Leaving Adelaide, first attempt
Trip Start
Nov 28, 2004
1
42
57
Trip End
Jun 11, 2005
Glenelg,
South Australia,
Australia
Sunday, January 30, 2005
I get the impression that Tony, the hostel manager, doesn't like me very much. First the parking ticket that's been re-addressed to him. Then the unspeakable disorder in the yard after three Poms drank Stella all day. Now he is confronted by a pickled cave man in Marks and Spencer's jockey shorts. No keys.
I think I may go away for a few days and do some walking in the hills. I pack my kit and leave. I have followed the coastal road and found a long string of beaches in particular Maslin Beach, which contains a serious lack of females. My mobile phone alerts me to another incoming message from Bangkok. This time the Dutchman has lost his temper and locked Nikki in a room at his new house in Pattaya - Sleazeville. She's climbed out of the window and called the fuzz. And the big man's been arrested. Her brothers are there and it's a general scene of chaos. Why am I still in Australia, and can I at least send her some money ?
Tony is a little aghast to be checking me back in to his hostel so quickly and I cannot begin to explain how I am connected to a love triangle in Thailand and hysterical girls climbing out of windows. Tony has witnessed enough of my capers in the short time I have been here. Later, as I begin to try to wire money to my Thai girlfriend, she saves me the bother by telling me she doesn't need the money after all. What you'd call a ' result '.
I cut back on my spending a little and make some visits to the supermarket - which is where you'll find most backpackers in Australia. Lurking around the meat counters, waiting for the ' mark-downs ' at about 5 o'clock. I change my phone's SIM card too and take advantage of a new phone number and some free air time.
Next ; A helping hand
