Mordor tour: Brisbane City Day 1

Day 1 Brisbane city

I am counting the day I travel to Brisbane as day one as it seems right to being part of my trip away. It is after all the first leg of my trip and the gateway to catching the plane on the 1^st of November for Wellington. The day was pretty warm and why I was flying from Brisbane was simple. I was going to meet up with some friends Ali and Taz to see the Doug Anthony All Stars or DAAS for short. I have not seen them in person and it seemed simpler to organise my trip around the show.

The morning I was to leave saw me mowing the lawn and sorting out the small things for my trip to the city. I usually flew from the Gold Coast and had only done Brisbane once before and that was a rush when supposedly the flight from Gold Coast to Christchurch had been overbooked. It was the same day that Helen Clarke had been reelected as Prime Minister of New Zealand. I was pretty nervous waiting or mum to pick me up for the drive to Varsity Lakes for the train. I was hoping I had no forgotten anything at all. I don’t think I had when I left. I was again very lucky to get onto a train and it left within 10 mins of boarding when the board said I had 30 mins to wait.

Once at Roma Street I had to walk to the hostel and I was starting to feel the heat as it is summery weather. I did think it could have been 30C plus, but I kept going. I was again lucky to checkin quickly without any hassles and in a 3 bed room with an open window. On the way back to Roma Street station I had a sudden thought while watching a police lady walk into the police station from her car. Her partner was there and I wondered if anyone had ever sat in the passenger seat just so they could enjoy the aircon. That would startle the driver and he might love the explanation before I got a seat in the back. I did have lunch before going to my first stop and that was the museum of course.

The museum had changed its displays around, but the permanent ones were there as usual. The place was full of kids chattering on a Friday in school uniform. I wandered amongst the fossils of beasts of the past thinking that I could pronounce dinosaur names, but had problems with place names like Otorohanga. There was another new display about kids in institutions and what had happened to then along with barbaric treatment. Those were not caring places and were also known as the forgotten generation. Some didn’t thing the sorry didn’t go far enough. There were even reports of vaccination trials that  failed by using kids as guinea pigs. There was plenty more and a little upsetting. The museum is still a nice place and the same old same old as it never really changes other than a travelling display about underwear. I never seen it, but you pay to look.

Southbank had not changed at all, but they are getting ready for the G20 with all sorts of things going on. I soon realised it had gotten pretty hot out and I was planning to walk to the foot bridge next to the maritime museum. The pool was full of people sunbaking and in the water. It was like the beach but in the city. The Marter Hospital had my attention and I nearly walked to the cliffs of kangaroo point, but thought better of it. I walked over the bridge taking my time before heading into the Botanical gardens then off towards the partliament house. Its a nice area and I was feeling out of sorts and knew I had to head home to the hostel very soon. I learnt one thing though I could walk right past Central station to Roma Street station. It was a great walk and near King George park I found an old windmill from the days of the Morton Bay penal colony. I had read about it, but wondered where it was. The Roma Street Parklands had me lost and confused as to how to cross the train lines until I found the walkway. I needed  a shower before heading to the show, but the shower did little good as I had sweat pouring off me.

From Roma Street I trained to Fortitude Valley station that I realised was also called Brunswick street. I have no idea why and the maps say that outside. The train says Fortitude Valley. I was planning to walk to New Farm where the Powerhouse theatre was. The was was pretty long and the sun was going down, which suited me perfectly. I couldn’t believe how long the walk took and I had an hour to wait until I could go in. I sat outside with my tickets and dinner of Subway watching dogs being walked. One dog that didn’t want to go further lay down. The owner rested and then they were off. I was happy to enjoy the breeze and the cool down. Ali and Taz arrived right on time though their taxi did get lost.

The show was excellent and a laugh a minute. There are things that were about social issues and people would be offended if they had heard some of what was said. They were really off the cuff and not as energetic as they were on youtube in their younger days. Still it was funny when they mentioned Prime Minister Doug Anthony being assassinated by Nationalists. A Times reported did report that as truth and never did research. Tracey Grimshaw got a beating and apparently Bronwyn B is a man. The crowd was wild at times and the boys did payout the crowd too. Tim Ferg was doing jokes about being in a wheelchair because of his MS and they were hilarious. Its good to see that he is in good spirits. The show I think went on for more than two and half hours, though we were up high on the balcony where you could be a little sick in the nose bleed seats. After the show we had drinks and I got a shocked bartender who after serving me Steamy ale by Goat mountain asked if I had that beer before. I said no, but I seen goat and had to try it. He asked if I did goats to my roaring laughter. Think he was a little embarrassed. After some drinks the trio headed to a taxi where the grumpy driver didn’t talk other saying no to my question about it being a busy night. I swear the guy was speeding through town, but to beat walking at nearly midnight and getting a ferry might have had problem too.

After seeing the apartment Taz and Ali were staying  in, they escorted me to Roma street though lost in the dark we found Central station instead and I knew where I was even though lost giving a tour guide view of the war memorial area. Sadly I knew it in the dark though I have no idea how I was doing that and was amusing to everyone. There were some drunks around, but was not like being in the city during the day. I took the train from central to Roma and off to the hostel. The room had a sleeper and an open window so not touching the aircon I tried to sleep while sweating away. I had to use a towel to dry off literally. I knew I might be shattered the next day, but all for a good cause and then I can have a decent night sleep in New Zealand. I am looking forward to having dry clothes and not sopping wet from sweat. I do wonder if the people on the plane are thinking there is a smelly bogan that is wafting.