the world, and my visit to Perth
I haven't known what to write about the stupidly uneccessary delays in delivering aid to Burma, and the impotent frustration that is tangible in the global media. The natural disaster is amplified and worsened by politics, in a situation far beyond political posturing. Simon Jenkins on the Guardian newpaper website wrote this, which I think is well said.
And now the tragedy in China has overshadowed Burma, and given all the pollies an opporutnity to divert attention.
Which, strangely enough, reminds me... when was the last time we heard about Tibet on the news? Not since the torch relay passed. Fickle media.
Perth was fantastic once I finally got there. Mum has been living in Perth for a month on work - she's training in document management software. Dad was meant to go visit - the company was going to pay for him to go - but he fucked his back, and although its getting better he and Mum decided it was better for him to rest and be well for Europe in a couple of months. So I got the free trip over to visit her! And for Mother's Day weekend as well. I also was born in Perth but haven't bene there since I was 3 (except for a weekend when I was 5). So nice to visit and attach memories to a place I'm connected to.
So, flight from Brisbane to Perth is meant to take about 5 hours. There is a 2 hour time difference (Perth is behind). We were delayed half an hour leaving Bris, so left at 7.45pm Thursday - meant to land in Perth at 11.20pm local time (1.20Bris) . 40 minutes out of Perth the pilot came on the PA to inform us that sea fog had rolled across Perth and we couldn't land, and we were going to Adelaide (flight time... 2 hours). At 2.30 local time (3am Bris time) we landed in Adelaide. I am now over 2 hours late arriving in Perth and Mum has gone on the net to find out where my plane is which informs her it is 'cancelled'. Her first thought is 'do they say cancelled if its crashed?', so she calls Virgin (the airline) and they tell her its diverted. No one informs peole waiting at Perth airport, and so the company driver who is meant to pick me up waited till 1am Perth time.
Anyways. So they are obviously hoping there is a standby crew in Perth, as our crew will have exceeded their flight hours if they fly back to Perth straight away. After waiting half an hour we are told we are being put on available flights back to Perth in the morning, and that our names will be called. They give us a bottle of water. 3 hours of waiting..... some peopl are put in hotels and on flights out of Adelaide direct on Friday afternoon. The pushy people walk up and demand seats. I of course don't, and so end up on shittier flights than the obnoxious ones (*cue life-is-unfair-if-you-follow-the-rules-rant*). At 5.30 am local time (6am Bris) I haven't slept, and everyone left is called up to stand in a line while we are found seats. I get a 6am local time flight to Melbourne (others went to Sydney for connections), which got me in at 8am local time (same timezone as Bris). Because I had to run from the gate we were sitting at to my boarding plane in Adelaide I didn't get given the two $6 food vouchers. Arrive in Melb, absolutely exhausted. Have a five hour wait for my plane. Dad calls, I've spoken to Mum and she's told him what is happening. He tells me I should go to the Virgin Lounge and ask to use it for free, so I can shower and lie down. Seems resonable yes? So I go and explain I've been up all night, blah blah. And the guy behind the desk gets someone from customer service to come down and talk to me. He gives me my vouchers, after writing '2 VOUCHERS" at the top of my boarding pass - they clearly seemed to think I was trying to scam them for another lousy $12 . Seriously? I'm so hungry and tired I'm about to cry, I'm not scamming anyone -. Can't use the lounge, have to pay $35. As if I'm giving them more money! Hadn't eaten anything but the museli bar in my bag since lunch on Thursday (Virgin is a cheaper airline, so the food costs on the plane... and I was just oging to eat a late snack when I got into Perth). Buy a stupidly expensive bacon and egg roll and a BIG coffee. Sit at our gate for 3 1/2 hours reading a trashy magazine. Get on a plane at 1pm Friday (Melb/Bris time). Uneventful flight to Perth. Arrive 3.15pm Friday local time (5.15pm Bris).
23 hours since I left my house to fly to Perth.
I had been awake for 31 hours.
Dad is helping me write a complaint... I know weather is out of their control. But the way they dealt with us, and treated us lik we were at fault... totally not acceptable. There was a woman with a really young baby too, who was on the same flights as me. Can you imagine? I think if they'd let me (and the others) in to the Lounge for free.. that would have gone a long way to compensating... we definately would have thought kinder of them.
Anyways. Mum and I did have a wonderful time. Perhaps not as party-ful as it could have been - I was going to take her out for a couple of drinks, but we were so buggered.
We did go visit Freemantle, which is the port for Perth. Saw a photographic exhibition by a Magnum Group photographer of post-conflict moments - really raw beautifully tragic and painful, but full of a strange hope and humanity.
We ate delicious fish and yummy chips. I broke my camera by getting sand in it( hopefully should still be under warrenty). And walked around the Freo markets.
Had a rest getting back, and then went up to King's Park above Perth for sunset. Its a huge park, they've set aside acres of land for it... a small part (overlooking perth city) is landscape, but much is native bush with walking trails. Its wiki page is here if you scroll down you can see some photos.
We did take some photos before the camera died, and Mum's phone has a decent camera., so we have some. That I may put up if I need further procrastination.
SUnday we caught up with family friends who live north of Perth, who drove us past my first home, and around the place. It was very cool to go back and see it all again. I don't remember it as we left when I was about 3.
Lots of good chats with Mum. I do enjoy spending time with her, and I'd missed our weekly breakfasts since she'd been onver there. She's back in two weeks, so that'll be good.
Flight home was just under 4 hours. No additional tours of the States' capital cities. Left at 11.30pm (Perth time) on Sunday, and arrive d home 5.30am Monday (Bris). Couple of hours sleep, and spent Monday writing my application for the graduate program for Prime Minister and Cabinet Dept.
I hope other people had a lovely weekend. Congrats to Ellie for finishing all her exams!!
Much love