Day 29: 29/1/13
Another restless night! When I know I have to be up for a flight I find it hard to sleep soundly. As well as the fact that I didn't know if I had a trip to do or not!
I was up before 5 anyway and finished my packing. I seem to have more stuff for less days here which doesn't make any sense but feck it!
Mike got up to bring me, even though he was going to be two hours early for work. I told him I'd get a taxi but he said it was grand. It was five past six when we got the airport and I was worried that I was cutting it fine for a flight at 7. Of course Mike knew exactly where to drop me and I was in plenty of time!
I had to check in myself and print my own bag voucher and put it in myself. I'd never done that before but that seems to be the way they do it when you are flying domestic! I got one of the customer service people to put it on for me to make sure it was going in right!
I had a few minutes to buy sunglasses as mine were broken. There were no delays with boarding or taking off or anything. The flight was grand. I wrote the blog and read a magazine on the way. We landed in Cairns about 15 minutes early!
I had my boarding pass, my bag was checked the whole way and I landed at the gate I was supposed to leave from so I had nothing to do! I did check if I needed to get my bag as you do in some places but they said it was goin on directly.
It was stil before 9 in Alice Springs time so I had a look at the shops and bought a sun hat as mine had blown off on the Tongariro crossing and I hadn't replaced it! I rang the tour people then and she said she had jus sent an email and that I was booked correctly for tomorrow and it was just a mistake on the voucher! Ah relief!! I knew I had booked it properly so that what I was hoping for but I didn't know if they had he information on the voucher or not! It's all okay anyway- they are picking me up from the accommodation in the morning so all is good!!
I sat back and breakfast and tea then as I'd about two hours to kill! I messages Shane and Laura about going to Adelaide and Melbourne as I don't know what kind of coverage ill have for the next few days!
The flight was practically empty- there was only about 30 people on it. We got there ahead of schedule again which is always nice. There is a half hour time difference between Brisbane and Alice Springs which is weird! I got a shuttle bus from the airport which was driving around dropping off people everywhere. The whole place looks brown and deserted! All the accommodation places looked remote enough. Mine is too!
I got there at about five past two and the reception closes from 2-4 so I had to wait around in the kitchen area, reading a book until the guy decided to come back! The place was empty! Two guys passed in the two hours I was there. Eventually I got to check in anyway and my room was right beside where I had been sitting all along! The guy in reception was a bit scatty and had no map or anything. There's a hotel next door though and I went and asked them for a map!
I thought I better head into the town then to see a bit of it and buy some water. I want to go to bed early and it gets dark around half seven so I did not want to be walking around in the dark!
It's hot here, but it wasn't unbearable. It was okay. I needed more shorts though as I only have one pair and the others are 3/4 length but on me nearly full length. I found a Target and got two pairs of shorts. I definitely have too much clothes now but the bag is still closing so its all good! I should get away without doing much laundry anyway!
The town is strange. There's no one in it. The streets seem really empty and then there's an odd aboriginal woman in the street with pictures. I don't know who they expect to sell them too. I found a shopping centre as I wanted to go to the supermarket and get bottles of water to have in my day bag and there was a few people in there. There's plenty of cars around too but it just seems really empty. I think there's an odd museum here but I didn't feel too comfortable walking around on my own, especially as the road to the hostel was quite bleak (the picture above) so I just got the few bits and headed back. The locals are a bit scary. There seems to be lots of homeless looking people around too. I want an early night anyway as I have a lot of sleep to catch up on! I don't really want to start the trip wrecked!
When I got back to the hostel I realised I hadn't paid for it. It was booked by credit card but only a deposit was paid. The guy in reception had forgotten to ask me! I probably would have gotten away with it bit I thought I better pay it as they have my card details and could charge more money if I didn't pay!
The wifi is $5 for an hour so I had some time to upload blogs and go on Facebook. You wouldn't want to be paying that too often though! I just thought I probably won't have any again for a good few days as I'm heading out to the outback sleeping under the stars, apparently!
So, I'm gonna chill and finish my book for the evening and sleep before another early start!