and one of the houses. We were told by the guide that 2000 people live in Coober P, but the post office has 4000 registered ( claims) and the tax people has 400 registered. You are NOT alowed to mine in the town iteslef – only the outskirts where you see hundreds of earth mounds. However there was once a very lucrative opal stream in Coober town itself – so although you are not allowed to mine you are allowed to EXTEND your house ( ie tunnel more rooms out ). Needless to say – lots of people are ” extending” their houses in COOBER Pedy. Hysterical fancy walking into the wardrobe area in your bedroom and finding ..well a mine.

On the surface the town – was one big flowing DUST BOWL . I have never seen so much dust and grit. It choked you. God love you if you wore contacts.

BOMBS AND GELIGNITE

Until a few year ago the town was reknowned as being well ..a tad rough. Many films including Priscilla Q of D , Mad Max, have been filmed here due to its desolate look. Until about 10 years ago we were told that the men still carried guns – and sticks of Gelignite and God forbid if you ventured into their mining patch by mistake. 4 years ago a new police man was assigned to the town. He thought he would take it in hand. He gave two guys a parking ticket and caught them drink driving.

Next day in the town his police car had a stick of G thrown into it and well – it was blown up. The newly assigned officer left next day….The police station has been bombed twice. As I said no messing with these guys.

We had a meal in a lovely Italian restaurant opposite the hostel..but I noticed apart from us travellers – no women around ..they’re obviously at home patching up the mine sacks. yep this was ceratinly a man’s town…..

Adelaide
What a sweet lovely place. I like Adelaide- it is laid back and the YHA where I’m staying is fantastic. Shops , and a proper town and a chance to recharge the batteries . I am with a great set of travellers and I either join them on a night out or stay in read my book..usually the latter as its so rare you can do this. here I said tara to my travel buddy Gordon..I will miss that guy…very funny .

yep I like Adelaide sorry no photies for same reason…bloody annoying!!!

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