Air, I need air, or just air con
Trip Start
Dec 06, 2006
1
122
188
Trip End
Ongoing
Perth,
Australia
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Two of them stood out. The first an arrogant irritating Canadian (sorry Steve I know you said they're all great, but there's the odd one) who returned from the DVD shop with a bag of DVDs as if he'd just saved the world from destruction, before announcing that he was putting one on without any regard for anyone else. I noticed this because a couple of days back he asked if he could just check something then put on the Superbowl and refused to let the bods in the TV room finish what they were watching. This was for the preshow, and don't forget the Superbowl lasts for hours. The second was a sycophantic youngster clearly overly eager to please when the DVDs appeared.
'aaaaw mate, that's an amaaaaazing film'
'oh wow, that's like my second favourite film of all time' ...Pause to see if anyone was interested in his favourite film, he was ignored... 'I'll have to see if my favourite is in here'
'mate, that's another brrrrilliant film'
'another great choice, that's a classic'
He brought back 7 DVDs and so this went on for a while as if it wasn't possible to assemble such a magnificent collection of films. It's all very well wanting to fit in, he was young and hasn't yet cottoned on to the concept of opinions, but I just got the impression that he could have been given a bag of steaming turds and would have said 'aaaw mate, that's my favourite, with the sweetcorn and everything'.
I left them to the magnificent DVDs because the first one they tried was jumping all over the shop and was unwatchable. D'oh! I went back to the sweaty room and read my book for a while until I noticed something crawl up the wall above my right shoulder. My first experience of a big ugly insect. It was a massive cockroach, about 7cm I reckon and was fairly nippy when I went after it with a cereal box. It was also quite impressive that it was there considering we were on the top floor, but unfortunately for the cockroach this height was literally it's downfall as I managed to scoop it up and fling it out of the window.
I've been reading some books as a couple of lasses from Norn Iron that were in the room for a few days left me a pile of books to take and cash in at the bookshop. The only ones worth reading were Bill Bryson's, so having already read his Oz one, I've now read Notes from a Big Country and I'm part way through Lost Continent. I noticed that some of the stuff he got good money for in the Notes book are appearing in the Lost Continent book. Very sneaky and very easy money. It's easy money all around I reckon, all is does is waffle a bit and gets paid for it. I reckon all this nonsense could be edited down to something similar. So next time you're in Waterstones thinking about buying one of his books, I recommend sending the cash to me instead. I got 15 dollars for cashing in the books by the way, it wasn't really worth the traipsing about for an hour in the rain to take them.
I learnt a lesson this morning, much as I liked Sydney it's not the place to work unless you can walk to work as the journey to my flight clashed with rush hour. I ended up stuffed on a train London underground style and although it was only a couple of stops it's enough to put you off. The main lesson is not to book flights so that the journey to the plane clashes with the commuters.
I checked myself in and was a bit disappointed not to be able to choose another seat but was pleasantly surprised when I was offered a seat with more leg room at the Bag Drop. I went for seat 1A as I knew I'd be right at the front and so first off the plane. It's generally a rubbish seat option for watching the telly but that didn't matter as on el cheapo Virgin Blue flights, a tv is considered a luxury extra to be paid for. Not for me with my ipod and book to keep me entertained so it was a good choice. Well, until we arrived as the bridge was broken down and so we had to exit at the rear of the plane making it the worst choice for a speedy getaway. Not that I needed one and of course getting off quicker just means waiting longer at the baggage carousel, but for some reason it always feels nice to get off fast and first. It wasn't quite as simple as that though. It wasn't then a free for all, we were told that if we all tried getting off the back of the plane at the same time it would tip up! Excellent to hear that the metal box we'd just been travelling in 36,000 ft in the air was state of the art and capable of balancing some people inside it.
I'm now in Perth and already wondering why as it's as humid as Sydney and hotter. It's meant to become drier heat in a couple of days and I can't wait. Particularly as there's no air con in the hostel I'm staying in here either! Brilliant. The countdown clock to when I become a flashpacker and invest in a hotel room is ticking very loudly.
