Being a slow learner, I continue to take the occasional ‘shortcut’ in the quest to get from A to B pronto.
In that spirit, yesterday I found myself using the U-turn lane for , er, purposes not recommended. And found myself facing an oncoming ute, travelling slowly, driver with his right arm resting outside the door.
We were both travelling slowly, so there was no near-accident.
But I did get a smile out of the driver’s reaction – “maaate”, he says quietly, holding my gaze, and without even a hint of rancour. And he was on his way.
What a difference from back home, where I’ve been yelled at, sworn at, and honked at by motorists who think they’re cops. Affronted at having to share the road.
Here they call you “maate”, watch for cyclists, and often stop at intersections to let us second-class “motorists” cross.
In a bald attempt to spawn a decent headline, I went and got my first jab today.
I’m wary of adding more unnatural and untested stuff to my juices, but in this case, I’m making an exception for practical reasons.
Those are that it looks unlikely that Aotearoa will let me back in quarantine-free without a couple of doses. There’s a three-month delay between AstraZeneca shots, so I’ll be ready for NZ’s possible re-opening early next year.
It’s a few hours later, and so far my carcass hasn’t complained any more than usual.
Beware Angry Men
Meanwhile, I’ll soon be I’m on the move again – first houses, and then cities.
Houses because Hamish, the Aussie flatmate, is a Pain in the Tender Bits. He is a very angry man, and with it, an Old Woman. He’d rather worry about other people’s business than his own, and bleats about unbelievably tiny details.
The warning signs were there – during conversations he’ll repeat “yeh, yeh, yeh” staccato-style when someone else is talking. He’s not listening, and / or doesn’t care what’s being said.
So not even trivial issues can be solved, because it’s a one-way conversation. He just raises his voice until it stops being a conversation.
His ex-wife, and kids, don’t talk to him. The other flatmate, Peter the German, turns out to be a lovely guy, and is so laid back that Hamish doesn’t bug him.
I don’t deal with conflict well, and I didn’t come here to live with screw-ups, so I’m off to an AirBnB house in Cairns for two weeks, until September 28th. That gives me a chance to explore Cairns a little more….
Probably no swimming , though
South
After that, I’ll head south, where the nights are cooler, and sleep is possible – in early spring, without the aid of air-conditioners.
I’m going to stay in Queensland for a bit longer, but not sure where yet. Any of the top cities in this list is possible, except Brisbane itself.
It looks like I may again be abroad for a longer haul than expected.
At the prompting of an earnest friend, a check on the MIQ berths this morning showed full houses right through to December.
Which is hardly a surprise, but it means that there may be more “working” than “holiday” going on.
Of course, the travel bubble may get re-inflated in September, which would mean no MIQ on return. But right now, that seems less likely with a cluster of covid cases in parts of Queensland, including one yesterday in Cairns.
So there’s a bit of “head down, arse up” going on.
Alongside the morning bike rides around the beautiful Cairns waterfront, and generally enjoying being thawed out.
The territory issues in the flat have worked themselves out, thanks to the generosity of Hamish, and all is dull and plain sailing.
It’s good temperature-wise. It’s got good aircon, and the bedroom ceiling fan is effective, even if sounds like a blender on slow. The patio is under a shelter, out of the direct sunlight, and gets a cool afternoon breeze
One of the other flatmates, Hamish, is an escapee from Gore. But he’s overcome that, and he’s been friendly , generous, and accommodating. He’s been in Aussie for many years, and works night-shifts on the Stop / Go roadsigns for $30 / hour.
Liebensraum
It’s very early days, but the other guy, by contrast, is a humorless German, Peter.
He’s having trouble adjusting to a third flatmate, and every time we’ve talked directly, he’s complained or given orders about something or other.
For example, there are two shared fridges in the flat. In his universe, three into two works like this – one for you two, and one for me. It sounds petty, but without fridge-space I’ll be eating junkier food. So sooner or later, there will need to be compromise.
Right now, though, I’m the New Guy – Poland if you will – to his Germany. If it comes to a scrap, I’m guessing the Landlord would give me the marching orders, so I’m being diplomatic.
Gated
Most residences here are behind at least one high locked gate, as if there’s a low-level siege mentality.
Not nearly at the same level as Vietnam, but it’s noticeable for a small-town lad.
Along with a wide range of foreigners, there also seems to be noticeably more Lost Souls here than back in Whangarei . People shouting at windmills and sucking on bags of dubious liquid, or just making the place look untidy.
I guess the Haves are barricading themselves against the Have-Nots.
When In Rome
The weather is even better than expected. It’s not rained once, during daylight, since I’ve been here.
Like most of the natives, I gad about in shorts and a t-shirt, and haven’t yet worn shoes.
All of that seems to be agreeing with me, and if this continues, I may be some time.
While New Zealand is – again – pulling up the drawbridge, I’m cycling off in the other direction.
This morning, with news that the travel bubble with Australia has burst, I registered my tiny wee gesture of defiance by buying a bike. That above, $60 AUD with lock included.
It’s a commitment to cheap travel here for the next few weeks while the bubble is inspected, pending its possible re-inflation in September.
I’d planned to stay at least two months anyway, and I just couldn’t face myself in the morning if I crawled home now after arriving on July 14.
Of course I risk paying for the hubris. Either by having to cough up for quarantine if NZ stays closed, or by working long hours. Or by finding a real job here to support my feckless self.
So, what’ll it be, then? – chill-blains, rain for days on end, grey skies, freezing cold, or….
This guest house lark is all very nice and comfortable, but it isn’t cheap, so I move into a flat next Tuesday.
It’s in Clare St, Parramatta Park, where I’ll share a downstairs flat with two others. Private bedroom, aircon, desk, broadband, and shared bathroom, kitchen , living area, $165 AUD / week.
I’m a little nervous about the caper, having told myself in 2018 after a cold winter in a Railway Terrace, Whg flat, that that was the last time.
But the house-owner seems like a straight-up no-bs sort, and it was advertised as a “non-party” ( read codgers’ ) household, so all may be well.
Pedalling
I’ve been putting in the biking miles, and will be buying my own ( second-hand, circa $80 ) for transport as I’ll lose the free use of the guest house two-wheelers.
Sights
.. and I’ve been further exploring the Esplanade and waterfront. Evidence below.
July 22, 7:47 a.m., the Bay
July 20, 10:29 a.m., the Salt-Water pool
July 22, North End of the Esplanade, looking over the Bay
Day six in Cairns, and what follows is the stew produced from throwing the spaghetti at the wall. A hodge-podge.
On that note, here are some random pictures taken since arriving.
Outside my airBnB
Early morning
The living room
cycle path
Cycle path 2
cycle lane
Cycle City
There are bikes lanes, dedicated bike paths, centre-line cyclist stops, and even lanes for bikes on the major arterial routes.
Cairns is the purple spot , probably covering about 25 kms each side
Cairns is also pretty much flat for miles around , as you can see at left. When there’s been a breeze, it’s pretty mild.
And lastly, the airBnB guest house I’m staying at includes free use of its three mountain bikes. One at a time.
Waterfront
The waterfront is spectacular. Ok, it’s not Nha Trang bay, but it is very nice.
How many words is a video worth?
This is looking out over the bay from The Esplanade, near the town centre;
And this is from a similar position looking more toward town;
The Briny
The tide was out, but even so, it looked inviting enough so that I was fixing to swim there one day soon. The host has told me, seriously, that this just isn’t done. People fish there, and eat the catch, but it’s considered unsafe for swimming. Go figure.
The Colourful Side
While I was near the town centre, I stumbled across the colourful side of town, notably four Vietnamese restaurants and an entire “night market” mainly dedicated to food.
Pho is Vietnamese for ‘soup’ [ roughly ]
… and another
Banh Mi Vietnamese rice cakes
Also from the “good news for gluttons” department comes the discovery that dairy here is good quality and cheap, including cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt.
The Digs
The guest house has been blessedly quiet after Queensland started shutting out those scurvy southerners from Victoria and NSW. It’s bad news for the host, with a slew of cancellations. But good news for yours truly who, along with a quiet young couple, have the run of the place.
It has good cooking and bathroom facilities, and the bedrooms are ok. A minor annoyance is that its proximity to a well-trafficked road. The laptop mike picks it up, meaning I’m confined to barracks ( my room ) for online teaching.
But it is a little outside a budget I can manage longer-term. Accommodation is going to be the major challenge if I decide to stay on here. It’s the ‘High Season’ for tourists right now, and the best option for me appears to be finding a room in an established flat.
The Weather
Below is the view from outside at around 8.15 a.m., about 21 degrees celsius.
After spending most of yesterday aloft at 30,000 feet, today is a recovery day in Cairns, Australia.
I arrived at the BnB at just before midnight. Exhaustion, and too much rubbish food, meant I slept only about 4 hours.
Nonetheless, the first order of business today, before parking myself on a couch, was a trip to stock up. Recovery equals eating, right?
The AirBnB place I’m staying in provides free bikes, and the lazy 3.5 km trip to Woolworths and back took about half an hour each way.
The BnB I’m staying at is comfortable, an older house large enough for the four guests to easily avoid each other.
The Trip
I left Whangarei ( 5 deg C on waking ) at around 10 a.m., sitting next to a ruddy, chatty type on her way to an automotive convention in the South Island with her husband and son.
Then it was 6 hours at Auckland airport. Auckland turned on a warm day, of course, given that I’d dressed in as much clothing – with as many pockets – as possible. All in an effort to reduce my baggage weight, since it’s fair play for myself and clothing to weigh 80 kgs for the day.
A four-hour flight to Brisbane was next. The plane was maybe 25% full, so there was ample room to spread myself over the spare seat separating me and a young Aussie guy on a short trip back to Queensland to visit relatives.
I did get “taken aside” but breezed through Aussie customs in 10 minutes. There were no requests for proof of the travel declarations ( one for Queensland, one or Australia ) I’d scrambled around to finish at Auckland airport. I’d read that only one was required, but that wasn’t the case, according to Auckland airport boarding staff.
Two hours at Brisbane airport, and lugging everything from the international to domestic airport, followed. The last leg to Cairns was a Qantas flight maybe about 70% full.
I won’t be taking too many taxis here, with the fare from Cairns airport to ‘home’ costing AUD $25 +.
Right, I’m off to find a dark corner and turn on the Tele for a while until that depresses me too much and youtube takes centre stage.
Yes, I’m still champing at the bit to get out of here, but it won’t be happening on Tuesday July 13.
So I was told via text at 11.55pm last night. Their explanation was “operational reasons”. The Air New Zealand phone support spent nearly 5 minutes to tell me they couldn’t explain that further.
I’m now escaping this miserable winter from Wednesday July 14, in the morning.
I’m not overjoyed about it, because it means a six-hour wait in Auckland, and a two-hour stopover in Brisbane.
Meantime, here’s hoping Queensland continues its good covid record.
Above is the local market on Lạc Long Quân St, Nha Trang. It’s 5 minutes walk from my apartment on Van Kiep. As you look at the map below, follow Lac Long Quan down, and to the right, and Van Kiep is the second street.
The hobble, on crutches, has become a daily morning ritual, before the blessed caffeine injection.
