Tuesday 8th April - Day 65

Okay, so what do you do in a new city, country ? Go for a wonder. My body clock's a few hours out of sync so I don't emerge from my room until about midday.

It's only a first impression but Brisbane seems a very easy going place to be. The weather is near to perfect, 22deg C / 70 deg. It's sunny, clean and everyone looks happy. I ask a couple of people for directions and they seem happy to help. I remember trying to ask somebody in London similarly and he freaked me out by shouting, "go away ..." And mumbled something about, "you people ..." In fact everyone I've interacted with seem to be affable. They must have millions of tourists pass through the city and don't seem at all weary of that.

Brisbane has a river serviced by very efficient Catamarans. The tourist information center advises me to take a boat trip.I t's an enjoyable trip. The $5 ticket also pays for the bus ticket up to Mount Coot-tha overlooking the city. The panoramic view of the city from top of this small mountain is striking.

In the town center I drop in on a cyber cafe. This place is open 24 hours a day. There are a lot of game playing nerds in here. Some clearly have been here for hours. An American teenager makes sure his friends and everyone else around him know what level he has got to in some adventure game and the special powers he has discovered. Each to their own.

The day has been short and passes by quickly.