It was all going so well. I had made it to three island countries in the Pacific: Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau. All of them were interesting in their own way, if a bit small.
OK, small isn’t the word: they were tiny. There is literally one road in Majuru, the capital of the Marshall Islands. Someone wrote me and said they had spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer. What did I think of it? I said it was nice enough, but would have been a long two years for me.
After that I had a side trip to Uzbekistan, which greatly exceeded expectations. I went for a long run and wandered, feeling like my old traveling self.
Then I flew on to Brisbane, Australia—a major country I’d never made it to for some reason. Yep, I’m well over 150 countries now, but had never been Down Under. I had hoped to do a book tour in Oz this year, but it’s been pushed into 2012.
At any rate, my visit to Brisbane was only transit—I was going on to Nauru—so because Australia is such a special place, I wasn’t going to count such a short stop as a country visit. The plan was to put it off until I could appreciate it properly, the theory being that I’ll count a short stop in Micronesia as a country visit, but not one in the great Australia.
Until, that is, I got stuck.
After a fun day trip in the city (I actually played the role of tourist for once), I pulled up to the counter of “Our Airline” in BNE airport. Yes, the airline is actually called Our Airline—it’s on the shortlist for “most random airline name” in the world.
I was glad that everything had gone so well on this trip. Four new countries! Getting so many at one time is tough for me these days, with less than thirty to go. And now I’d be going to my fifth, and a difficult one at that.
Most people haven’t heard much about Nauru. You can get the gist of it here—in short, it’s the world’s smallest island that is also a country. About 7,000 people live there, and as I soon discovered, less than ten people visit on the average week.
I said hello to the friendly Our Airline representative.
“Do you have any baggage?” she asked.
Of course not. I might travel with vodka in 3-ounce bottles on occasion, but I’d never, ever check a bag.
“And where is your visa for Nauru?”
Uh…. my visa?
That’s when I realized I had a BIG problem. A visa for Nauru? No visa, no boarding pass? You’re kidding.
Oh, I guess you’re not. Wow.
Of course this was all my fault, but I had at least dutifully checked with my visa service before leaving on the trip. You can see what they said about tourist visas and Nauru in this screenshot:
“Visa not required… but actually it is.”
Of course, VisaHQ is not the judge of who actually gets to visit the country. For that, I met the consulate at the airport, who was working an adjacent check-in counter. Yes, it appears that Nauru’s high representative to Australia (and therefore the world, since they don’t seem to have any other embassies) works the night shift at Brisbane airport. This makes for a good story, but didn’t help much with my visa—she was busy arranging oversized baggage and said that immigration questions could only be handled at her day job. What to do next?
I immediately began thinking of alternatives. What else could I do? Where else could I go? I knew I’d need to get online to figure things out as quickly as possible. It was almost the next day and I had no plane ticket, no hotel, and no plan.
On Australia and the Internet
At this point it would be good to mention an interesting fact about Australia. I’ve long been obsessed with visiting Oz, and there are many great things about the country. One challenge for the modern traveler, however, is that for all practical purposes, the internet has not actually arrived in Australia yet.
I had been warned of this fact by fellow travelers, as well as numerous Australians who have traveled abroad and experienced the wonders of easily accessible WiFi, only to return home to the dark ages. (Presumably they pop over to New Zealand to read their email.)
This fact is relevant because Brisbane airport is quite spiffy and modern, but seemingly has no WiFi of any kind in the landside area. I was directed instead to an “internet cafe” where I could attempt to sort myself out. The “internet cafe” consisted of an old desktop computer sitting in the middle of a food court (seriously) where users insert coins in $6 increments (not making this up) to pay for some sort of ancient connection that allows for a single browser tab at a time. I had seen a setup like this once before, about ten years ago, somewhere in rural Africa. I felt like I was in a museum: “Kids, this is what the internet used to be like before you were born.”
Conceptual model of Brisbane internet cafe — slightly exaggerated
Anyway, I was stuck—at 11pm with nowhere to be except the world’s smallest island country, which wasn’t able to welcome me due to my lack of a visa. My coinage at the vintage Internet cafe (“the world’s best 1994 internet service”) had expired, and there was… nothing… I… could… do.
In situations like these I try to take a mental step back and think about possibilities. Sometimes you can fight out the visa argument with the airline staff and win. Had I been better prepared, I have little doubt I could have got on that flight. My first mistake was not further researching the visa situation, but the second one was not having a good story at check-in. A good story goes a long way, but looking dumbfounded usually doesn’t.
I eventually made it back to my transit hotel in Brisbane, where I was actually able to get online and explore options. I ordered a drink right before the bar closed at midnight and considered various ideas. Vanuatu… wouldn’t work. Solomon Islands… the flights were all sold out.
Kiribati and Tuvalu, the final remaining countries in the region, were too far and also had limited flight schedules. (I’m going there in January, and will now need to see about adding on Nauru.)
Accepting defeat, my next thought was to pack it in early and return home. I was booked for four days later on a Qantas award ticket out of Melbourne, so I called American Airlines to see about changing the date… no luck. Everything was filled up.
Then I thought of a novel idea: hey, maybe I could be a real traveler instead of a country-collector. Whoa. What an idea. Let’s visit Sydney!
Impromptu Visit to the World’s Greatest City
I thought about renting a car and driving down the coast, and if I was with someone or had more time, I might have done so. But I found a budget flight for $145 and hopped on down. And let me tell you… I had a magical visit to Sydney.
I went to the Opera House and was appropriately awed at the view.
I went on a three-hour tour and actually stayed for two hours of it, a record for me. I heard jokes about Australian convicts and New Zealand sheep-lovers. I learned about boomerangs.
I ran in the Botanic Gardens.
I drank Americanos and lattes during the day (translation guide: these are known as long blacks and flat whites in the local language) and merlot and cabernet sauvignon at night (no translation required).
I wandered and wandered. In short, I had FUN. People ask if I “have fun” when I travel, and I always find this a bizarre question. Fun? Travel is not always about fun; sometimes it’s about self-discovery, challenge, and connection with others.
But in Sydney, I did in fact have fun, and I wanted to stay longer. Now I see what all the fuss was about. Australia is still working on the internet, but they do coffee, wine, and wandering as well as anywhere.
I’m not sure why I never made it before, but I hope to come back… often. Sign me up, Australia. I wish I could have made it to Nauru, but I’m grateful for the detour.
***
Question for anyone who is actually still reading:
Have you ever been on an unexpected detour? What happened, and where did you go?
###
Image: LGM
October 3, 2011
Maria
Whilst travelling through Europe for a year we seldom planned any more than a day ahead and so consequently on the advice of locals had great experiences away from the tourist trail.
And when we returned to Maryborough just north of Brisbane (gee, wish we had known you were here Chris – would have gladly put you up!) we lamented the poor internet connections and the constant rip-offs by suppliers – and yearned for the great service we had all the way through Europe – yep, even in Slovakia and Poland!
October 3, 2011
Karen Talavera
My favorite stuck story is from Japan. Husband, 12-yr. old daughter and I miscalculated the train times from downtown Tokyo to the airport (for those who haven’t been Tokyo’s airport is actually in Narita, Japan, about 90 min. away) and arrived about half an hour too late to check-in for our flight back to the US. This was summer 2009 a few days after a couple of 5 and 6-level earthquakes hit near Tokyo. We came to the airline counter prepared – due to highway closures from the quakes (true) our shuttle bus (lie) to the airport had to take lengthy detours (big lie) and we were late. Knowing how the Japanese hate to be at fault and must save face, it worked – they rebooked us no charge the next day on the same flight and gave us a hotel voucher for the night.
We decided it best not to risk a return trip back into Tokyo but to stay in the small town of Narita (only 15 min. from the airport) and in a traditional ryokan at that. We slept on Tatami mats on the floor and the phone in the room was a rotary dial jobber circa 1955. (The bathroom thank god had been modernized). Despite the “rustic” accommodations,we enjoyed a fantastic dinner in Narita the night before we finally left Japan, but the real unexpected bonus was spending the entire morning and early afternoon strolling through the town on foot, visiting the temple, witnessing a traditional prayer ceremony – twice, and enjoying the extensive shrine and gardens. It was one of the most beautiful and moving experiences of the entire trip and the thing I always remember best about Japan along with Mt. Fuji.
October 3, 2011
Patrick Hedges
A quick unexpected side trip to Angola from Namibia. The river is the border and on the Namibian side, nothing was happening, but on the Angolan side, thousands of people were washing their clothes and themselves and generally having a party. I asked why? Namibia has facilities so everyone does their washing at home. The civil war in Angola has left them with almost nothing so they use the river, and their irrepressible nature means a party is the result.
October 3, 2011
Bronwyn Mitchell
Ahhh!! I can’t believe you were just in Brisbane! I’m sorry you had such a lousy internet experience (yes, it is pretty rubbish for travellers unfortunately), but if we can ever tempt you back here I’d love to meet up and show you around more than just the city centre. I moved from Melbourne exactly two years ago today and I love it here. Although Melbourne is a great city too. Don’t let Sydney steal all the glory.
I actually was thinking a couple of weeks ago that I should email and say “Hey Chris, earlier in the year you were talking about coming to Australia in October – what’s the plan?” Had I done so you would have at least had a contact here. So for future reference, you have at least one Brisbane fan – and I know of others who follow your blog too. If you include our fair city as a stop on your book tour next year, there’s a great little independent bookshop in the leafy inner-city suburb of Paddington that would make a great place for a gathering. I’d happy approach them for you and help spread the word about your visit. I have a pretty wide network here through an awesome organisation I used to work for, which is full of remarkable young people doing inspiring things who would always be up for meeting fellow remarkable people like yourself. Hope you keep it in mind!
Cheers,
Bron
October 3, 2011
Karen Talavera
Congrats on finally getting Down Under! Isn’t Oz magical? Australia is my favorite country in the world, and I say that as a natural-born American citizen and lifelong resident of the US.
Sometimes in your quest to reach your goal I feel it’s as I just read in Paulo Coelho’s new novel “Aleph” (p. 12): “What you’re doing now isn’t traveling, it’s just changing countries, which is completely different.” After reading this post, it feels like you’re really exploring again, not just racking up frequent flier miles. I hope you continue to tap into the mystery of the journey.
Next time in Oz, don’t miss the Koala bears – you can hold one at the Sydney zoo. They are softer than silk.
October 3, 2011
Ryan Victoria
What I’d like to share is not about travelling. In fact, I’m renovating my house right now. The unpleasant detour that I encountered is when it was time to buy paint color. I researched using magazines and the Internet, for over four weeks on what color to put into the walls. However, when the actual paint was mixed and applied to the walls, I did not like it. So I had to be more spontaneous about the way the paint was mixed. In the end, I chose the “experiment” color and I was happier that way.
My lesson: detours will definitely come. Just find the positive in it.
October 3, 2011
Tristan
Glad you made it down here Chris, even if it was short-lived and plagued by Wifi. They’re supposedly introducing the National Broadband Network (NBN) soon, which will no doubt make the wifi shoot up to not 6, but 8 dollars per hour
In the cities, there’s Wi-fi everywhere: but they’re all locked, and those that aren’t will charge you like a wounded bull to use them. Woohoo!
A few years ago I did a trip to Spain and had no intention of going to San Sebastian – when some friends invited me there, it turned out being one of my favourite cities in all of Europe, and I stayed for more than a week. Love side trips.
October 3, 2011
Andy
I’ve lived in Australia for 6 years, and can completely understand your internet dilemma. Funny thing is, most locals actually think that it’s good, mainly because they’ve never really travelled to any countries with a good internet infrastructure (a week in Bali doesn’t count, fellow Aussies!).
The internet’s due to be up and running sometime around 2020, but I hope that doesn’t put you off your trip next year, internet aside the country & wildlife is stunning.
October 3, 2011
Jeremy
Flying back from Cancun to TLV via Atlanta & Milan, I missed my last connection and had 12 hours to burn.
I rented a car and drove north to the hills. Spent all day having fun driving on remote twisty roads, stopping off for an espresso in small hilltop villages, pizza and cheap wine by the lake, chanced on a local meet of Fiat 500 owners, and a village market elsewhere. A great day.
In Morocco once in a rented jeep we took too long on a trail (because all the organized tours did the trail in the opposite direction) and it was dark when we got out and too late to drive to town. We stayed at a tiny village just in time to see the local soccer team return victorious from a game – a big local party ensued.
After finding that unplanned glitches usually result in fun experiences, I started planning those glitches in advance.
The previous summer we drove from home in NL to Spain, and planned one night stopover at the halfway point in the middle of France.
A couple of weeks before leaving, we said why not add a few more days at that place in the middle of France, without doing any homework on the location. So we did, and enjoyed 4 days discovering a little known area of France.
October 3, 2011
themolesworthdiarist
Chris, finally you’ve seen sense! Yes you definitely need to come back to Australia and spend longer than a few days next time! Even though we are one country it is a huge land mass with everything from desert to rainforest to fantastic beaches… and if you want a city buzz, Sydney and Melbourne are good in different ways. And take time to visit Tasmania (my adopted home) which has some of the best wilderness walks in the world.
October 3, 2011
treacy mize
Hi Chris. I haven’t traveled as extensively as most, but the last time I was in Kauai I was scheduled to meet with a local photographer (which I do when I travel – I always find another photographer and exchange ideas/inspiration) and learn some of his techniques for shooting waves. I was really looking forward to spending time with my obsession: turquoise water and sunshine. But, of course, on that day it rained. I was incredibly disappointed and was very close to canceling. I had a bad attitude. But I decided to go anyway. At least there would be good discussion. We drove and drove, trying to outrun the deluge, but couldn’t. In my despair of not being able to see the color in the water, I turned it around and decided to look for the beauty in the grey and it was amazing what illuminated. Once my perspective changed and I started to look for something different than what I had originally set out to find, the opportunities were endless and I got some amazing shots. We ended up on some beaches that we would have not otherwise gone to. I ended up with some very moody photos that had tons of emotion that I wouldn’t have even looked for before. It’s all in perspective.
October 3, 2011
Josh Eflin
I was in Nijmegen, Netherlands, couch surfing with my best friend. We went to the train station to get tickets for the sleeper train to Prague, to make it in time for the Prague quadrennial (a Theatre festival that happens every 4 years). Our hosts father had just gotten incredibly mad at us, and we found out the train was booked. We couldn’t call them back and ask to stay for another day because the father was so angry (I got yelled at in Dutch on the phone), and we HAD to be in Prague by morning to see an Opera we wanted to see. We were terrified but we got on the train anyway. It started moving as soon as we decided that it was a bad choice, so we were stuck, but going the right direction, only without a ticket. IT turned out we were allowed to stay on the train until we arrived in Berlin, and from there we could just catch another. On this detour we met two guys from Finland who were in the same situation, and happened to be Theatre lovers unaware of the Quadrennial. We told them about it, and made friends with them for our 4 days in Prague. Definitely taught me the lesson of leap first, then net appears.
October 3, 2011
Jason Dudley
It’s so good to hear that you finally made it to Australia – even if it was only a short visit.
I also had no idea that you were so crazy about Australia. Makes me very proud of my country.
Definitely looking forward to any future visits and can assure you that I will be at any book tour you hold Down Under.
October 3, 2011
Elaine Masters
Love your story about Australia. I spent 4 days there (another story) and look forward to returning.
HOW THE KALASHNIKOVS GOT THERE:
On board a Russian Aeroflot flight to Sri Lanka (quite awhile ago), we’d left from London with a plane change in St. Petersberg. Having packed for a tropical clime, it was no fun transferring planes by bus to the terminal in icy weather, but we survived and toasted to adventure with a sip of vodka and a tiny taste of caviar, just to say we did, before getting back on our way.
Hours later we woke as we were landing in Karachi, Pakistan. It was unscheduled. As we taxied to the gate, I started taking pictures of the jeeps with machine guns mounted on the back. My partner swept my arm away from the window: “Do you want to get us shot?!” We waited. Within two hours were back on our way again. The flight from London to Columbo, Sri Lanka took us roughly 24 hours.
Stepping away from the plane we walked through heat waves floating up from the tarmac. It was a shock but so blessed good to touch land again. The rest of the trip unfolded without such odd surprises. This was before the Tamil revolution & I’d go back in a heartbeat.
October 3, 2011
Tom Sawyer
Chris! Glad you enjoyed your taste of Australia – there is plenty more to see!
In this new world of TripAdvisor, it seems like everyone has seen there, done that and there are hundreds of reviews. One of the great things about the unexpected detour is the surprise!
When we were almost ready to start our Simpson Desert crossing in Central Australia, we had an unavoidable crash on a blind corner. Fortunately no one from either vehicle was hurt but there was no way the Landcruiser would make the trip and so we were forced to make a massive detour to get it fixed. Unexpected sites, staying with locals while the car got fixed etc. were some of the greatest experiences of the trip!
As someone who likes to plan for all contingencies, the unexpected detour is a little frightening – but almost always turns out to be rewarding.
October 3, 2011
Geoff Hetherington
Hi Chris – a past ‘Emperor’ here – Tas an Aussie I have to tell you that you feel foul of a couple of idiosyncratic ‘down under’ realities.
1) My old home town of Brisbane is much better than it was but ius still classified by most Aussies as a large country town. It’s airport authority is definately stuck in the 70′s interms of services etc. 2) The internet providers in this country have gotten away with high fees and near duopolistic behaviour for years. Wi Fi is readily available In Brisbane ( & all other airports) but you usually have to sign up for a short term membership with either Telstra or Optus – usually at high rates!! Once signed on it is usually great service…
Glad you liked Sydney – when are coming back – there is heaps more to see…
October 3, 2011
Peter
I was hitchhiking from Denmark to Majorca, Spain with my girlfriend. When we hit the border to Spain we spent a day trying to get a ride before finally giving up and taking the train the rest of the way to Barcelona, where we were going to catch the ferry. Somewhere in the middle of the trip I got up to go to have a beer in the bar, which was several cars down from where we were sitting. When I finished my beer and went to return to my girlfriend I opened the door at the end of the Bar car and saw nothing but track. They had disconnected the cars from the train at the last stop and I had no way of getting in touch with my friend. So, for about an hour I sat in the bar and wondered what to do. Luckily, for a reason I still don’t understand, the cars were reconnected miles down the track and I casually walked back to my girlfriend who promptly asked what took you so long!
October 3, 2011
Matthew
I just kept on reading. But there are two serious points. Nauru is more difficult to visit because it is used for Australia’s political prisoners (otherwise know as asylum seekers who have landed without visa on Australian soil). So just as well you got a visa in arrival in Australia, Chris.
Secondly, Australian tourism needs to get up do date and install free Wi-Fi. I have been on the beach in Lombok and in a boat on the Mekong at Luang Prabang, Laos and I have been able to connect to the internet. But when I go home to Sydney I may as well bring my carrier pigeons!
Thanks Chris – I am sending your blogspot to the head of the Australian Tourism Commission.
October 3, 2011
moom
Yeah the internet at the airports sucks – in Sydney you need to be a Telstra or Optus customer to use it – Adelaide has been the best I’ve seen. And hotels charge huge fees for internet usage. Of course, you can get free wifi in the Qantas lounge if you have access and people have 3G modems plugged into their laptops. iPhones and iPads are also very popular.
October 3, 2011
claire
chris, you could have had a really untouristy, city collection by staying those days in brisbane. hardly anyone from anywhere else stays in brisbane except as a stop-over to somewhere more exotic [to my knowledge, and for my sins i've lived in brisbane for 23 years]. there are some really nice things to see and do in brisbane and south-east queensland.
and, yeah, the internet sucks. it’s way worse than in even in bolivia, the poorest country in south america.
October 3, 2011
Tim
For AONC people coming to Oz: the internet here isn’t that bad. We have probably one of the next terrestrial cellular networks in the world (Telstra). Prices are coming down. Yes they’re still high, this is a hangover from a time when Telstra was (and still is to an extent) the monopoly public telco.
You need to remember that you are talking about a landmass populated by 22 mil people, predominantly located on the Eastern Seaboard but dispersed across a huge area, in an area the size of Western Europe. It’s not like running fibre to trillions of high rise buildings in South Korea.
I am currently getting 10Mbps on Telstra 3G, and it’ll be a lot higher when their 4G/LTE network is switched on (about now I think).
HOWEVER: when you get here, head straight into an Optus, Telstra, Virgin or Voda store and get a prepaid SIM (readily available). Telstra has some great prepaid data plans available – happy to share links if needed.*
I’m pretty obsessed by this stuff as I travel a lot for one of my online biz’s and need prepaid 3G in Europe. Honestly, compared to trying to get prepaid 3G in Spain or France, Aus is MILES ahead.
*(No, I don’t work for Telstra).
October 3, 2011
Lincoln
Great story Chris. Check out Perth and Melbourne next time – if you liked Sydney you’ll love these two great cities.
October 3, 2011
Christy
Awesome, glad you enjoyed Syndey! It’s a priority on my list too, but I haven’t been yet either.
As for travel detours:
Yes! My favorite detour ever took me to the place I’d dreamt about visiting, but hadn’t yet made it for some reason…? ROME! I’d visited more than 40 countries by then and for some reason Rome had never worked out. It’s been my favorite place since the sixth grade.
So while visiting a friend in Scotland our trip to Ireland was cancelled last minute due to her conflicting work schedule. I hopped online and booked a flight to Rome the next morning. I spent two nights/two days exploring my favorite place on earth. Since then I’ve been back three times and can’t wait to tour Italy, top to bottom next year.
October 3, 2011
Amber
After two weeks of sailing around the Carribean islands on the affectionately dubbed Winnebago of the Sea, we tried to get home. We failed somewhere around Kingston.
So we had an unplanned night in Kingston, Jamaica. After climbing over four foot tall cement barriers, presumably because no one had ever tried to leave the Kingston Hilton on foot before, we roamed a park, where one kid yelled, “LOOK! WHITE PEOPLE!” with his finger pointed straight at us. Because we were the only white people anywhere.
Then we decided to go for a nice night stroll through downtown Kingston, something I wouldn’t really recommend if you’re a white chick in a sundress and sparkly flip flops. I’ve walked home through Harlem and San Francisco’s Tenderloin at night and never felt uneasy. I was uneasy as hell on a night ramble through Kingston. I finally turned to my boyfriend and put my sparkly flip flop shod foot down and said we were going back. Back we went, past the random hustlers, over the cement barriers, and back into the Hilton. Where I gave myself a Harry Potter scar with the bathroom door handle.
I have weirdly fond memories of Kingston.
October 3, 2011
Claire
Ah Chris – you finally made to Australia – well done!
As a born and bred Sydneysider who has done quite a bit of international travel I am always both relieved and frustrated when I return to the homeland.
Our resource industry is booming but everything else crawls along at a pace probably reflective of a nation of only 22 million people.
Our government is working towards a national broadband network, but by the time it’s completed (probably circa 2025 at this rate) we will probably be driving cars through the sky ala Back to the Future.
Yep, Australia. Take a step back in time.
October 4, 2011
Sila
Heya Chris!
I agree with Tim, Aussie internet is way ahead of where I’m from – Indonesia. Fast broadband at home and Uni. I don’t think I’ve had a problem with the connection. Tho, I had never tried to connect to the net at Brissy airport so I didn’t know they don’t have wifi.
Anyway, I lived there for 2 years as a student back in 2005-2006 and I had a great time. Oh, that’s an understatement – it was the BEST 2 years of my life.
You should definitely plan a second visit to Aussie and don’t forget to put Melbourne on your list.
October 4, 2011
brisbane
so why didn’t you stay in brisbane and then go to melbourne. not so sure about the airport not having wireless connection but the computer connection you describe in brisbane is not of the wang generation and i should know that as wang was what our computer was when i worked for the state government in brisbane and it in no way looked like that.
sydney is expensive, fast and crowded and there are plenty of things you could have done while here in brisbane.
October 4, 2011
Pascal
Glad to see you made it to Brisbane and Australia, but next time you have to tell us! I first commented out your facebook post saying that I could see my office from your picture but wait… I think this wasn’t exactly your picture since few buildings are missing from reality (i.e Meriton)!
It’s funny to read about the Internet part. At the moment I’m writing these lines, I’m struggling to get a page loaded and get an email sent. I’m here since almost a year now and… modern Internet is definitely something that hasn’t really reached Australia yet (read: slow, unstable,…). Free Wifi is as rare and vodafone is to avoid at all cost (mobile broadband is terrible).
But apart from this, I believe Australia is great, weather is close to perfect and lifestyle is pretty good, laid back.
Looking forward for your return in 2012.
October 4, 2011
marissa
I don’t think I’ve ever had an unexpected detour, unless you count the every-day ‘interruptions’ I have. I have a control issue and I plan out almost every aspect of my day so any deviation from that is an inconvenience, a detour of sorts.
I’ve just started reading your newsletter. I think I’ve hit a wonderful ‘detour’ and I hope I can go unexpected places with myself as I continue to check-in to your site. Thank you for all of your wonderful research, traveling, and insights.
October 4, 2011
Michelle
Yes, we have a difficult time here in Oz…having to travel to NZ to access our email is a real PITA
I’m sending this comment by carrier pidgeon from Adelaide..if I don’t hear back from the pidgeon, I’ll send up a smoke signal, so hopefully you’ll get this message in due course.
Glad you enjoyed your trip here – I lived in Sydney for many years, and remember the joys of the Harbour, Botanic Gardens and area around Circular Quay.
Of course, Adelaide closes at 5pm, unlike Sydney at midnight
October 4, 2011
Abigail Rogers
How fun! I hope that whenever I begin my traveling I will be able to make the best of bad situations like this. It’s the spirit of a real adventurer when one takes missteps in stride and turns them into a different dance.
October 8, 2011
Niel Malan
Yes! I saw Amsterdam on a kind of a detour. I was stuck at AMS after missing the morning commuter flight to Düsseldorf, having to wait for the afternoon one. (This on the first day of my two-day world tour, mind you.) On advice of the ground staff, I took the train to Amsterdam, and spent the day there. A good thing, after all: I’ve never been to Amsterdam since.
October 8, 2011
Creatrix Tiara
Aw man I missed you!
Brisbane Airport sucks, and I *live* in Brisbane. There is WiFi but you have to pay through the nose to get it, and the trains stop long before many flights (as do the eateries). Sydney does have free ubiquitous wifi, not sure why one of the commentors above says otherwise. And so does Gold Coast airport woo XD
I don’t think I’ve ever detoured anywhere – having been on a Bangladesh passport where you need a visa to *anywhere* I didn’t really have any opportunity to take a travel risk. I had to plan my visits. But now that I have a Malaysian passport I am freer to explore!
October 10, 2011
Paula
I have to agree with Tim and Jen. Make time for Melbourne when you next visit Australia. Only a true Melbournian will be able to explain to you the difference between a latte and a flat white!
October 10, 2011
Wendy
Hi Chris, sorry your first impression of Aust was pretty average, yes our internet is crap, but McDonalds always have free wifi if you can find one around!
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