Sue Tordoff

Around the World



Part 5 - AUSTRALIA

11.3.07
The Hilton International, Brisbane , Australia is the smartest I think we’ve ever stayed in, a business hotel so we have a glass desk and leather revolving chair in our contemporary room. The rooms are set round a massive central well, there must be 30 floors. On the inside wall are glass lifts which are only accessible with a pass key. Good security.

It’s my ambition, sad I know, to watch Neighbours on Australian TV, but when we eventually find which channel it’s on, it’s showing at 6.30pm here, when we’ll be out eating or exploring. I have to settle for walking round a few shopping streets [it's a hard life] until it’s time for dinner, which we eat in one of the many street cafes. I think you could eat any kind of food you choose here. For our first night in Australia ahead of going to Singapore, I have Singapore Noodles. Well, I bet you can’t get them in Singapore , it’s probably another of those invented dishes like Chop Souey.

The room is like a fridge when we go in, they keep the air conditioning so very cold. I switch it off, but each time house keeping comes to the room, they turn it on again. We sleep under duvets, even though we arrive on the hottest day of the year, 38 degrees.

12.3.07
Slept 11 hours last night, still signs of fatigue with aching joints etc. Done pretty well so far, don’t want to blow it now. Had a strange dream about buying a Scottish property involving the name Islebeck. Decide to google it when I get home in case it’s a premonition.

It’s too hot to do much. We settle on a river cruise, but the starting point is changed from our side of the river to the other side, a walk of maybe 20 minutes with absolutely no shade. Our wet clothes cling to us by the time we arrive at the little jetty. Turns out to be worth it, the Brisbane river is quite a sight.

All the development we see has taken place in the last 20-30 years, and it is stunning. Huge glittering high rise blocks in the commercial part, with the odd older building such as the customs house and old wool stores. As we go round great loops in the river, the development changes to homes, mostly very attractive. No one is allowed to build right down to the river to give the public access to the riverside, so there are walkways and parks everywhere. Some grand houses were obviously built before this rule came in, and the walkway is built in the river like a long pontoon, in front of their houses. I bet those rich folk were not best pleased at that solution. Many houses have their own pontoons and jetties, boats tied up there. It’s all peaceful looking and quite unexpectedly lovely.

We’re on the south bank again when we finish the trip, and as part of the new development contains dozens of eateries, we stay there for lunch. We buy fresh fruit salad with icecream topping and carrot cake, plus water, and sit on the grass in the shade to eat it. We are soon surrounded by ibis. They are too wary to actually share our picnic, but it’s nice having them around.

Intended walking back, but almost too hot and humid to breathe. Harvey wants to see the Botanical Gardens, so he wanders off on his own and I take a taxi back to the hotel. The cost is $6. I have $4 something in change and a $50 note. The driver refuses to give me change, saying it would take all he’d got for the afternoon. I didn’t have the gumption to say well it’s either give me change or take the $4, and the doorman at the hotel who had come to open the car door for me kindly takes the note and gets it changed in the hotel café. Since ATM’s give out only $50 dollar notes, I would have thought the taxi driver was used to it, but I am annoyed with myself for not thinking quickly enough and for being a wimp.

Harvey comes back with his shirt wringing wet. We lounge and read in the cool of our room until dinner time. Apparently the temperature has dropped when we emerge, but not so you’d notice. Harvey wants a steak, so we find another street café, the Pig ‘n’ Whistle, which do it and I have the innocuous sounding lemon chicken risotto – this is so garlicky I smell all next day too. Won’t be sorry to leave this temperature. Next stop Singapore – and Raffles!















Old Customs House


Old wool store, now apartments


the old and the new


new homes with pontoons


Commercial centre


Brisbane Park, sharing our picnic

















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