I stand more around to the side so I can sometimes look at the strings I'm playing. And I often hunch over the neck with my ear closer to the strings so I can get into the groove better or something, not planned but I often find myself there.

With the peg pointing to you, the thingy (I don't know what it's called either) should turn away from you. If the bass is on it's side with the peg pointing to your right and the neck pointing to your left, it would be RIGHTY TIGHTY and LEFTY LOOSEY.

An hour and a half is a long time for a beginner. Play for awhile until you start to get achey then rest for awhile then play again. My left hand is usually the first thing to feel the pain because I don't play enough to develop any strength in my left arm or hand. I have had it cramp up on me during a song when the key requires everything in closed position (pressing down on a string with the left hand). Those are the times when (in the key of E for e.g. I just hit the open E string rather than play E closed on the D string and pray for an A to come along!

I don't know about anything else hurting, although I do know bass players (mostly women) who have had left shoulder surgery. Rest and short, frequent practices will gradually develop the strength and stamina to go longer. This is all theory for me because I jump into a jam when we're desperate for a bass and play until it hurts, and then don't play bass for months! (If you want to know about guitar or fiddle pains, see me again...)