backpackers Keyword
Belushi’s
I’ve arrived in Scotland. Nine hours on a bus sure builds a thirst. I quenched said thirst pretty hard at the bar below my backpackers. Belushi’s. For the first night in a new city it proved pretty fun, however the loud Americans in the common room this morning are a bit tiresome. Their voices are piercing. Obnoxious. I want to tear out their tracheas.
Bit harsh? You wouldn’t think so if you were here, nursing a killer hangover.
The Blonde Nightmare
I promised I would write an article about one of the very interesting people I met in Sydney: Lucy Holden. A self confessed “blonde nightmare” or “A car crash of a woman”; Lucy headed to Australia with a few dollars, a working visa and an uncontrollable desire to buy any clothes she sees.
Full of life, Lucy was the mistress of the goon, often sneaking it into bars and clubs to drink on the cheap. She missed her first day of work at a cafe because of a big night out and still managed to bluff her way into keeping the job. She stole muffins from hostels, scammed a bed pretty much every night and found coles to be a great source of free food. Even with so little money Lucy could still pull out a big night.
The last I heard from Lucy was that she was headed down to Melbourne with a few hundred bucks donated from her mum. She’ll be looking for, and eventually flagging work in Victoria just as this post goes up. Good luck Lucy, I hope the reputation you earned at the YHA doesn’t follow you to Melbourne!
Lazy Days
Sometimes the days when you plan to do next to nothing turn out the best. A walk to find a guitar turned into a relaxing trundle through Sydney, stopping at a few bars for happy hours and quiet drinks. I said goodbye to my new friend over dinner and then hit the Three Wise Monkeys for dancing with some of the backpackers from my hostel. I got into the YHA soaked in sweat and exhausted. It was a roller-coaster of a day emotionally, but fulfilling.
I still don’t have a guitar though…
Yesterday
Waking from a nightmare. Sleeping in till 11am. Moving from the top bunk to the bottom. Watching people in the foyer: Gelfling, Broken arm man, Mouse, Strap-em-down woman, The Swedes, The over exuberant group. Making a new friend. Doing my washing and sweating in the laundry. Enjoying the static cling of the clothes from the dryer. Shaving off my beard and regretting it instantly. Sweating more while adventuring along George Street. Crossing the streets against the lights to get out of the sun. Having lunch at Cheers. Trying to make eyes at the blondes in the corner. Marveling at $6.20 pints of Bulmers. Learning that Japanese don’t use normal dates for the year. Shopping in Coles buying stuff I wasn’t hungry for yet. Watching heat ripples over the road. Finishing reading “The Beach”. Donating it to the Give-n-Take, getting a little thrill seeing it gone within 15 minutes. Dominating the in house cook, his schnitzel no match for my Prawn & Chilli linguine. Finding I had been gipped on my oil. Being too full to move, save to get up for a beer. Opening “The Road” by Jack Kerouac. Contemplating the meaning of the song “Someone great” by LCD Soundsystem. Discussing travel, women and music with a Frenchman, some English and a Japanese who I missed saying goodbye to this morning. Walking to Hyde Park in the cooling night air. Stopping at the Side Bar to have one. Having four and dancing to the worst DJ ever. Finding my hat is useful for striking up conversations with girls from Cincinnati. Attempting to get into a free gig in the park by planning a heist. Giving up. Watching the fountain and drinking goon. Getting down to my undies and chasing a dog around the water feature. Playing goon toss in the fountain in front of a cheering crowd. Doing laps of the gardens to get dry. Chatting with my new friends. Winding up the local drunk. Pissing next to some sad discarded Thomas the Tank Engine underpants by a tree, wondering who’s they might have been and why they were there, then choosing not to think about it any more. Playing the bass kick part in a makeshift drum and bass ensemble and rocking it’s socks off. Fretting that the Frenchman had lost his wallet, then being relieved when he found it. Eating Hungry Jacks at 4am and discussing the “Burger King/Hungry Jacks” conundrum. Creeping into my room and breathing out one long breath before finding sleep.
These are all things I did yesterday.
Morning Sydney, well… afternoon
I had a bit of a sleep in today, I think I deserved it. Last night I had a couple of quiet drinks at the back packers and then to the Side Bar to enjoy $6.80 pints of Heineken and to enquire about work. I think I will apply next week.
Today I am heading into town to meet up with John, my old work friend for lunch. He’s just up in Darlinghurst, which is handy, because I need to catch up with Adam from Birds to get a BDO ticket, and he’s also up there.
After that I need to find a camera, coz using my phone camera just ain’t gonna cut it. Any suggestions? I am looking at getting something reasonably small, shove in your pocket style, with half decent picture quality and ease of use. Needs to be durable too.
Alright, now to start the day.
A Storm is a Brewing
Now that I’ve had a chance to relax, I can ponder the more wonderful things of my day.
I left Perth stressed out. I had people telling me what to do, when to do it, how do things and basically filling me with doubt. I started worrying about accomodation, visas, transport, money, all the things that normally “take care of themselves”. My first step onto the plane wasn’t filled with joy, but with frustration and concern.
And then, the fasten seat belt sign came on, and instantly I was free.
The roar of the engines seemed to frighten off my demons and clear my head and I was only left with good memories of those I am leaving behind. Quite a bizarre feeling.
Anyways, from the metaphysical to the minutiae: I finally checked in at about 1.30pm, had a shower and about half an hours sleep. I then went shopping and for dinner I made myself field mushrooms cooked in garlic butter, with fresh crunchy brocolli and chutney, topped with blue cheese and almonds. I topped it off with a beer while watching a storm roll in over the city.
I’m currently reading “The Beach” by Alex Garland, and listening to, as always when I am on holidays, Sigur Ros.
I might down a couple more beers, and if the storm has passed, swing over to the Side Bar to see if anything is going down, but for now I’ll just enjoy the thunder.
Press Start to Begin…
Well people, it has finally happened. At 12.45am this morning, Perth time I strode onto Virgin Blue flight DJ438 and started my adventure across the globe. What lies in store for me is not really planned. I am trying not to plan much at all. I have a basic itinerary of flights but they are subject to change. To put it simply I am winging it.
Right at this very moment I am sitting in the Railway YHA in Sydney, a backpackers I have enjoyed staying at a few times before. Much to my delight I found a picture I drew and stuffed into a glass topped table around July, 2008! While it seems much of the items that travellers feel compelled to leave under the tables have been removed, mine has been kept.
Is this a sign of how the rest of my adventure will go? I would hope so.