• David Coles

Hop hop to the top

Quick trip - coz I can! Baca lagi
  • Permulaan perjalanan
    26 April 2024

    A bonus

    26 April 2024, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    While my main trip starts on Tuesday the opportunity arose to pin on a quick trip to Darwin. I have had several not unpleasant trips on Jetstar recently and joined their 'club'. Almost immediately a decent fare became available to Darwin - a town I do like. Darwin is prohibitive normally. So here I am - flying Jetstar to and from Darwin. I will let that sink in a bit......through choice as well!! I know you will be worrying about my mental capacity but I don't need the Status Credits or points atm. I also have just had a massive strategic planning week with my DEA Board so today is a TOIL day - I need to stretch my a/l days as I am not retired yet 🙄Baca lagi

  • Easing in

    26 April 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Well Jetstar did the job I paid them for - on time, pleasant team and row 3! Wasn't asking for more. Picked up my hire car and went straight to the hotel. It is a Mantra and on the Esplanade. Upgraded to the top floor but not with a balcony😞. However a water view and a few steps away from the action (Mitchell St). I picked up some essentials then repaired to the pool to enjoy the 33o sunshine. Up to the room for a Friday #wineoclock bubbly. There is a brew pub next to the Mantra that I gravitated to it was happy hour and the man recommended the croc lager - so I had a schooner out on the street front opposite Croc Cove (go figure!) Nice enough beer and a LONG time since I have had a $6 beer! A Thai place next door offered a chicken (Gai) larb so a no brainer! I ordered fried wontons ($8), larb ($18) and a glass of superb Jim Barry Watervale Riesling ($8) - I know why I like Darwin....... A big day and a good day. Tomorrow - a couple of markets then pool pool pool!Baca lagi

  • The full day!

    27 April 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Up early for a run on the Esplanade - very little humidity which is a change from FNQ the last 5 months. Off to Kopi Stop for the best Singapore Breakfast - kaya toast and Kopi O. This place is award winning for their barista coffee but is also run by a Singaporean and it shows - they also have very good nasi lemak, congee and laksa. Then a visit to the Parap Market which is food based but with other stuff thrown in. A Darwin staple. Then Rapid Creek Market which is an Asian producer market - fresh as! Return via the shoreline at Nightcliff - people swimming in the sea! (🪼?) Then a walk around the Esplanade with a detour down to Lameroo Beach. Bring your reef shoes!! The BEST bahn mi for lunch from a Vietnamese hole in the wall near my hotel. Set me up good and proper for a long afternoon at the pool. Not sure about this evening but I can't imagine wandering far. The weather is absolutely perfect - 32o and relatively dry.Baca lagi

  • Winding down

    27 April 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Ended up at Alfonsino's for dinner. As predicted I didn't wander far - 2 doors from the Thai place, next door to the bahn Mi and across a carpark from my hotel! The pizza was quick, blistered and very tasty - all signs this place knows. All the ingredients named and origin acknowledged. It was also not stupid huge! The red was montepulciano - a snap with K having the same at Enzo's with dinner. Dawn would have a knowing smile! This morning a pleasant walk to Kopi Stop and then a detour home via the Esplanade Park. A cracker of a morning. I had a late check out so a couple of hours at the pool. Dropped the hire car off - I was just saying to K I had never driven an electric or hybrid car - now I have. The Corolla was a hybrid. Would know any difference other than it didn't much to fuel up at the end. What it did have was the myriad of safety add ons that we supposedly need these days but make driving a misery. The Qantas lounge was open!! It has been closed every other time I have been here. Quite impressive - lots of different areas, very light and airey and quite a variety of food. Nice platter options like dolmades, pickled Italian veg, eggplant and a really very good rendang. Rich, coconutty and falling apart. Kudos!! Flight seems to be on time. Cairns appears to be the only place in Australia that's raining - but that's ok! I enjoy Darwin but I think I would miss the wet tropics and the rainforest. Arrived back in Cairns and - well, my nice comments re wet tropics have come back to bite! My home town is wet! Oh well - only a day at work and then...✈️✈️Baca lagi

    Tamat perjalanan
    28 April 2024