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New Year is over so time to start thinking about regional work, saving money etc...
Decided to give Kings Creek Station a call again after speaking with them last year to see if they had any work going. I knew it was a long way away but thought the change of scenery would be nice. Turned out they did have a job and said I could head up the following week. Good timing as my job in Haematology was due to end and me & Lianne were moving out of the flat the same weekend due to bugs.
Flight booked to Alice Springs & Kings Creek were organising my bus from Alice to them. Really looking forward to seeing Alice, read up on it in the Lonely Planet, althought it does say not to walk about by yourself at night-time. Everyone told me that it would be full of Aboriginal people too.
My dancing pal from back home Jacqui was touring Oz for a few weeks also in January so was great to catch up with her and hear about where and what she had been up to.
Saturday January 16th I flew up to Alice Springs. The heat hit me straight away and was shocked at how small the airport was. They only had 1 baggage reclaim and it was tiny. Got a free bus shuttle to my hostel. Unfortunately my excitement for Alice was long gone when I took a walk into the town (20 mins from the hostel). Decided there and then that I would not be venturing out at night for a drink. Finally found Bojangles Saloon that my pal Abby recommended but was a bit quiet during the day. And like everyone said there was Aboriginals everywhere - unfortunately for me the only ones I had pictured in my head were like the ones from 'Crocodile Dundee' dancing about with paint on them. Boy was I in for a shock. Drunk, lying on the streets, shouting at each other - yeah they're friendly alright (NOT).. The next day I was up early and got picked up from Alice Lodge Resort for my 6 hour bus journey to Kings Creek. Luckily there was an english lad Ian who was also heading there to work so I had someone to talk to. We stopped off at a couple of stations along the way which gave me a bit on an insight as to what was ahead. We finally made it to the station at 12.30pm on Sunday and got introduced to everyone who were lovely. The couple that owned the station were the Conways and the mans grand-mother was aboriginal so they had a good bond with the local aboriginal people and even set up a trust to put some of the aboriginal kids into school down in Adelaide.
Monday was my 1st day at work in the station shop/kitchen/cafe and they dont me that id be working in both the shop and helping in the kitchen. Not that I cant cook but im certainly no Jamie Oliver. Luckily for me it was just sandwiches, burgers etc.. The job itself was ok & everyone was great but unfortunately I realised very quickly that I am not an outback kind of girl. I did enjoy my short time there but it was not my kind of thing. The girls I was living with were lovely though and did cheer me up when I was done. Tanya from Germany who is such a country girl and loved the place and Chika my lovely japanese friend who I shall be meeting up with before she goes home to Japan. The outback certainly is a beautiful place but think I would've enjoyed it more had I been just travelling through and not actually living there. Yes I am a city girl & the no phone signal & limited internet did get to me a bit. But it was an experience and one I certainly don't regret doing and I even tried some camel meat myself, although I didnt go as far as to try the kangaroo!! Maybe another time.
So after a short time I was headed back to Alice to make my way to the city again. I did plan on heading to Melbourne 1st before coming back to Sydney but unfortunately with the Australian Open being held there it was not possible at the time but I will be heading there very soon. So it was back to Sydney and normality for me for a bit anyway before I head off again.
Australia Day (26th January) was not a big event for me as I was travelling but I heard it was a fab day in Sydney by all accounts.
So for now im gonna work hard, save money & head to Melbourne to start my next adventure.. But plenty more to happen before then!!!!
Ciao for now.. XXX
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