Monday, February 23, 2004
Jackaroo and the XXXX Brewery
Well hello again,
Well I have covered some miles and seen some amazing things since my last email, so It's about time I put some of it down for you.
Firstly as promised I went the the Australia Zoo, home of Steve Irwin, and as expected he was nowhere to be seen, There were plenty of Steve alikes giving talks and feeding the crocks, but dissapointlingly none of them were carrying 3 month old babys whilst doing this.
Most notable is the fact that Steve Irwin is considered a bit of an embarassment by most Australians, who having taken pains to build the image of sophistication in a highly civilised and cultured country over the past two hundred years. Have been slightly undermined by a guy who has let the cat out of the bag that everyone here is living in an Indiana Jones Movie! Foreigners used to come to look at the Opera House, now they want to see Steve wrestling his infants from a giant croc. Anyway, all things considered Australia Zoo is still a fantastic day out, and the sight of an eight foot croc jumping almost clear out of the water to snap at a piece of chicken is pretty impressive, and it's not just Crocs, there are Tazzie Devils, Kangaroos, Koalas, Snakes, Spiders, Cassowrys and heaps of other dangerious Australians, and thats just in the Car Park.
I also took time out to tour the most famous symbol of Queensland, the XXXX brewery, and after watching all the little stubbies and cans spinning down the conveyors being filled and labled and packaged and pasturised at the rate of about 20 a second, you really develop a healthy thirst, then off to a cinema with a giant screen for 15 minutes of the XXXX signature tune (I feel a XXXX coming on), close up images of glistening bottles of cold beer being enjoyed by beuatiful people. I went down to the bar to taste the complimentary samples with a zombie like gaze. I can safely say that the four beers allowed as part of the tour were the best I had ever tasted, and due to a stroke of luck in that Renaye knew the sister of the Girl who gave the tour, we enjoyed the subsequent four free beers not normally allowed as part of the tour even more......I can't remember much after that.
Yes That's me!
For those of you that are jelous, you should not that it is pretty hot here, over the last few weeks they have broken numerious records like hottest minimum temperature at night (27 degrees) hottest day in 80 years, highest humidity etc. Yesterday I am told it peaked at 41 degrees (thats 106f for you oldies and americans) and feels like opening an oven door. I am told in this heat it is not uncommon for car windscreens to explode! I have also seen unlit candles melt of their own accord!
Later today I will catch a bus that will take 10 hours to reach a town called Augathella, pretty much half way to Alice Springs - from there I will be picked up for the hour or so drive to the cattle station I am to call home for the next few weeks. I have allready borrowed some jeans, brought some Blundstone riding boots and a cowboy hat so I will look the part, Untill the horse I am on starts to move at which point I will look like an IT guy from London. Still if all else fails I am told they are having problems with their computer! (oh and they don't have air con, and it is even hotter out there! - no wonder they have computer problems)
I'm off to buy a net for my head (to keep the flies out of my mouth)...and I'm not joking...
Wish me luck
Eric
Updated Pictures Here :-
http://groups.msn.com/kumuka/ericseigthalbum.msnw
¶ 1:19 pm
Well I have covered some miles and seen some amazing things since my last email, so It's about time I put some of it down for you.
Firstly as promised I went the the Australia Zoo, home of Steve Irwin, and as expected he was nowhere to be seen, There were plenty of Steve alikes giving talks and feeding the crocks, but dissapointlingly none of them were carrying 3 month old babys whilst doing this.
Most notable is the fact that Steve Irwin is considered a bit of an embarassment by most Australians, who having taken pains to build the image of sophistication in a highly civilised and cultured country over the past two hundred years. Have been slightly undermined by a guy who has let the cat out of the bag that everyone here is living in an Indiana Jones Movie! Foreigners used to come to look at the Opera House, now they want to see Steve wrestling his infants from a giant croc. Anyway, all things considered Australia Zoo is still a fantastic day out, and the sight of an eight foot croc jumping almost clear out of the water to snap at a piece of chicken is pretty impressive, and it's not just Crocs, there are Tazzie Devils, Kangaroos, Koalas, Snakes, Spiders, Cassowrys and heaps of other dangerious Australians, and thats just in the Car Park.
I also took time out to tour the most famous symbol of Queensland, the XXXX brewery, and after watching all the little stubbies and cans spinning down the conveyors being filled and labled and packaged and pasturised at the rate of about 20 a second, you really develop a healthy thirst, then off to a cinema with a giant screen for 15 minutes of the XXXX signature tune (I feel a XXXX coming on), close up images of glistening bottles of cold beer being enjoyed by beuatiful people. I went down to the bar to taste the complimentary samples with a zombie like gaze. I can safely say that the four beers allowed as part of the tour were the best I had ever tasted, and due to a stroke of luck in that Renaye knew the sister of the Girl who gave the tour, we enjoyed the subsequent four free beers not normally allowed as part of the tour even more......I can't remember much after that.
Yes That's me!
For those of you that are jelous, you should not that it is pretty hot here, over the last few weeks they have broken numerious records like hottest minimum temperature at night (27 degrees) hottest day in 80 years, highest humidity etc. Yesterday I am told it peaked at 41 degrees (thats 106f for you oldies and americans) and feels like opening an oven door. I am told in this heat it is not uncommon for car windscreens to explode! I have also seen unlit candles melt of their own accord!
Later today I will catch a bus that will take 10 hours to reach a town called Augathella, pretty much half way to Alice Springs - from there I will be picked up for the hour or so drive to the cattle station I am to call home for the next few weeks. I have allready borrowed some jeans, brought some Blundstone riding boots and a cowboy hat so I will look the part, Untill the horse I am on starts to move at which point I will look like an IT guy from London. Still if all else fails I am told they are having problems with their computer! (oh and they don't have air con, and it is even hotter out there! - no wonder they have computer problems)
I'm off to buy a net for my head (to keep the flies out of my mouth)...and I'm not joking...
Wish me luck
Eric
Updated Pictures Here :-
http://groups.msn.com/kumuka/ericseigthalbum.msnw
¶ 1:19 pm
