PART 4 (Alice Springs to Adelaide, 6 days)
To conclude the previous story -
it could've ended with less angst, but I'm not sorry.
Left a 20 and a note for the guy with the beat up car -
he might burn it but more likely spend it chasing girls in a bar.
On to King's Canyon to walk on the rim,
the French lady obviously hasn't spent time at the gym -
although she almost didn't make it to the top,
she wasn't the one who made us all stop.
That was when another lady had a fainting spell
apparently because it's hot as hell.
Then we're all rained out at Uluru -
the European passengers are crying boohoohoo!
It's just like back in Germany (or Denmark) at this time
and we wouldn't even have had to spend a dime!
And while rivelets of water were coming down the Red Rock,
flowing pools led to the road to Kata Tjuta being blocked.
Then on to Flinders' Ranges and Warren Gorge to find rock wallabies and kangaroos
Along the way, the loud English girl got pictures of roadkill too!
But I say animals shouldn't be roadkill -
delinquents in Quorn more fit the bill.
They harrassed me at the playground
and then followed me like hounds.
Sometimes you wish you were taller with more strength and might,
so bullies wouldn't try attacking you in broad daylight.
But other times it's words that wrench,
like when the English and Germans laugh at the finicky French.
They'd be perfect as banshees at a zoo -
no doubt if you weren't there they'd laugh at you too.
PART 5 (Adelaide, 1 day)
The group had dinner last night at a Malaysian restaurant. I am not sure why I went. Prob'ly because I was asked and it seemed awkward to say no. They spend half the time slagging off the trio referred to as the "Frenchies", who obviously declined the dinner invite. They seem to have a particular dislike for the French woman, who is unfortunately pudgy ("massive" is the word of choice) and unfit. She also has a queenly attitude, with her smaller sized (and younger) husband waiting on her hand and foot. The couple is travelling with the husband's old school friend, which is odd for a honeymoon. The three of them tote huge cameras and have apparently snapped "millions" of pictures over the 6 days.
I'd been sharing a room with the trio and a pair of Danish sisters for two nights back in Quorn. They'd complained about having to help prepare food, wash dishes, share rooms with strangers, go on tough hikes and see Uluru in the rain. Claimed they didn't know it was part of the tour (perhaps the word "adventure" is too foreign), and that A$900 is too much to pay for such a tour. Perhaps one good thing that might have come out of this is that one of the single Danish sister seems to have developed an interest in the single French guy. Unfortunately, he didn't seem that interested in her.
At the resto, I order a "curry laksa". Minus points for the pieces of chicken breast and squid. A German orders Gado Gado, but asks for oyster sauce to replace the peanut sauce. Later, she asks for soya sauce too. Kind of a massacre there.
It's s'posed to be warm here, but the wind is a killer. Hoping to buy a jacket or something, but the op shops in town are all closed on Sunday. Luckily I know Glenelg, which, being a seaside spot, is bustling on a Sunday - volleyball competition on the beach and the like. Hurrah! A cardigan for just A$9, a pair of jeans for A$20 and two tops for A$20! Admittedly, a cardigan doesn't do much against a wind like this.
A group of teenagers are crowded around the middle section of the tram back to the city. Made it look like the entire tram is crowded, but it turns out there are even free seats in other sections of the tram. Later, the conductor comes along and herds them to my section of the tram, and one of them exclaims, There's lots of space here! I wonder if they are idiots, since they don't appear to be blind.
Did I already mention the Australian landscape is stunning? The kind of stunning that makes you wish you could paint. I'd gladly do another road trip. But prob'ly minus the tour group.
