G'Day from Australia

Hello everyone –

Sharon here, interpreting two emails from Janice so that I can update you.   

The ship docked in Botany Bay, Australia, at midnight on May 2. The captain allowed me to wait until morning to depart the ship, which was nice.  In the morning, after his duties with the horse, the groom (Robby) got us a taxi to the airport.  We had a driver from Pakistan who said it would cost about $20, but it was $70. I had already checked prices one way to Moree, where I planned to meet up with my friend Bobbie.  It is a 1.5 hour trip for $400 and there is only one flight a day.  I went to the city on the metro figuring I would take a bus or a train (I do like those long rides).  There was a train leaving in four minutes so I just took it! $100 for first class, but a seven hour ride.  I borrowed a phone from a passenger on the train and called Bobbie and left her a message.  Later, the passenger whose phone I borrowed said she had called back and would meet me.  Great!!

Since I left so quickly, I did not have a chance to exchange money, but the porter on the train said it was fine to use a credit card for food on the train.  I ordered lunch and when paying she said the machine was down.  I told her that credit was the only thing I had other than American currency.  She said “well I will have to do it the old fashioned way” and she slammed the reader down and used it.  She needs a life!!

When we arrived in Moree, I got off of the train.  It was pitch dark, a gravel driveway, AND no Bobbie.  I borrowed another phone to call her and she said she had not gotten my call.  It was a three hour drive and she does not drive at night, so she said she would pick me up in the morning.  I wonder who got the call and called back?  What the heck, it is a mystery for sure, so what to do?  There were lights about a block long so I dragged my suitcase there to look for a hotel.  It was a little creepy walking alone in a strange town, but “ya gotta do what ya gotta do!”  I found a hotel that was close and they had a room.  It was surprisingly cleaner than it looked – I was safe for the night and had email.  The adventures one has when traveling!

This morning (it is Sunday and no banks are open), the big search for a breakfast place that uses credit cards (they really don’t like them much in many foreign countries).  I walked about a mile and had a wonderful “breaky” as they call it here.  I also saw a lot of nice hotels, but in the dark I had taken the first one that I had found.

Here I sit (homeless and penniless right now), in a little outdoor shed near the hotel I was staying in, waiting for my camping buddy to pick me up and off we will go. 

Till next time ...