What has backpacking come to? I’d like to think I’m traveling with a near minimum then I look at my gear:
I feel like I'm a walking electronic gadget.
To keep connected I’ve had to find internet cafes along the way. Some have been outrageously priced for minimal service. Others dial-up. Still more – broadband but slower than molasses.
A few are worth noting. To make the list they must provide broadband where I can connect my computer and preferably WiFi while costing less than $5.00 per hour.
Alice Springs – Pioneer YHA. It was really not much different then any other YHA except they had WiFi – bonus points in my world. There were cafes in town that were a little less expensive. I appreciated the convenience of having WiFi at home.
Kununurra – Boab Books and cafe. WiFi and a very nice café in the back room. The overall atmosphere was superb. Topping it off I really liked the bookstore. Finally it was full of interesting people. I was sitting on the couch perusing volume 2 of Birds of Western Australia when Marianne sat down to sip her coffee – somebody had her ‘regular’ corner. We struck up a conversation. She had spent a dozen years doing humanitarian work in Indonesia. Upon returning to Australia she completed a teaching degree, then masters and PhD in cultural geography. Her interest continues to be aboriginal education. Upon completing her degree she moved to Kununurra to work in the school system. Initially it went very well; however her theories about ‘education’ needing to be educational were counter to the schoolmaster. Next her true interest in aboriginal education was objectionable to the schoolmaster’s concepts regarding aboriginals – they don’t deserve empowerment through education. Racism is still far too prevalent in rural Australia. Marianne was relegated to the cleaning closet . . . She was eventually discovered by a somebody from Aboriginal Affairs and is being encouraged to make public her experience in the local educational system. I initially took her story with a grain of salt but I spent several days around Kununurra waiting the arrival of a new battery charger for my camera. Repeatedly I heard individual experiences from current and former educators regarding the local school system. A school district where multiple teachers have been bullied out of the system needs review. There is a teacher shortage in rural Australia and yet teachers are being chased out of the school system. . . .
Broome – it has a name but I don’t remember it. The location is across from the Shell petrol station and next to McDonalds. It was definitely a backpacker stop with music videos playing constantly. I wouldn’t take children to this one. The connection was good and WiFi was available
Tom Price – The Pink Café next to the supermarket. This one really doesn’t belong on the list. $7.00 per half hour but it was broadband and they did allow personal computers. It makes the list only because it is where I learned I’d won the World Nomads Ambassador Van.
Exmouth – Don’t miss Scooters. It is your one stop serves all book store, book exchange, internet café, car hire, scooter hire, SCUBA charters, SSI SCUBA instruction and backpacker shower. Who could ask for more? The price was great. They had WiFi. There was a discount for three or more hours. They even provided an extension cord so I could work in the garden. Still my favorite hotspot.
Geraldton – Abrollos Island Tours. The big yellow building across the street from the Tourist Information Centre. $3.00 per hour is what was advertised. I used it for nearly 2 hours for the same price and even tried to pay for what I had used.
Albany – Free WiFi at BarCino. A coffee shop and café. Purchase any menu item valued at $3.00 or more and get one hour free WiFi. $6.00 and you can barter for more. The hot chocolate was good; the soft chairs in the back corner are comfy.
Esperence – Taylor Street Tea Rooms on the esplanade. It is literally on the harbor. Free WiFi again if you purchase something. The Esperence ISP apparently is not reliable so they weren’t sure it was functional the day I was there but by standing on one leg and wiggling my big toe it finally allowed a connection. Out front helicopter tours take off for the Bay of 10,000 islands and Cape le Grand. In the back yard is a park with train rides and a working replica of Big Ben. The beach is on the other side of the parking area.
Horsham – Free Internet at the HUB. HUB is the Horsham adult education centre. There are six computers for public use. I was able to transfer files from a memory stick to my blog.
Burnie – Free WiFi. I won’t tell you where because I don’t remember. I parked on a hill to enjoy the view and started writing. A few minutes later my computer told me about a wireless connection. It was very weak but it worked. . . Thank you whoever you were in Burnie.
If I find any additional locations I’ll add them to the list.
