Currently there is a quiet period between the two projects, and so I spend my free time usually with some service works that I serve my boss - Keith. Specifically, this job will be a software upgrade to the latest version. Quite simple and straightforward routine work. Just install new software and open the application in it. It is itself converted to the latest version. That's now standard feature with almost all products.
Interesting in this job is the place where it all happens. And that's Port Hedland, place at the end of the world. At first glance, when one looks at the map, it looks like a beautiful picturesque part of Australia where I've always planned to go. But now, after I came back, I realize that it is not necessary to crisscross the whole Australia, because where is nothing, there is really nothing. But let's start from the beginning.
Journey. Yes, they have airport. A man from Europe thinks that when the Boeing lands at this airport, it will be probably close enough to the big cities, as it is at home. The bigger the city, the larger the airport. Well, here it is not the case at all. Aircraft lands everywhere, if there are people willing to travel there. The only difference is that people go here only for work in mines, or if they want to live completely isolated from all the world :))
Landing and airport. That already was the first slight shock. Although the large plane landed here, the airport is totally tiny. No big arrival and departure hall, everything nicely compact and minimalist. Occupants of the aircraft suggest that it is not any of the tourist sites. Most people travel even straight in protective clothing - so you see all colors - but mostly orange and yellow with reflective strip.
The customer awaits me at the airport, and then we make our journey into the control center. Slowly but surely I'm starting to guess where I am. Almost all cars here are just huge jeeps with hull for material transport. And everything outside is red. I mean the soil. Overall in Australia they have enough ferric soil and where iron or copper mines are it is even more red than elsewhere. We've arrived to our destination after about half an hour journey . It is just a small control room, serves for pumping and compression of natural gas. It acts as a reservoir for mines which are dozens of miles inland. Yes, in the end I haven't even been to the mines, but as a matter of fact, I can quite imagine it. In the slight culture shock I completely forgot that I could capture the beauty of this country, so unfortunately you can find photos from here and around only on Google.
Our work goes quite fast, after completing compulsory health and safety training I'm moving to another room and starting to really work. But it did not last long, with consultation and explanation how our system works like it did not work more than an hour. So, all done,we've ended just before lunch.
Customer borrowed jeep form operator and we depart from the control room to Port Hedland for lunch. Apparently he knows some good restaurant. Well, I'm curious. The atmosphere of the city is really unique. How could I just describe it. Imagine a scene from a western movie. You see the old gas filling station, and far right, in the corner there is a lazy dog lying, old man is smoking a cigarette. Wind blows around the area and moves many big rolls of parched grass. Well, it looks something like that, just without the man, dog and grass :) Otherwise it is exactly the same.
But back to lunch. In the city, understood six streets only, we come to the place they serve lunch. But because of great success of the local hotel the restaurant is closed, so we can't really eat here - and maybe it's a good thing, who knows what would have been offered. As an alternative solution we choose the local supermarket, where a small fast food stand. Well, better than being hungry;)
One thing I forgot to mention, and still are the road-trains. It's actually a truck, which has several trailers connected. I've seen a truck with five trailers behind. It's been really like a small train going here up and down. This is probably the only thing worth seeing here for visitors like me.
Later after work, probably around a 3PM when there is nothing to do, the guys decided that it is time to wrap up and since we still have a few hours before the evening departure of the aircraft, it was decided that we go with a local operator who has lived here for one or two beers. Well, truly I'm not against that. A local pub is surprisingly quite good, except the barman. Since there is no competition, there is a similar service as back at home. Barman doesn't say a word and you can't even think of getting some kind word or a smile out of him. But at least the beer was good. Even more I'm experiencing another cultural shock. Local operator starts to talk an he mentions what the costs for properties are here. I couldn't believe what I've just heard. Small house, brought on the truck and looks really terrible you can buy here from 1.5 million dollars. And this is the smallest, ugliest and cheapest. Everything better costs more than 2 million. Really terrible even to think about it. And that's all because of the mining industry nearby, the majority of people here are workers in the mines and they earn some good money or companies which are willing to pay such a high rents for their employees. That's why the prices are so high. Those who bought a house here a decade ago, are just a happy people and they will have luxurious pension for sure. The rest of us has to really work hard to achieve the same ... So that was the Port Hedland.
