Brisbane Experience... then to Paradise

Brisbane at last... No thanks to Richard Branson

Well its comforting to know that not only are Virgin Trains always late in Britain but the Virgin Blue Airline in Oz can be equally as pish. Supposed to leave Sydney at 14:00... plane takes off eventually at 15:40. Captain apologised and in typically Oz fashion said delay was because "Other plane was broke and they couldn't fix it." To the point and no bullshit I suppose. Lots of huffing and puffing around but I didn't really care - I was in no rush. The lass next to me said she would be home in Brisbane by now...

Flight across was remarkable for the view of Sydney Harbour greater from the air - some sight. Brisbane finally reached and a very efficient train service wisked me to Brunswick Station which was close to Fortitude Valley where I am staying. Had noticed in the Virgin Blue Flight mag a page on Brisbane which had mentioned this British Pub (with pints at last, not these aussie half-measures!!) - just happens to be the pub part of the Hostel I am staying in. Lucky ol' me. A quick shower and swift make up of my dorm bed and to the bar for a bit of research via Guide book and a pint of Boddingtons. New Scottish barmaid gives me clues and directions and so its off into the city only apparently a 20 minute walk away.

And so it was. Soon wandered through the CBD office high-rises and found myself on the main shopping mall. Get attracted into clothes shop and buy a few t-shirts (sadly lacking in clobber other than England/Stoke tops and Barmy Army tops - other stuff been worn and smelly... whadya mean use a laundry?)

On venturing back-out onto the street am entertained - as are many - by acrobatic classical-rock quartet - part of Brisbane's pre-Xmas street entertainment. The musicians are on pulleys and play classical pieces to rock beat while being pulled up and down from street level - classical violin with bass, heavy guitar and drums - it is very good. Makes me think these guys should go to Edinburgh Festival. Wander on further to the river... past a very impressive casino (The Treasury) and then back. Stop at an open air bar/restaurant on the mall for a nice glass of Queensland red wine... smell of cooking drives me to having meal of Scallops, king prawns and (something) Harbour Bugs (big prawns in shells) in a chilli-garlic sauce. Lovely. Best grub so far. Have taken a strong liking to Brisbane already. Here's somewhere a man could settle methinks...Next for me after composing these notes is a beer or two. Tomorrow is the ODI v Sri Lanka. Here's hoping.

Well Monday night is obviously a quiet one here like many places would be. Found a great way to get free beer. Walk into trendy pub wearing shorts and beach sandals - barman apologetically asks me to leave because of this - takes me to pub up road and gets me a free beer in compensation. Find a pub down road (Ric's Bar) with live music which is pretty good- vocalist playing a nice Gibson SG... drool. Could be putting it to better use but they are entertaining enough. Back to hostel/pub for a nightcap then to the room. My fellow dorm inhabitants are all Japs. I resist temptation to cry out "Bonzai !" . First real good night's sleep is had and I feel properly refreshed for the first time - enough so to get up at 8 !! Now for some brekkie from somewhere... and then into town for a wander and then its the Gabba for the game.

We WON !!!

Well a victory at last and its a good good feeling - even if it is against Sri Lanka rather than Australia. The Gabba is an impressive stadium - would be great to see it full rather than the few thousand that are here today. My seat is one row back from the boundary. I've got in just as they open the gates so a chance to see the teams in warm-up . Sri Lanka are exercising right in front on me. I ask Jarasuriya whether he wouldn't mind letting us win this one to break our duck. He smiled sweetly back at me but said nowt. (Given the way Sri Lanka batted so tamely later I think my request must have worked!). Ronnie Irani wanders past - I shake his hand and wish him well (batting wise he needs it - 2 innings so far - runs scored 0. Didn't get much better for him!). He notices my Sussex cricket top and remarks I had come a bit of distance.

England start solidly at about 5 an over but keep losing wickets to airy shots and the heart starts to sink. Fear not Nasser to the rescue ably supported by Collingwood and then Stewart. We get up to 200 in good time (38th over). Nasser is obviously feeling the heat- ice pack over shoulders... and a runner sent out- Nasser gets a fair bit of stick from the Aussies in the crowd. Runner soon gets Nass run out and Blackwell comes in for a quick blast - ct'n bwd to a screamer. Over 300 looks on the cards but then it starts going pear-shaped. Stewart immediately out next - then one by one the rest... Caddick out going for a big hit on the last ball and we have posted 292. 20 short of where we should have been. Will it cost us?

The answer was no as England bowled extremely well and exerted a stranglehold on the Sri Lankans having taken early crucial wickets. No explosive Sri Lankan run-chase and the Aussies get moe and more frustrated as they just don't open up. The run rate just keeps escalating - for a long-time it was over 12 an over. The Aussies are more entertained by the Barmy Army's singing - particularly the "...Are we happy?" song which has a little jig involved. Monday is the finger day ... apparantly. The stadium is a little fuller now but unlike at the game at SCG no massive queues for beer or food or the dunnies, thankfully. Time runs out for the Sri Lankans despite a brief thrash at the end (why leave it so late?). Hooray for England. Must be a relief to the players but there was no wild celebrations.

After the game went across to the Gabba Hotel bar where the Army had collected. Again a crackin atmosphere (helped by a win) and full renditions of the Armys repetoire of songs - I merrily joined in more this time. Aussie contigent tried to sing back - at least had a song or too of their own to sing back. Overheard a couple in the loo saying this atmosphere was brilliant and they had never known anything like it from opposition supporters. The Army are really well liked and appreciated Down Under... I think they feel sorry for us for having to support a team that lets us down so often but we keep cheering. Bit like Tartan Army I suppose.

Back to the Valley via bus (free for those who went to the game- good idea!). Head for the hostel bar- recognise one or two Sunderland fans from the Gabba. Chat away to an ex-pat who came out here 14 years ago. Get peckish so head to the Mall for grub... Maullino's open still (open 24 hrs!) so get a pizza and a glass of vino and watch the late night world go by till fatigue drives me to bed.

I couldn't give a XXXX...

A day of wandering round Brisbane to see the sights was in order I felt and decided to book myself on a tour of the Castlemaine XXXX Brewery - plus BBQ for later on. Went up the City Hall Clock Tower (view rather mucked up by high-rises now!) - wandered to Queens St (main shopping street)- got a cd burnt from the digy camera smartcard (for use hopefully on hostel internet pc so can put some pictures up on this diary webpages . Unfortunantly no RW access to the cd-rom drive so can't ! Sorry!) Sat with pint and then glass of vino watching the world go by in the sun. There's a geezer lazily playing saxaphone just over so a pleasant hour or two. Went to food hall for bit of Japanese grub. wandered next over to the South Bank where there's a bit of sculptured parkland and a man-made small beach in a lagoon. Bought a few odds and ends from market stall and then wandered back to town to make way to Brewery for the Tour. Chatty bus driver drops me off. Says this will be stronger stuff than what I would be used to. I doubt it !

Tour is quite good- best bit was seeing the bottling and packaging bit which was quite fascinating. Back to Brewery social club for the BBQ and as much beer as you want. Obviously not free as you had to pay for the tour. I think I got my money's worth. Take train back to the Valley (Brisbane is very easy to get around) - grab a shower- and then up to the Mall. Ric's Bar has live music again - so go there. Its pretty good stuff - young Australian hip-hop and rap (ok- not my normal stuff but was good live) - band (Gorgonzola) come back on stage and they are pretty good. Chief rapper and MC was this real nerdy looking guy but he was well good and cool at it. Sort of guy who probably got the shite kicked out at him at school but now everyone would think he is dead hip. Hunger drives me over to Mellino's again for a most excellant ravioli in cream sauce- garlic and asparagus in it methinks. Head back to hostel bar which is still open- very lively. Get chatting to folk who are determined to educate me in the delights of Bunderburg rum. I think they are at the tail end of a Xmas nite out. Finally at 3am bar shuts and I am kicked upstairs to bed.

Tomorrow its cheery-bye to a most excellant Brisbane and hello Surfer's Surfers Paradise. Adieu.

Rain in Paradise

Yup... would you adam and eve it... got train down from Brisbane to the Gold Coast got to Surfer's Paradise and it had all gone a bit cloudy... brought the weather with me. It kinda drizzled for a bit so I sat there having my complimentary drink in the British Arms Pub which is next to the Backpackers Hostel of the same name. We're located just beyond the far end of the built-up strip where there is a marina, some falshy boats for sale and a number of fish-restaurants ... odd place to have a backpackers place but who's complaining. There's a right fancy Versace Hotel just round the wharf. Decide to take up the offer of cheap grub on offer to backpackers at the Arms and have Calarmari and chips. It was so-so but cheap I suppose.

Tonight the social do at the Arms is a pub-quiz so I duly take part as there are prizes on offer. One comes in a very respectable second (given I am on my tod) which wins me 2 (!) jugs of beer. The girl who had booked me in at the Hostel and who was helping with the quiz told me to join the hostel staff - my jugs of beer were very welcome as you can imagine. Kept one to myself!! Couple of the guys say they are heading into Surfer's for a bit of an impromptu pub crawl so with nothing better to do I tagged along.

It were a bit of a mental one - went to all sorts of bars some better than overs - so with some quite good music. They obviously know a few fellow travellers-cum-workers and I am quizzed by one guy who is planning to set-up at Ajuna market in Goa, India and wants my opinion on how he would do. There was not a lot I could advise other than to say its right on the tourist trail. Bar followed bar and Club. Go a bit mad with some cocktails.....

Next morning, feeling not in the greatest shape I lay in till 1pm. Its at least sunny now so sleep hang-over off on beach... watch the odd surfer. Its a huge long beach at Paradise... where we are is pretty quiet. Walked the couple of km into the centre and went a wandering round the shops. Had a Ceasar salad at a greek restaurant which was ok. Came across this attraction called Infinity which was very wierd and apparently only one of its kind in world. You walk through corridors and rooms with mirrors that reflect you thousands ot times it seems or through rooms in darkness and lasers or other effects etc that gives it a spaced-out futurist feel with atmospheric music. Very strange but sensory rewarding experience - especially with a hangover!

That night feeling more lively I decide to splash out at one of the nice fish and grill restaurants. Once again go for Moreton Bay Bugs - these are sort of a mix between a crab and a shrimp. It is done in a Mornay sauce and delicious. Starter was an adventurous squid and baby octopus salad. All very tasty in a chewy way. Went to pub and watched tail end of England beating Sri Lanka (hurrah!) on telly and sipped a large OJ. Barman were taking the mick a bit and made me an umbrella out of a beermat for it. Felt up to a Guinness later and then went back to hostel to TV room where they were watching a video of Braveheart. Historical pish and all that- shove your Freedom up yer kilt, M Gibson. Then to bed.

Its Saturday now (I think) and I feel is if I've been away some time - missing Gilly lots. Had a text message from her saying to phone. Thinking that the flat had burnt down or something I phone her on the mobile. It hadn't - just her a bit pished night before wanting to speak to me she explains. Very nice to hear from her anyway. Again its a bit cloudy so decide to do some washing. Then hit the beach when it clears up and then decide to walk the other way along the beach to see whats there. Rather over-did it somewhat. Got back in the darkness - the noise of beasties etc by the road was quite phenomenal. Suppose I needed the exercise as the beer belly is returning. Back in time for more grub ... a nice prosciutto and grilled pumpkin with blue cheese salad starter and then some beef steak. Very nice. Had to rush the beef a little as I had signed up for the hostel pub and club crawl which is a bit of a special event. Coach picks us up and from other backpacker hostels. For 20 dollars you get free entry to the clubs and a free drink in each. Get adopted by this large Kiwi who is with his sister and friend who he has decided is now also his sister. He keeps on calling me the Scotsman all night because I said I live in Edinburgh... I did explain "... but originally from Brighton...". Never mind ... its a good but long night... lots of boogie despite my aching feet from my earlier marathon walk. One of the hostel guys has a car to get some of us back (the 6 of so of us who had mainly stuck together are about the only ones left at the end at 5am... wierd also was that the sun was up and really warm....). However can't fit all 6 in so its me that has to go in the boot. Thankfully only a 10 minute drive. Some of decide to sit on the beach for a bit. Its surprisingly busy at 6am !! A fair few surfers... apparantly the surf is best then. Back to hostel and bed for semi-sleep. I have to be up sharp to check-out and get my bus to the airport so I daren't sleep really. Next stop is Melbourne... ps ... I'll get some photies up soon!