TREATS IN AUSTRALIA BY JOSELITO MARCOS, RAYMOND LAPITAN
AND FERNANDO AGUILAR
Roberto Hernandez, right, ate rice only once in 11 days
in Australia. It is when Solomon Islands lone representative to 2009 Oceania
Zonal Chess Championship Fernando Aguilar, 2nd from right, treated him to a Chinese restaurant
dinner after their 3rd round match. Joselito Marcos, left,
treated Roberto and Fernando to McDonald's while Raymond Lapitan, 2nd
from left, treated the 3 with Filipino hospitality in Australia.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez -- Taken by Bernard Saavedra)
I MISSED THE SYDNEY-GOLD COAST
FLIGHT IN 2009
ROBERTO Hernandez was the first Palau chess player to
represent Palau in 2009 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship, 2010 World Chess
Olympiad in Russia, 2012 WCO in Istanbul, Turkey and this year’s 2014 World
Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway from Aug. 01-14, 2014.
Former
Oceania Zonal President Gary Bekker paid for Roberto’s airfare from Manila to
Sydney from travel subsidy of $500.00 and paid from his own pocket the domestic
flight via Virgin Blue the Sydney-Gold Coast that cost him extra AU$130.00.
He
instructed Roberto to proceed immediately to the domestic flight because it’s
only an hour difference before the connecting flight leaves. The Manila-Sydney
flight went smooth and on time.
During
the long line at immigration, Roberto is next when a group of Pakistanis mostly
in wheelchair, were allowed to take his turn. A couple of them were detected to
have SARS and it took an extra 15 minutes before Roberto’s turn.
Roberto
proceeded immediately to the domestic flight desk. He was asked to wait and
while waiting, the Australian lady noticed that his flight in going to Gold
Coast is already boarding the passengers. She booked him to a flight to
Brisbane and waited for another 90 minutes before boarding.
There’s
no meal being served for the short flight. He just ate the chocolate bar that
he saved while on Philippine Airlines flight to Sydney. An Australian
stewardess asked him if he wants to order a drink and he said orange juice. She
served him and later ask for payment –AU$6.00.
He doesn’t have Australian dollars
so he gave her $20.00. She doesn’t have change for USD so he’s got the orange
juice for free.
When
he landed at Brisbane airport, he immediately looked for a phone to call Gary
Bekker. A guy at the counter is about to close. It’s almost 12:00 midnight at
that time. He asked him if he can use his phone. He looked at his list and call
Gary.
“Hello,
Gary. This is Roberto. I missed the Sydney-Gold Coast flight and I’m now at
Brisbane airport.” Gary is so excited that Roberto made it and said, “Okay, Roberto.
Stay there and I’ll call my friends there at Brisbane to pick you up. I’ll call
you back after 5 minutes.” Roberto added that the guy there said he can take a
bus to Brisbane for about AU$38.00.
While
waiting for him to call back, Roberto talked to the guy while he is getting
ready to close. He said, “There is a bus going to Brisbane at the front BUT
don’t take a taxi. Their rate is ridiculous.” He also suggested that Roberto
can check-in at the nearest hotels/motels for the evening and they will pick
him up at the airport. Just look at the billboards for the price that you can
afford.
After
10 minutes, Roberto called Gary again but his phone is busy or off line. The
guy has left so he go outside and ask for a bus going to Brisbane. A lady
dispatcher booked him but when he’s paying in USD, she doesn’t accept. Roberto
asked the guy next on line to change his USD to AUD but he refused. He asked
the lady if he can use her phone to call Gary but it’s still busy or off line.
Roberto
asked a taxi driver how much is the fare going to Outrigger Hotel in Gold Coast.
He said AU200.00! His money at that time is only USD200.00.
He
went back to the lady dispatcher and ask to call Gary for one last time. He answers
back and told him that he was refused to a bus ride because he doesn’t have AUD
to pay. “You didn’t change your USD at the airport.” Roberto said he don’t have
time because off shortness of time. Gary said he wants to talk to the lady
dispatcher.
After
talking
to her, the lady told Roberto, “This is your bus driver in going to
Gold Coast.” She pointed to him an old Australian guy who will be
driving the big
bus. They drop by at the domestic airport to pick some more passengers
but it’s
only one. The conductor/driver asked for the tel. no. of Gary and when
he comes
back, Roberto got a whole bond paper as receipt.
There are only 2 of them in a bus
where 70 persons can fit. When Roberto is new to a place, he always sit in
front so that he can see the roads, the signs, scenerry, flows of traffic and
others that will remind him where he is at a given time.
The
trip is 1 hour and 20 minutes. The other guy on the bus was dropped 45 minutes
earlier. When they reach the place where they will hold the rest day of the Oceania
Zonal Chess Championship, Roberto knows then that they are about 5-10 minutes
to Outrigger Hotel.
When they are about to stop,
Roberto saw a tall guy running towards them. It’s Gary Bekker! Roberto get out
of the bus and shouted to him, “Gary, I made it!” And then they hug like long
lost brothers.
Lots
of stories told during checking-in and while Roberto is having supper. The next
day, they are about to set the venue and they met at the elevator with the
Chief Arbiter Charles Zworestine. They notice Roberto’s blue t-shirt with “Deep
Blue” in front. The 2 thought of the Super Chess Computer that World Champion
Gary Kasparov played in New York.
When Roberto turn back, big letters are
written “Deep Blue Marlin” and “Palau” and they both said, “Hey, look at the
connection!”
Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1. … Bh3+! 2. Nxh3 Qg3+
3. Kh1 Qxh3 mate.
This week’s puzzle: White to move and mates in 3
(Solution next issue)
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 8-9
Volume 23
Issue 58
July 21, 2014
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