Bundaberg Hotels
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Cell phone frustration
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I consider myself relatively tech-savvy but we all have our moments... So in trying to get my US cell phone to work in Australia, I had to unlock the sim card. It was a relatvely easy process once I found the code on the Internet but in so doing I successfully and completely erased every phone number I had except for a few which I put on the original sim card. Strike 1. So... I don't have any phone numbers, when you get a chance please send them along (my e-mail is gwshook@gmail.com). So after putting in the other sim card, found out the phone doesn't work here anyway despite being a tri-band GSM phone. Strike 2.
So I buy a relatively nice new phone here. Since it is brand new, and cell phone companies SUCK, and they have developed a new chip which can only be unlocked by the phone service for a fee of oh a measly $75, and despite being new it doesn't have a friggin' vibrate feature that I can tell, and they reduced the size of the recharge plug so it doesn't work with my solar-powered universal recharger, and a local call in Australia is about 60 cents a MINUTE, there go strikes 3,4,5, and 6- inning is nearly over. On the plus side, and this may not be the case but I hope so, international rates are relatively inexpensive. Although I did try calling the States and it didn't work....
So anyway my number is 0416 948-805. I'm guessing at the spacing but you get the idea. To call from the States it's 011-61-the above. I don't think there is a charge for incoming calls but then again it seems the services over here like to nickel and dime their customers. That has pretty much been the last 3 days. The weather has been great but I can tell it's getting warmer... which when I look at the date still causes a pause... and it's windy today but no bus service on Sunday, so I'm out of luck for kiting. Another reason to sink more of my steadily dwindling savings into some sort of transport. I went out in Bundaberg with Joe and Greg two guys from the rally and it was fun- a couple of good bars and good music. Unfortunately I have noticed that like the States, there are a higher percentage of heavier folk. But thankfully Joe drove their rental car, and since it's a $35 cab ride into town, saved me a bundle.
Since we are a bit removed from the town center the rest of the time has been doing rally activities at the marina and trying to plan my travels. I have been trying to relate this town to one in the States, and I haven't quite nailed it down- it's smaller than Pensacola, but similar in how it's spread out and on the coast, but isn't known for it's nice beaches.
One town highlight is the various drinks that are brewed here, including rum at the Bundaberg Rum Factory, ginger beer, and a variety of others like lemonade. So they make a very nice Dark and Stormy, one of my favourite drinks. They come premixed in cans as do rum and cokes- even Jim Beam and coke can be bought in a can. There is a rum factory tour which I will be sure not to miss and will write about when I recover.
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