Posts Tagged With: A town like Alice

Its Raining in Alice Springs

My bus driver told me that he lived in Alice Springs for 10 years and for 7 of those years, there was no rain.  I am here for 5 days and it’s raining cats and dogs. We’ve just had the most dramatic thunder storm.  Now I am excited because we will cross the River Todd on the way to the airport this morning and it might have flowing water for the first time in 18 months. Outside my window, everything looks so fresh. Its funny how your perception of rain changes away from home.

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My fantasy of flying being just like hopping on a bus, came true today.  I was supposed to fly from Alice Springs to Brisbane and take the coach to Hervey Bay.  Instead, when I checked in at Alice Springs Airport, I was handed two boarding passes and my luggage was automatically checked through to Hervey Bay.  Hopefully the airport is close to the ferry port and my luggage makes it all the way.  I am due to catch the ferry this evening to Liann’s favourite place, Fraser Island.

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There was a bit of confusion over my travel arrangements today.   All’s well that ends well. I arrived on Fraser Island 3 hours ahead of schedule.  It is beautiful but more on that tomorrow.

Ann x

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Day 22: A Town Like Alice

This morning’s tour was to the Western McDonnell mountain range, where we enjoyed walks at Simpson’s Gap and Standley Chasm. The tour finished with a picnic lunch and a cup of bush tea. These are lovely spots and perfect photo opportunities. It was a very pleasant morning.

Then in the afternoon, I finally made it to Alice Springs. We had a wonderful guide, John, who brought us on a captivating tour of the town itself, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the School of the Air (remote schooling for children living in the outback), the site of the original Alice Springs and the old telegraph office. Alice Springs is a fascinating place. The history of this little town in the middle of nowhere and the early innovations (e.g. the telegraph service and the Flying Doctor Service), make Alice a really interesting place to visit.

The first thing that strikes on arriving in Alice is the presence of large numbers of Aboriginal people, approximately 25% of the population of 28,000. They live uneasily side by side with the Australians. Having spent a day in Alice, listening and observing, I believe that the Australians are genuine in their efforts to solve this problem. It is a problem and I am not sure how you can ever integrate two such different cultures.

Ann x

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