Travel

Travel

Stories

The VORTEX (or, OZ for sale, cheap mate)

To paraphrase Merriam Webster:

a collection of backpackers endowed with a rapid rotary motion around an axis.

The Vortex is the pernicious industry that has grown up, not to cater to backpackers, but to harvest them, slowly, like cutting the bark on a maple tree for the sap to slowly drip into a bucket. It’s not a service so much as it is a processing system, with as much empathy as a meat processing plant.

Sep 12 2004 - 23:00

SWAG

Originally: The pack or bundle containing the belongings of a swagman.A camping ground cover, usually made of canvas. It’s a good alternative to a tent if you like to see the stars. It has a foam rubber mattress on which you put your sleeping bag -- after checking the Swag for anything nasty that can kill you. Once inside you can draw up the two zippers, one on either side, and it encloses you and your sleeping bag. It’s very effective in keeping you extra warm and has a flap to go over your head in really bad conditions.

Jan 17 2008 - 00:00

We are not in Kansas any more, the Rocks, Sydney, Australia

It rained for most of the first day and a half after my arrival so it might have contributed to my first impression that Sydney is a little “London down under” with a slight Southern Californian spin, like, umm, you know? People were friendly enough and very helpful.

It was here that I first noticed a fascinating trait. If you ask an Australian a question that they don’t happen to know the answer, they will happily make something up. Just to be helpful of course, and to get you on your way.

Jul 30 2004 - 23:00

Cruisin Yangtze River and time to go

Yangtze River Cruise Ship Another overnight train brought us to Yichang, for our Yangtze River Cruise. Let’s face it; not exactly the stuff of adventure, but as per Denis, if you want cruise on the Yangtze, and go through the locks, it’s the only option.

Jul 3 2004 - 23:00

Santiago, Chile

Like many South American cities, Santiago is noisy, but unlike many cities in South America there is no undercurrent of threat. A nice lady on the bus, showed me pictures of her kids, explained where to go, and even drew a map for me. We passed lots of couples hugging and kissing in the parks on the drive to the hotel in Santiago. Not unusual in itself, but these were not teenagers, several were middle aged couples.

Nov 28 2004 - 00:00

OZ, Over and Out

It was in Cairnes that I actually became “aware” of the [[Vortex]]. Although I had been in it since Alice Springs. Up till now it was only an uneasy feeling in the back of my mind. Here it became real.

I arrived at 06:00, and went straight to the Caravelle 149 backpacker’s hotel, where my room was not ready. I waited till 10:30, got grief because the amount I prepaid was A$5 too little, and then on getting to the room found it was not what I’d paid anyway. With a straight face the guy at the reception explained, “mate”, that this is normal for Backpackers.

Mar 12 2007 - 00:00

Oh La La, the girls

There are so many pretty girls in Paris; at one point last night I thought my head was going to snap off. After dinner, a friend and I went to Place Mouffetard, near to where he’d gone to school.

Oct 31 2007 - 00:00

Kunming, Xi'on and the Terracotta Warriors

We never got the chance to get bored on the overnight train from Beijing to Xi'on: a steady stream of people, usually school age, wanting to practice English, or simply curious, kept us occupied.

We traveled “Hard Sleeper” class, but it’s not as hard as it sounds. The sleepers are padded and clean, grouped in packs of six, just like in European trains. The difference is that they are not closed off so people walk past your bunk, but traffic is low during the night.

Jul 30 2004 - 23:00

Beijing Sightseeing, Day 2

The first day I puttered around Beijing on my own. The Metro system is safe, clean fast and easy enough to figure out: there are only two lines. I started at the Lama (Yonghe Lamasery) Temple, built 1694, and then just went up a side street to the Temple of Confucius built in 1302 (with additions during the Ming and Qing dynasties). Since it was raining I had it pretty much to myself.

Nov 28 2004 - 00:00

Litchfield, Kakado and Around Darwin

To be a guide in any of the national parks you have to undergo proper training. Early the next day we met Nile and he was both a professional and a good guy. Litchfield is full of sacred sites, lots of nice swimming holes with waterfalls like from a Bounty commercial. (Side note: it’s hard to breath behind a waterfall)

Sep 27 2004 - 23:00