Yamba Thursday 3/6/08

We picked Yamba for a two night stay on our way north because it was a response to the question, "What little Oz town would be most like ‘Margaritaville’ with beaches, pubs and a laid back attitude?" Several folks on travel websites came up with Yamba so that was good enough for us. We thought at this stage of our trip we would need more rest and less action. It was pouring when we got up this morning, but no worries Mate, we’ll just sleep in and read books until it stops. Alright, that was good for about twenty minutes.

Let’s just say that this day was boring. After the rain we went to the local mall for some supplies, wandered around town for a while, took the car back to the motel and walked down to the local beach Mexican café that was closed, walked back downtown where Mary tried to keep the Marg’ville thing going by having bad nachos (made with Hormel Chilli w/Kidney Beans) and John had a big burger, and then walked back to the motel for a siesta. By 3:30 the sun was back out and we had blue skies so we went out for an hour and a half stroll around the beaches, bluffs and parks. With a different lodging facility and a week or a month we think we could really achieve the original goal but it is hard to gear down at this point.

The lodging facility is an issue. We have sensed a lowering of hospitality standards as we move north and this place is downright adversarial. We know that these attitudes begin at the top and someone here has decided that the guest is the enemy who needs to be kept in his place, sort of like the airlines. We will provide some free consulting to them at checkout, but those who need it most are the least likely to learn. We will just be two more crabby Americans who will try to influence their future business on some travel websites.

We discussed the merits of trying to catch lightening twice by going back to the same restaurant as last night. Even if not as good, it would still be better than most other places we have been, and that was the argument that won the day. We got almost the same outside table, ordered the same wine, and we switched by ordering each other's main courses from last night. John had the Thai beef fettucine tongiht and it was still exceptional. Mary's parrot fish was also good, but they had run out of the risotto and substituted garlic mashed which killed the magic. The owner was pleasant and apologetic but business had picked up tonight and they and a run on the dish. We are understanding but disappointed.

Bryce's comment on a recent blog regarding Aussie lingo reminds us of a story. On the radio broadcast of the cricket match Tuesday the Aussie and Indian announcers teamed up to handle the play by play and commentary. They need a big crew to handle a match that will take all day. The Indian announcer asked, "what is this 'ochre?' In India it is a shade of yellow, but here you called someone an "ochre.'" The Aussie announcer said, "well mate, it's an 'Okker' and that's a bloke that holds down the noon to seven shift on the pub stool and then goes face down in his pizza. Doesn't have much to do with yellow unless he forgets to get up for a pee."
These are the stories that you fall to sleep by.

Today's local headline: Team Clinton back in the race The Australian