When we awakened, Rob went down to the front desk to see if we could extend our stay for an hour before we walked to the hotel.
Rob came back to tell me that the train staff were waiting downstairs to give us a ride to the hotel.
OK then. Always expect surprises. We didn’t know, but we hustled around and went to the lobby. Then we waited for about a half hour for the ride to show up despite many phone calls. This process seemed very inefficient as the two staff waited with us, and they had a list of two hundred of people to rally together.
Crossing the street in Darwin is painfully slow. They let every direction of automobiles go separately as it includes turns. Then all pedestrians go in all directions. One would think that this is a good idea, but there is hardly any automobile traffic. All of the pedestrians were hot but didn’t budge until the light indicated that it was allowed. One couldn’t be sure who had the green light.
“NT Time” means that everything here is super chill. I mean SUPER chill. I am in dire need of a haircut. Yesterday, the sign at the hair cutter indicated that it opened at 9:00. I checked several times until 10:00 and still no one.
I was successful today. When I told him about yesterday, he said that he is the only one here, and it was his day off. Hmm. I would have thought that he would have posted a sign.
Upon further discussion about his business hours, he said that all posted hours are only a guideline because if it is really hot, no one is going out anyway so no one will need goods or services. Hmm. Interesting. Bad weather keeps people away in the USA, but here it is heat.
Kesh cut my hair. There are no published prices. He just sized up my hair and my pocketbook and offered a price. We agreed. He said shampooing is extra. I wanted a shampoo. He gave me a great head massage so it was well worth it.
Tesh is from Sri Lanka and has lived in Darwin for 10 months. He is on a skills visa. This means he has to use his skills in the Northern Territory for two years, and then he can become a citizen and move to anywhere in Australia.
I went with a short haircut as we are headed to the even hotter outback. Hopefully this will be my last haircut before returning home.
One Uber driver said that he had some tradesmen at his house who said that they would be back on Wednesday. But you are never sure which Wednesday.
I really think that entrepreneurs could have some serious impact on the life and economy of the Top End.
We walked home along the waterfront. Here is a masked plover. The yellow flap under his beak blows in the wind.
Rob is sitting on a park bench. They are protected from blowing away with a bolted structure and a tree growing through it. They must get some amazing wind here.
We were told that since Cyclone Tracy had hit in 1974, building codes are very strict. In fact, you have to get a permit that outlines installation in order to buy a shed.
I was impressed with an Australian Bicentennial Commemoration called 200 Remarkable Territorians. These individual tiles highlight people and families who considered themselves “Territorians” and who distinguished themselves in fields of endeavour which do not normally attract public acclaim.
The unwritten history of the quiet achiever or public figure, famous or infamous, the 200 are representative of the vitality and strength which characterises the Northern Territory.
These people were regular people who came and lived in this harsh environment. It was a salute to everyday people who are the backbone of a community. Every community should have one of these!!
Our hotel had a swimming pool just outside the restaurant.
As we swam, we saw the many future train travelers dining at the restaurant. The staff was very busy busing tables and getting everyone in and out. We came down later hoping that things had died down a bit but it was still busy. I am sure that breakfast will be equally chaotic.
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