Apr 2008

Today I walked around Brisbane again. This time I crossed over a bridge to the other side of the river. There's an open air swimming pool and people use this free facility. The water is clean and lukewarm. There's a gentle air of well being around here. Unfit looking people stand out because there don't seem to be many of them. There's a fitness class running outdoors on the grass. Ironically, half of the people in the class look unfit, which is in stark contrast t everyone else walking around. There are plenty of joggers and cyclists that go by. There don't seem to be pesky flies or mosquitoes to worry about here either.

Also on the south bank there is a theatre and quite a few cafe's too. For some reason it's a place where there are Punjabi people from India. In most of the Seven-Eleven stores I've been to the guy serving me has been Punjabi.

I'm caught a little bit by surprise that goods in the shops are about the same if not slightly more expensive than back in England. Other than that, I can't fault Brisbane.

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.

As I fly east and the time zone changes I 'lose' time. The plane flew out of Bangkok airport at about 8:00am. I arrive in Brisbane, Australia at 11:45 pm.

Everyone says, "how ya going, mate ?" I should have taken Australian language lessons because I'm not sure what the reply should be. Perhaps it should be "Bonza, mate." Normally, I just say, "fine thank you. How are you ?"

I take a bus to the hostel I'm to saty at. There's a note on the door in an envelope explaining that I should go around the back and that my room key is in the plant pot. It's 12:30 am and very quiet.

It's the first time I've stayed at a hostel and it seems quite basic and functional. In my room there's a bed, small fridge, sink, chair, a little cupboard and a bin. It's clean enough, so no problem. I'm wide awake and not ready to go to sleep yet. About twenty minutes later I hear a couple of guys walk into the kitchen and go out to meet them. They're a couple of students from India who are studying at the university. I'm little hungry and they offer me some noodles to eat. I go to bed soon after. It's a while before I can sleep.

The van comes to pick me up at 6:30am. A little bit early for me again. There are a few things to visit today.

First we visit a World War II cemetery. We spend a little time walking around reading the headstones. A lot of brave young soldiers died in the war and some of the grave stones have names of soldiers from Suffolk Regiments. Next we are taken to a war museum. I already knew that prisoners of war under the Japanese had a very tough time, but the newspaper articles, photos, pictures and paintings in the museum graphically showed how bad things were.

We now head up to the river Kwai, made famous from the film, 'Bridge Over The River Kwai.' The guide persuades three of us to take motor boat over the river to it, while the rest will travel there by van. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity," he says. It's raining a little. If he meant it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to get soaking wet, because that's what happened, he was wrong. As the boat sped along a light spray of rain meant I got very wet and cold afterwards. Ironically, it was quite refreshing at the time and, if truth be told, I quite enjoyed it. However, we didn't see anything from the boat of significance. Once at the bridge we are allowed to walk over it. There are no trains or vehicles that pass over it. Having seen the film made it feel more interesting than it might otherwise have been.

Next we are off to a railway station and a ride in a train. At the railway station I bump into Sarah, Carol and Elke the University students from the jungle trek. We enjoy a brief chat like old friends and part company again. The train journey itself didn't seem to have much to write home about. But we do stop at a station and have a nice lunch at a restaurant as part of the excursion.

After lunch we visit 'The Tiger Temple' where tigers that have been bought up by monks since birth are there. We're led individually by volunteers, who hold our hands, to the tigers and are allowed to touch them and have photos taken with them. It wasn't as exciting as I imagined, but it was an experience to remember. Then it's back "home."

Sadly it's my last day in Thailand. The time has gone rather quickly.

I'm back here by late afternoon, but it will soon be time to leave the country, leaving from Bangkok airport.

Last night I went out in Chiang Mai and bought a bigger rucksack. It was a mistake to buy one in England that was less than 70 litres - I know now. I even negotiated a fare with a taxi driver to take me to the airport saving me a third the money the hotel wanted to charge me via the hotel's service. At Chiang Mai airport I booked my hotel for Bangkok through a Rep. He assured me it was cheaper to do it this way. I thought I would go for a higher standard hotel room for my last visit.

As it turned out, it although I got the room 30% cheaper than anyone walking off the street would have done, their prices are inflated anyway. It's "gaining with one hand and losing on the other."

From Bangkok airport I catch a local bus to get me to the skytrain (mono rail) station. I'm pleased I did this. I seem to be the only non-Thai on the bus, and the conductor doesn't speak any English.

The skytrain is another new mode of transport for me. It's cheap and efficient.

I'm staying near Siam square the modern shopping complex. I have some food there from street vendors and visit the imax cinema to watch a 3D movie called 'Sea Monsters.' The special effects are quite good, once you get use to wearing the glasses, but the American commentary isn't that good.

I also visit a travel agent and book an excursion for tomorrow.