trains in sydney vrs melbourne
Combination of writer’s block and blogger’s bug led me to finish this old draft.
This past Novemeber I was able to go up to Sydney and chill with a friend from way back and celebrate her 21st. This gave me the opportunity to ride on various forms of transport (I only needed to work in flying, a boat and a motorcycle/cycle to have covered everything)
I traveled on foot, on a few Melbourne trains, on a Greyhound bus, on a couple of Sydney trains, a Sydney bus and in a ’79 Kingswood ute.
I have been commuting on Melbourne trains for almost two years now, and have only ridden Sydney trains a couple of times, so my comment isn’t 100% qualified, but this is my experience and opinion.
The thing I love about Sydney trains is that they are are double-decker. The doors lead on to a middle height floor, then you can go up or down. I was never crowded on the trains in Sydney, because there is lots of room. The seats are really comfy too.
Melbourne trains have mostly comfortable seats, but can be a bit cramped, especially in peak hour. Both kinds of trains are spacious, just the Melbourne ones are smaller, being only one storey.
Melbourne trains are privatized, Sydney trains are run by the NSW State Government. I don’t know which makes it run better, as both have had problems. I have been on both kinds of train when they have lost power, which isn’t helpful if you are trying to get to an exam (Melbourne) or to catch a bus (Sydney). However in Melbourne if the trains are delayed, the State Government fines Connex, the company that runs the trains and stations.
Both places have replacement buses when there is track-work. I don’t know if it was because I was unfamiliar, but the way the tracks connected up was confusing, and due to a change in the way things were organized, I ended up being sent to lots of different stations trying to find where I was supposed to go. However, I’ve theorized that a ring around Melbourne’s star-topology rail network would allow easier train travel (which is far superior to a bus in traffic) to more destinations.
The stations didn’t seem much different, except for slightly deeper tracks in Sydney to accommodate the double-decker trains. The big stations are a little crazy, the little ones still functional.
Ticketing in Sydney is insane. you buy a ticket to your destination, paying a different rate for each. In Melbourne, I feel that the better system has been reached of zones and time limits, where you can get a 2-hour/daily/weekly/monthly/half-yearly/yearly ticket for either or both of the zones, and that ticket can be used on any of the public transport (trains, trams, buses), you can get off and on as often as you want, for as long as you ticket is valid.
As always, a perfect blend is what I want- better trains on Melbourne’s better network, and a non-confusing outer rail loop.
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the big V makes us sad- and hungry
The Visa Debit Cards are no longer working in Bolivian ATMs. This is an issue for the ~100 people I know here who get their money for living from the ATM with- you guessed it, a visa card. The cards don’t work- this isn’t hearsay- it has been tested by reputable people.
This hasn’t been in the news, nor has it turned up any relevant google results. Has anyone else had any issues?
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yes, there is a reason
Ever thought that the mobile phone regulations for aeroplanes are a bit silly, or worse, been on a plane with someone else who does? For all those out there in the “they-just-want-to-zap-our-fun” brigade, yes, there is sense behind the requests for passengers to switch off their mobile phones.
From [the age] : Captain aborts take-off over mobile phones. The pilot noticed interference with the navigation systems, and aborted the take-off at the last minute. Police were called in, and the offending passengers, identified by cabin staff, were arrested. They face punishment of 3 months in jail if convicted.
We don’t need to be reminded about how dangerous planes are when they are near the ground (see this recent near-tragedy [the BBC]), so it makes sense that if the pilot saw interference with his important-to-fly-the-plane-safely gadgets, switching off phones during take off and landing can’t be a bad idea.
It might even save lives.
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hay gas?
This isn’t a post about new bio-fuels- no, “hay gas” (aye gas) is a Spanish phrase that means: “Is there gas?”*
At the moment, it is an important question here in Bolivia. We don’t live in the centre of town, and we don’t have natural gas piped to us. Instead, we have over-sized barbeque canisters called “garafas”. We hook these up to our hot-water heater (which is on the wall outside our kitchen) and stove. We go through maybe one for our hot water every 10 days.
We are on our last two garafas (our neighbours only have one left) because the place where we would buy new gas bottles from has been closed. In fact, there seems to be a bit of a gas shortage.
We’ll be ok though- shorter showers to save the hot water, and there are electric-heater showers on the compound that we live on. We also still have a microwave, electric frying pan and can borrow a crock pot, so we’ll be able to eat hot food too.
Just another Bolivian adventure!
* Interestingly, “hay gas” as a statement, not a question, means “There is gas” (for sale, usually)
COMMENTS
dear apple:
Dear Apple:
Thank you for showing us new products to drool over. The new Macbook Air looks cool, very clever getting a thinner height by curving the edges, but I won’t be buying one as it doesn’t really meet my needs/budget.
I will be buying one of those new timecapsule things- wireless printing and backup is something that is seriously groovy, and the price is good. I really like the size of it- a short square.
Now, Apple, I make it no secret that I will be in the market for a laptop in late 2008. I really like the look of the Macbook, the black one in particular. However, a few requests: Please add the backlit keyboard to this model, just like the Macbook Pro and Air. This feature cannot be that expensive, and it is a silly thing to keep “exclusive” for the non-plain Macbooks. Also, I would like that awesome IPhone like trackpad included.
My other big gripe, is how you rip off the Australians, Apple. ( This isn’t new.) When I look at the prices, even with the Student discount, it is still cheaper to buy in the US, at full price! The Australian dollar is at about 90 cents to the dollar at the moment (and has been for at least a month or two) so the $1,499.00 top of the line Macbook in the USA should cost $1692.00 AUD. In reality, you can buy one for $ 2,199.00 AUD. That’s a 507 AUD (449 USD) difference, I could buy a timecapsule with that. Or 7 textbooks.
So Apple, please bring out a new macbook with the backlit keyboard, new trackpad and at a more reasonable price for the Australian market.
Hope you’re keeping well.
love, titanium
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vintage sesame travel
Early Sesame Street was green! In these two youtube clips, they talk about the bus and the subway! I take the train and bus when I’m commuting to my university (where some of my friends look like the blue character in the bus video) so I think they are all the funnier for being relevant! Enjoy.
At the Bus Stop
The Subway
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show me my images already!
I have recently shifted continents and computers, so little things that I had set up on my other computer aren’t here, and it annoys me a little.
One such issue was that Finder wasn’t showing me image previews for the icon of the image- just the “jpeg” icon. The fix, found in the comments of this askdavetaylor.com entry:
The easy way is to use the Finder’s folder preferences.
Open the folder with the photos in the Finder.
Bring up the folder preferences. (command-J).
Turn on “Show Icon Preview”, either for all folders or for this folder only (your choice).
—
No need to mess with a graphics application.
Posted by: Jo Wenner at April 17, 2006 9:17 PM
Much better. This method lets you organize your photos at a glance, instead of opening each individual photo to see what it is.
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traveler’s journal part 3
Finally I’ve gotten around to typing up the last section of my travel journey- almost a month after it happened!
Asunción 1am 3 December
Well, second last airport this trip. There are actually a lot of people around for this time of night.
I like little planes. As I walked out of the tube and on to the tarmac in Argentina, I laughed as I saw our little Fokker 100 next to a giant double-decker Luftansa jumbo. The seats on the Fokker 100 were in a 2-3 configuration- no middle bank of seats. Comfy simple seats that went back a ways, trays simple again, didn’t pull out like the Aerolineas ones, but not as presumptuous as the Emirates ones.
Dinner was good, though I almost slept through it! I woke up just in time to enjoy the lasagne (except for the herbs that looked and felt like grass) and oh how so yummy, coffee custard/jelly on a pancake base. MMM! I saved the bread and crackers- I’ll eat them for breakfast- we’ll seee how early that is! I’m wide awake now- a good and not good thing- I should try and sleep, but hmm. Currently I’m sitting outside TAM’s check in desks waiting for them to open so I can get rid of this suitcase- it’s not heavy, but just an annoyance. (Especially when there are no lifts/escalators and the departures is the floor above the arrivals!) I changed 9 AR pesos into Paraguayan Guaranis- “nueve pesos?” the guy asked incredulously. “Si” I said. The funny thing is that the guaranis are in thousands- I got a 10,000 note and three thousand and fifty in coins- 1 thousand coins and a 50 coin. An ice-cream is 4,5000 guarani (for reference.)
So, the coins I’ve collected- 3 1 thousand guarani, a 50 guarani, 50 AR centavos, 2 one dollar Aussie coins, a 20 cent, a 10 cent, and two 5 cents (all Aussie.) I also had a 5 cent coin, a Bolivian 10 centavo, a nickel and a penny (USA) kicking around from previous trips.
It’s now 1:30. Sigh- the time is dragging on!
Asunción 6am 3 December
Still in Paraguay.
I’ve bought a coffee- a cafe con leche that can’t decide whether it is a cappuccino or a flat white. I’m also eating the poor squashed roll from last night’s tea.
When I arrived there were lots of people- I had to climb up stairs with my case to the departures floor- the escalators are under construction. Then I found a bank of seats to sit on, and I managed to lie down and sleep. I got one, maybe two hours before it was 3:30 and lots of people stated to arrive for the 5:45 and 6am flight check in. I awoke to the click clack of heels and of wheels over the corrugated floor as the TAM check in staff arrived. I sat up and lots of people sat next to me, and I ended up in a Paraguayan family’s group photo- right in the middle looking like death warmed up probably. I went and tried to find a quiet spot- sitting on my case leaning against the wall, probably entertaining the guys at the secure/safe wrap places. The two shops are right next to each other – one wraps your case in about a mile of glad wrap, the other wraps in a thicker plastic then puts the case into what looks like a tanning bed to cook it to (supposed) coke bottle thickness.
(note to self: another reason tanning beds are dodgy- you get coke bottle skin… 
)
Then a nice guy told me there where benches free- so I sat there for a bit. I was just about the only passenger in the airport now- except for a guy asleep in the cafe.
The ipod was great- I would tell myself I wasn’t allowed to move before a (long) album was over, and I managed to rest some.
I saw and older man walk up to the TAM check in and weigh himself- it made me laugh and a guy at another TAM check in desk saw me and laughed too.
I then went to the disabled stall in the toilets- it is the only one big enough for me and my suitcase, and had a little cloth-wash and changed into fresh clothes- it feels so good! My feet reek though– that will only be fixed with a good soaping.
Now I’m supposedly more awake, or maybe it’s because of the sun come up (gorgeous sun rise) I don’t feel the air con as much, but I was freezing last night. I had on my red comfy pants from the long flight and put on my brown ‘serious’ trousers over the top and zipped the collar of my jumper right up. The seats are nice and comfy, and I have managed some sleep and rest. I’m getting more and more excited as I think about the big surprise! I was listening to a ‘Riverdance’ track which made me think of it and I couldn’t help but break out in a big smile!
I saw the TAM staff, having to move a wheel chair, give one of them a lift in it! It’s a young and funky crew, and they started at 3:30!
At the moment I’m trying to decide whether a packet of crackers and a mini tub of queso untable is enough to supplement the roll and coffee, but my body wants an evening meal and I’m sure I’ve missed a meal in there somewhere!
One thing I’m not used to is the true bilingual-ness, Guarani is used lots and I don’t understand! Then again the English on the TAM flight was unintelligible too!
Sigh, almost 7. A few more hours and I’ll be able to check in this suitcase (actually handy as a seat and foot rest, alternatively, and it sits nicely tall or flat. )
Oh yeah- just about everyone has a ‘mate’ bombilla cup- don’t blame them at stupid-o’clock.
Paraguay 10:30 am 3 dec
I’m now not in Paraguay, but no where else either- I’m in transit. This was a dumb idea to come in this early. There is not much here, and no phoning facilities. I could have stayed a good hour later and done some phoning. Oh well, there are seats here and it’s not freezing. TAM had air-con AND fans! I can see why after being in the non-cooled bathrooms, but boy! A happy medium would be good.
I’ve found out that Bolivia is an hour behind Paraguay.
There is music! Here in transit there is a lone harpist, but out in the arrivals part, there were 2 guitarists and a harpist- because of the sun glasses and bright coloured collared shirts, they looked a bit like Elvis impersonators- well two of them did. They were in a little alcove for an ATM, and kept going when someone had to use it- they just let her in behind them.
While the western airports are liquid crazed, I didn’t see any of that here in South America. However, there were big no sharps or knives signs- unlike in Auckland and Melbourne!
Every other person seems to be toting a mate hit- a big thermos of hot water and the cup and straw kit, a bit like this: All leather and plastic, so I didn’t buy one, (I don’t drink lots of mate either!)
I see Santa’s daughter- red dress with a white “fur” trim with a Santa hat, and a black belt with the big Santa-buckle.
I’m getting nervous about the surprise.
Mmmm more coffee- the slightly evil short macchiato. Of course, my idea of a short mac is not the same as this- witha mountain of froth in a mini mug, not a shot glass. And the basket on the coffee machine is one straight down nozzle, not the upside down ‘U’ pourers- but then I’m getting snooty. Coffee snob! There, I’ve said it.
I saw this morning a lady arrive to work on the back of a motorbike.
Mmmm, this coffee is just an excuse to sit in a comfy leather couch. Yeah, coffee is evil.
Hopefully I’ll be buzzed enough to last out the evening- maybe. I suspect I’ll conk out on the plane though.
The water and biscuits take the edge off the coffee- evil black fluid and froth. ugh- grainy!
I’m starting to feel the jet lag! Ugh.
Woah Zone. Zoned… Zoned…
That makes two coffees today, about 4 hours apart. I don’t have the right time, I’m getting nervous. There is no way I’ll miss the flight though.
Post Script
Yes, I caught the plane, but didn’t write down anything when I got to Cochabamba, as I was too busy seeing people I hadn’t seen in 2 years. On the flight to Cochabamba I slept again- almost from take off, as did the guy next to me. (On the flight to Asunción I had the two seats to myself.) Food was good. One funny thing happened on the arrival- the flight hostess said: “Welcome to Cordoba” after murmurs and giggles around the plane, she corrected her self with an embarrassed smile- “Cochabamba!” It was great walking off the plane in the sunshine, and I waved to the viewing deck, though I don’t think anyone was up there for me. I waited a while for my case- it took a while since they just offload the Cochabamba people and their luggage while the Santa Cruz people wait on the plane. (So of course they have to make sure they sort out the luggage properly!) Overall though TAM is a very efficient and punctual airline- they were starting to taxi even while people where wrestling with their oversized hand luggage!
So I picked up my little case, wheeled it out through customs- getting a green light, which means no bag searches! And met my neighbour, who drove me home- much to the surprise of my family!
This concludes the ‘handwritten travel blog’ for this trip. Hope you enjoyed this mini series!