Alice Springs Resort

... come ride 30 hours like we did.

As far as sleeping goes, those 1950s style airline seats are the Outback Motel 6 unless anyone wants to cough up $150 more for a miniscule Red bunk. That might make it a Days Inn experience. No that is pushing it a bit too far...how about an old Econolodge in an interesting part of town. Not surprisingly, no one took the "upgrade" since this was mostly a backpacker crowd. About the only person who got any ...

... an integral mattress and pillow. They were really comfortable and I think everyone should experience the brilliant feeling of falling asleep looking up at the stars and waking up when the sun rises – easy when there are no curtains blocking the light. And showering under the stars with water heated by a wood fire was an amazing experience when I eventually got my turn – I have to say there was one amongst us seemed to think that having half an hour in the only ...

... and had lots of anecdotes about Alice and its history. She had originally come out to teach at an outreach school for aborigine children so had a great understanding of all the problems facing them and an obvious respect for them as people and their culture.

... but I was actually really surprised and they were mostly really nice. I found the change from being solely in charge on Thursday Island to having no responsibility, or say in a patients care, very difficult. You contact the doctors for their consent for the tiniest of things which at home I would do without thinking twice. I just felt I wasn’t working as a midwife and anyone intelligent enough could do the things I was doing on a daily basis. I also found ...

... not have an en suite!! Yes, we should have shared the toilet with others, we decided like true campers to make a loo, so in Blue Peter style Trudy cut up a plastic bottle which doubled up as a toothbrush holder during the day and wee catcher during the night!! Not much to do at night as it is not safe to walk around, the pubs are mostly full of cowboys, the music to loud so we went to Lasitters gambling instead!! No we haven't got a ...

... an explanation of Arrente kinship customs, which our guide explained as a mechanism allowing survival of relatively small tribes (about 100 people) by ensuring that marriages only took place between individuals who were distantly related. This avoided the perils associated with interbreeding in a limited gene pool (eg. the Royal families of Europe). These details fascinated our ...

So we went back to Alice Springs to get the car fixed. We stayed at the Heckathorns for 2 days. When we went to pick up the car the mechanic said the car starter motor didn't come and had to wait another 2 days. To find out what we did in those two days read the next enterie.

... day, but that was some time ago while I was back in Perth. Anyway the view from on top the hill is fantasic, allowing you to see the city as well as many of the surrounding desert and ranges.

After lunch, which consisted of a cheese sandwich, granola bar, an orange and of course some chocolate, I looked at some of the shops along the Todd St. Mall and went to visit the Botanical Gardens. They're definitely not what you'd ...

... br>
Adelaide was a city I had always wanted to visit; it seems to be one that you either love or hate and we both loved it. It is considered a cultural and gourmet city and there are lots of open spaces, wide streets, shopping malls and beautiful heritage buildings. The river Torrens flows through the centre and although quite small you could hire pedalos and catch a paddle steamer for a ...