All posts in Australia Blog

A few cultural differences between the US and Australia:

Urinals are referred to as troughs, bathrooms are oft called dunnies.

Burgers are a disappointment here. Apparently, Oz is the home to the 1/8lb burger. Hungry Jacks is big here, as is KFC which I find odd. Probably no different than Outback Steakhouse being big both in the US and AUS.

Bran Muffins are impossible to find, which is probably for the best. Most toilets feature a ‘light’ and ‘heavy’ flush button. No ‘bran muffin’ button.

Americanos at Starbucks are called ‘flat blacks’

My English friend informed me that the high-class Stella I kept ordering at every bar was referred to as “wifebeater.” It has the highest alcohol content of the on-tap beers. As a result, its the getting drunk beer I was ordering.

Hell and Damn are not swear words – I was in church when a pastor declared, “Damn cancer to hell!”

Most important cultural difference: drinking in the car = ok

‘Tis a sad moment, but here are the last of my shoddy videos from Australia.

Northern Cassowary Video – Here’s a large bird that can eat stuff larger than its head.

Frasier Island Beach Driving Video – For Frasier Island Excursions, they take a 4×4 Landcruiser and cruise it out on the beach. We hit speeds around 100kmh as waves crashed outside and onto the vehicle.

Lake McKenzie Video – The clearest/cleanest lake I’ve ever seen. Everyone I’ve met who has gone here has said that this has a beauty that you just cannot explain to someone. This video is a shoddy attempt to do so.

Noosa Topless Beaches Video – It’s true: beaches in Australia are topless. Brad didn’t believe me when I described the women that went topless. This is for you, buddy. (warning not for the kids)

After touring the Cascade Brewery in Hobart, Tasmania, I discovered how Vegemite is made. Two-thirds of the leftover yeast from the beer-making process is used to form Vegemite. The other third of the yeast is used for pig feed. The yeast for vegemite is cleaned afterwards to remove the hops, and then salt + celery/onion extracts are combined to give it more flavor.

But what you really want to know is…

How to Make a Vegemite Sandwich:
-2 slices of bread
-Vegemite
-Butter

Spread butter on toasted bread, lightly coat a layer of Vegemite over the butter (a little goes a long way), slap the two pieces of bread together, and you have a Vegemite sandwich.

In my opinion, it’s terrible. But Aussies find peanut butter and jelly sandwiches revolting, so to each his own I guess.

Byron Bay was great. I couldn’t recommend it to you unless you like pot and/or surfing. The surf there is one of the best in Australia. I surfed most of the week, which is all there is to do there aside from falling for girls running the local Internet café.
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Before S. (the American) left for the States, he highly recommended a trip out to Byron Bay. S. described the small town setting, the relaxation, the attractive girl he met at Global Gossip – I should have stopped him there. Surely, meeting an attractive girl anywhere will leave you with fond memories, even if that occurred in Tijuana or a third-world prison. I was just looking for places to go, and based on his exuberance, booked seven days here. This is the longest I will be staying in any area outside of Sydney, so I was banking on his experience.

After S. left and I had made my bookings, I started to hear from several people things like, “Byron Bay? I’d only go there if you wanted to surf.” Or, the most common one: “Man, there’s a lot of weed down there.” Yes, yes. There is a lot of weed down here. I’ve never seen a joint rolled as large as the one I saw last night. They offered me a hit, but I said ‘no’ to drugs. Mom, you should be proud.
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Hobart, Tasmania has several things to offer. I saw it by bike, boat, airplane and on foot. But I wasn’t there to see Hobart. I came to see Jens Lekman.

Tuesday night at the Republic Bar and Café, I arrived an hour before his show was going to start. I secured a three-quarter view of the stage and had a cold Stella in hand. The condensation off the glass dripped slowly onto the Hobart music scene journal I was reading. Half an hour past eight, the pub started to come alive. In a moment of panic and enlightenment, I realized I had no money to blow on Jens’ fantastic merch. I had to sacrifice my seat to hit an ATM around the corner. I came back and nearly all the chairs were gone, including my prized seat. I took a seat on the floor, and I eavesdropped several conversations. “It’s pretty busy for a Tuesday night,” one man said. Most people in the pub had little knowledge of Lekman, and being such a small town, they were there for the music and the social aspects. I found this the makings of a perfect evening.
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Gilligan’s, my accomodation in Cairns, is a top-notch place for backpackers. The facilities are great, the rooms are good for a hostel, and the people have been very friendly around here. As I mentioned before, I’m the only male in a six-person room. Last night, all of us went out together. Because of the cyclone this morning, all flights out of Cairns have been cancelled. Three of the girls were supposed to catch a flight the following day, and last night S. declared in a strong German accent, “My flight is cancelled. I’m going to get drunk.”
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Fellow Arizonan S. (see previous post) warned me about visiting Cairns during the rainy season. Yesterday, it was hot, sunny and humid. Late last night, we saw a few people boarding up doors and putting strips of tape over storefront windows. Early this morning around 6am, Tropical Cyclone Larry took over the city with category 5 force. The eye of the storm is hitting the coast 70km south of here. I’m supposed to be on my way to Daintree and Cape Tribulation at the moment. Instead, I’m sitting inside, parked next to a window (yes, I know this isn’t smart), watching various debris fly by and the water levels on the street rise.

All things considered, I’ve never been to Daintree. I’ve also never seen a cyclone. I figured the Daintree tour would have involved a lot of older couples romantically rehashing the old days whilst I stood blatantly single smacking the mozzies off my exposed skin. Either way, I’m experiencing something I couldn’t see back home. Here’s hoping the window in front of me doesn’t burst open.

I made it up to Cairns today. Tomorrow I tour Port Douglas and Daintree. A river cruise will be involved. With all the luck I’ve had on previous tours will include only couples who want to make out in front of me. I’m also in a six-person share at the Gilligan’s hostel. All of my hostelmates (?) are girls.