Advertisement
Published: March 20th 2006
The Calm Before The Storm
The one nice part of Airlie BeachYet another air conditioned Greyhound coach brings me into the gateway town of Airlie beach. The passengers are somewhat more sterotypically travellers than my last journey. And I mean this in the cliched east coast pre/post uni/career break (i.e. me) type of traveller. I was a little dissapointed as I realised that really everyone who comes to Australia does pretty much the same thing - and I wish I wasnt. Best intentions aside though, I am doing what everyone does, because with my time frame and with the 'essentials' being just that, Its really the best option. So back to Airlie. It is a Gateway to the Whitesunday islands and the ubiquitous backpacker pursuit of 3 days sailing. Or dependant on the crew, 3 days drinking, but on a boat.
With Larry (tropical cyclone larry that is) bearing down on us, with winds already high and rain pouring from the darkended sky I realise a problem with my assumptions. I have not booked accommodation in Airlie Beach assuming everyone would be heading south to avoid the cyclone. Of course this logic is fundamentally flawed and infact what has happened is that everyone who should be out at sea on boats is trying to find cheap accommodation in Airlie Beach. The only room I can get is a private ensuite room costing me 3-4 times as much as I normally pay for accommodation.
I pay my taxes, and it keeps the Abos out of sight. Out of sight out of mind
Settled in to Airlie I decided to head out for dinner, and ended up ordering Kangaroo in a loud outside but covered bar. I got talking to an Aussie guy called Travis who is in Airlie on the back of the Mining Bandwagon. He tells me the background - "Queensland has absolutely tons of coal, we can't get it out quick enough. The Auzzie government is desperate to get it out and sell it to China before coal becomes an 'illegal' fuel. Theres a lot of money to be made in Mining in Australia at the moment. Im just a pleb and I've been mining four months. Just manual work - and you can take home easily in excess of $100,000 a year". Discussion ineviatble turn towards Aboriginals, as they often seem to when you combine an Australian and a few beers. "They are all drunks, and they are all diabetic" He tells me. "The get a lot from the government. Like my friend - 1/16th Abo and whiter than you or me - he gets free Uni education for 4 years. Theres no real purebloods left - none at all if you ask me. But I dont mind paying for all that. I pay my taxes, and it keeps the Abos out of sight. Out of sight out of mind". By now the storm is really brewing up strongly, and were on our 4th pitcher of booze - and Travis insists on buying them all. "Least I can do is buy a Pom a beer. Ive lived in the UK for 3 years - and I screwed you guys on Tax. Least I can do".
Least I can do is buy a Pom a beer. Ive lived in the UK for 3 years - and I screwed you guys on Tax
As the bar is forced to close early to prepare for Larry I head back to my hotel via the hostel that some other brits are staying in. When I arrive there soaked to the skin I do the ultimate stupid thing. Lock myself out of my room. So I went to reception feeling sheepish, before realising that it has been closed for hours, with no after hours number. Eventually I managed to get through to someone on the phone after an elaborate callling chain, and rather embarrasingly I was let into my room. A good end to the night!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.194s; Tpl: 0.009s; cc: 14; qc: 86; dbt: 0.103s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Annie
non-member comment
It all sounds like a bundle of fun Alex! Didn't I warn you about the Aussies? I never met a single one that wasn't racist - except the Curti ofcourse. Larry must have been a bit hairy. It's even made the news over here so I hope you've kept yourself tucked away safe. Now must be the time to learn surf-boarding, there should be a few waves to be had!