I’m stopped for the night in the thriving metropolis of Coober Pedy, the Opal Capital of the World. Home to 3500 people of 44 different nationalities, it not only has the only 5 star underground hotel in the world, but it must also be the only 5 star hotel in the world that doesn’t have broadband.

But that’s okay. I have Telstra’s wireless broadband. Now admittedly, I’ve used dial-up connections that are faster, but hey, what does it matter? I’m in an underground hotel room... oh, and try getting a freaking broadband connection when you’re underground!!!

Grrrr....

The drive from Alice was fun. It was 42’ in the shade for most of the way (long live the genius who invented air-conditioning for cars, I say). I had a good run, although slowing down to 111 kph once I hit the South Australian border sucked. (I know, the speed limit is 110, but the anarchist in me felt the need to rebel so I set the cruise control to 111).

BTW, Coober Pedy is where they filmed Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Mad Max III, Red Planet and Pitch Black. (Maybe I’m staying in Vin Diesel’s room…. hehehe… That would be cool:)

So, anyway, I’m here in my little cave, trying to blog on a connection that works only when you hold your mouth right, in a town that looks like it was built out of leftovers (all except the very posh 5 star hotel in the middle of town). Oh, and the whole town is surrounded by piles and piles of discarded rock from the opal mines and warnings about not walking backwards in case you fall into a hole.

Weird place, Coober Pedy

so, upon reading that sign, did you have an immediate desire to walk backwards?

Oh Blessed and Wonderful Mistress, Glad to hear that you made it to the first port of call on your most illustrious interstate tour. It is hoped that your fans are reacting with decorum and worshipping from the required distance.

I don't think Coober Pedy would be a good place to get drunk in. Imagine trying to avoid all those holes when you're tanked. :)

So the hotel on 'Tatooine' isn't 5-star?

Ah, Coober Pedy. Driving through a moonscape in the middle of Australia was one of the more surreal experiences of my life. Almost matched by the following night of the trip, in a bar in South Australia, and a girl ordered Passion Pop. Do they still make that? Do people still drink it?

Anyway, one of my dreams is to drive through Coober Pedy in the moonlight.

But you've not really lived until you've driven down the middle of Australia.

Ag1dSu <a href="http://atcficdakhzo.com/">atcficdakhzo</a>, [url=http://tobwujyomddb.com/]tobwujyomddb[/url], [link=http://kdwyghcomwsl.com/]kdwyghcomwsl[/link], http://poeyyzzqelya.com/