It was June 29, 2011. I had just arrived in Adelaide after a 2.5-hour flight from Brisbane. I was on a 3.5-hour transit and rather than stuck at the Adelaide Airport T1 doing things that I could probably do in my last hour in Adelaide, I decided to give the city of Adelaide a visit. It’s my first visit ever to South Australia as well.
I approached the Visitor Information Centre on the lower ground of the terminal for a map of the city. The helpful lady asked where I was going. I said ‘Central Market’. She then tried to sell me coach ticket to Adelaide’s Hilton Hotel which is just located a few walks away from the market for $10. I was interested in buying the ticket but the schedule, which was 9.15 CST, didn’t fit my short visit agenda. Why? I would lose 30 minutes waiting at the Airport. I certainly didn’t mind waiting if my transit time was longer (5 hours). So I decided to take a taxi which is a more expensive option. 😦 (If my transit time is even longer i.e. 7 hours, I would take Adelaide Metro bus J1A/J1T/J2A which is even cheaper.)
The taxi driver was an Indian guy but I don’t really like him. I’m not a racist but he didn’t tell me that there is a $2 extra charge for taxi from the Airport going anywhere around the Adelaide metropolitan area. I’m a newcomer to Adelaide! I only figured it out after I read an Adelaide City booklet which I took from the Rundle Mall Visitor Information Centre. He dropped me off at the Gouger St side of the market.
My first impression: small city but I love it!
The weather in the morning was cooler than Brisbane but I still can handle it. This part of the City somehow reminds me of Ipswich CBD. Improve the public transport system and I wouldn’t mind settling down in Adelaide.
A weird place of attraction to begin my self-guided tour? I don’t think so. Just make sure you put away your cigarette butts! 🙂
Just first step inside and I encountered a café. Classy! There’s even an LCD opposite to the coffee place. You can’t find this kind of experience at Denpasar’s Badung Market, can you?
But as I walked further, my amazement turned into disappointment. No buzz. Almost no lives. Most of the shops are closed on Wednesdays. 😦 I guess it was the wrong day to visit the market. Even the Information Centre was closed. 😦 Though Coles next door is open. What’s the point of visiting another city to see the same supermarket I could find at Myer Centre or QueensPlaza? But I can’t force those independent retailers to open as I like. May be just wasn’t my lucky day (and I had even less luck when I transitted in Perth last year).
That doesn’t mean I’ve given up on Adelaide. One day I’ll come back and revisit the market during Market Day!
Well, rather than seeing closed shops until time’s up I’d rather speed up and go to Rundle Mall. There’s a surprise change of itinerary for me later on. But to make sure I have visited one of Adelaide’s icons, I took a photo of this.
And this (taken from Grote St). Here, I felt a more metropolitan feeling of the City. Chinatown Mall is to the right of the picture above. Behind me was a bus station and an Adelaide City Council library.
What surprise awaits me in Adelaide? Stay with me for the upcoming stories. 🙂
Trip report and a summary of my short visit to Adelaide as well as my continuing journey to Bali can be seen here.
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For more information on Adelaide Central Market and its opening hours, visit adelaidecentralmarket.com.au
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P.S.: In 1.5 year staying here, I managed to visit Darwin, Perth & Adelaide as part of my interstate visits (though each only took place for a few hours, not even half day!). But I haven’t managed to visit the southern metropolis of Sydney & Melbourne yet (though I’m more interested in visiting Canberra). Why? I don’t know.
Well, at least I understand these cities better than my fellow Indonesian friends in Brisbane. 😀
Apa Kabar Bram 