Finally leaving Adelaide this morning heading to the hot centre and then upwards to Tennant Creek 1000Kms south of Darwin. Will then have to find a lift from there or maybe from Alice Springs. Going with a Kiwi guy who has been here for 2.5 years. Only me and him as his car is too small which is pretty scary. I've told people that, when he turns up, if his car looks like it can fit more people in, I am going back to bed ha ha.
Had a brilliant time here in Adelaide and met lots of cool people. Get on really well with the staff here and go out with them occasionally. Went to P J O'Briens last Thursday as they do cheap vodka for the ladies on a Thursday. $3 at 10pm, $2 at 11pm and $1 (40 pence) at midnight. Then it goes back up to $6 at 1am. And that's with the mixer.
Oh, and you have to know some ladies so they can get the drinks for you. I was getting Tanya, one of the members of staff at the hostel, to get mine. Quite funny as we all had loads of vodkas lined up in front of us at one point. I got her to order a vodka and tomato, vodka and pineapple and vodka and lemonade for me for the killer price of $3 (1 pound 20p). Got a bit merry and then went onto
the snakebites.
Met this cool Ozzie guy, Cameron, who used to be in my room. He moved out to live in a house but we still would meet up. Went to 'Kava Hutt' with him on Saturday night. Basically, Kava is a Polynesian drink sold in places like Fiji, Vanuatu, Malaysia etc and is a powder ground down from a root. It's mixed with water and you drink it. The place has to import the stuff from Vanuatu 3 times a year.
Anyway, there were different strengths of this stuff (Regular $3, Supa $4, Ultra $6) each one higher being twice as strong as the one before. Had a Supa which is served in half a coconut shell. Looks like grey mucky water. Tastes like grey mucky water and cement. Had slices of oranges to bite into if the taste was too gross but I coped. Mind you, it's best to stir it before drinking it as the concentrated sediment tastes vile.
Had a bucket, which is basically about 10 half coconuts between us. Strange stuff, I tell you! Felt like you are drunk in terms of your body, but your head is completely clear. It's supposed to be a great tonic for your liver and kidneys and made everything go a bit numb. Heard about the place from someone before but couldn't find it as they are not allowed to advertise for some reason and it is totally legal. Weird! Anyway, listened to some people there playing bongos and guitar and left at 2am. After being in such a quiet chilled out alcohol free bar, the streets outside were manic. Loads of drunk loud people! Wanted to go somewhere afterwards but couldn't handle all the people so had to go back to the hostel.
Went to the Nude Olympics with Cameron yesterday. Sounded quite amusing from the poster but after taking 90 mins to drive there south of Adelaide it was pretty bizarre. I thought it was going to be a big thing with proper events but....nope it wasn't. Had to sit down and have a couple of beers to cope with all the naked (mainly) old people surrounding us before going to watch an event....balloon throwing. The teams throw a water filled balloon to their partner who throws it back. They then take a step away from each other and throw again. If the balloon pops you are out. Thrilling! Needless to say, we didn't
stay until the end but long enough to get a nice purple tan. The beach was gorgeous though and miles better than Glenelg which is the most popular beach near Adelaide. Maslan beach if anyone is interested but the best half of it is a nude beach.
Feel a bit sad to leave especially after meeting such nice people. Most of them are leaving soon though.
Hopefully will make it to Coober Pedy tonight and will stay in a hostel underground. I've been told a way to find opals as the sun goes down so may have a go at that. Tomorrow night, want to get to Uluru for sunset and then hopefully Alice Springs on Wednesday which is Australia Day. Big celebrations there. Then on to Tennant Creek on Thurday or Friday.
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