Australia History
Australian Tourism Funnies! Watch out for the Drop Bears!
The questions below about Australia are from potential visitors. They were posted on an Australian tourism website and the answers are the actual responses by the website officials, who obviously have a sense of humour.
Q:Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, how do the plants grow? (UK).
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.
Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)
A: Depends how much you’ve been drinking.
Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney -can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it’s only 3000 miles, take lots of water.
Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? (USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not… oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross ……Come naked.
Date: October 22nd, 2006 | No Comments
Save Graythwaite! A few off the beaten path ideas to enhance your travel experience: North Sydney
Go to www.graythwaite.org.au and add your support! The only green space near the commercial high-rise center of North Sydney is under threat of development. North Sydney community Center is waging a battle to save the parkland. It gives the thousands of people who commute in everyday an area to get away from the noise and traffic that converges on the CBD. Add your voice! Save Green Space!
One of the things the North Sydney Council provides are community education programs. If you are travelling through Australia- these free lecture series are a great way to get to know a little bit more about the local flora and fauna that you are seeing. Two such nights are coming up. 24, October from 7-9 pm at the Lane Cove Council Civic Center – staff will tell how a community plant nursery and eco garden got started and how it is progressing. They will give ideas on how to make your own garden space eco friendly. (RSVP and info- 02 9911 3579)
7 November at the Hunters Hill Community center 7-9pm, Arthur White will be giving a presentation on what frog species are found in the lower northern Sydney area. He’ll have a few live frogs along to have a look at and will give information on identifying the little hoppers for yourself. (RSVP and info- 02 9879 9439)
The Seven Bridges Walk: October 29th for more information click here
Date: October 18th, 2006 | No Comments
Cycle your way into History- Ride to the Gong!
Are you feeling fit and up for a challenge? Sunday November 5, 2006 Grab a bike and take place in Sydney’s biggest and best cycling and fundraising challenge: The Portfolio Partners MS Benefit Bike Ride. Sydney to the “Gong” (Woolongong) There are two different lengths- 90 KM and 56 KM. The path takes you from Sydney through the scenic Royal National Park and down the coast across the new Sea Cliff Bridge. The website is: www.gongride.org.au you can visit the website for registration, …
Date: October 18th, 2006 | No Comments
Art & About in Sydney!
October also hosts the Art & About Exhibit in Sydney. During this month several exhibits of sculpture and installations, floral displays, The Face of Sydney, and several other types of exhibits grace Sydney with their statements, colour, and vitality.
One of the boldest statements the Face of Sydney was created by three Sydney Photographers who took over 1400 portraits of Sydney residents in the many different suburbs. From the Portraits, They have created composites of what the Average Sydneysider looks like to create a collective face of the city. To make the exhibit even more ethereal as the makers say, the exhibit is being projected in a massive scale on the side of the AMP building at Circular Quay. This exhibit is only part of a national photographic portrait project that aims to create composite photographs of all regional areas of the nation. Projected to finish in 2008, the full exhibit will be called Facing Australia.
Date: October 16th, 2006 | 3 comments
Eat Drink and Cure AIDS!
Sydney Food and Wine fair come dine and cure AIDS! - October 28th from 12-5:00.
Over 100 of Sydney’s best restaurants and the countries best winemakers converge in rows and rows of white tents to set up shop for the day. For about $2.50 per item- chefs sell their signature dishes to help raise money for AIDS research. The funds raised go to help support the AIDS Trust of Australia which provides funding for research, education, care and support for people affected with HIV/AIDS.
The food booths are open …
Date: October 16th, 2006 | No Comments
Tenterfield NSW Food and Wine Festival
November 4th, 2006 “Pop the cork raise your glass & salute great tasting wine and food!” Apparently it isn’t just good food month in Sydney! If you are going to be anywhere near Tenterfield NSW…don’t miss this event! Tenterfield has been one of my favourite little country New South Wales towns. I spent some serious quality time at two of the local vineyards where the were so hospitable and the wines were so nice- I went into buy a few bottles of wine and ended up with 2 cases! Tenterfield is in far north NSW. …
Date: October 18th, 2006 | No Comments
Armidale NSW- Women's Comedy Festival
Going to be near Armidale Friday October 27-29th? Ready for some laughs? Armidale Ex-Services Memorial Club is hosting the Armidale Women’s Comedy Festival! www.womenscomedyaustralia.com
With titles like “What the Frock do we know…Now,” The festival features several local women along with national acts. The main events are Friday and Saturday with the Gala Comedy show Saturday at 8:00 pm. Sunday sees a few nippers (kids) give stand up comedy a go along with a Kids Comedy Circus. The evening shows look to be adult oriented but certainly Sunday looks to be a family friendly event. Tickets range from $12 each to $55 for a festival pass. Put on by Regional Arts and Regional Flagship events- it promises to be full of laughs!
Date: October 18th, 2006 | No Comments
Coffee in Australia- a land of extremes.
Ahhh the endless search to find a great cup off coffee and a great place to enjoy it. Funny- enough- that is my theory on travel-(and in fact the migration of people around the globe)- the search for new food… or in this case- beverage.
Australia is a land of extremes- lush tropical regions juxtaposed with desert- and the coffee is the same. The average workplace juice of life or the kind you would have at home, is total $#%$%^%. You might think I am being harsh…. But wait till you have tried it. Freeze dried coffee…how do you say…. Ick? No wonder they have to drink it with milk and two sugars! ACK! I think it is actually capable of stripping the enamel off your teeth. Seriously- you are likely to encounter the instant freeze dried coffee on the road, in work places, and at people’s homes. The Driver Reviver locations generally have this too. Known as a “cuppa”- you generally drink it with at least milk.
Date: October 18th, 2006 | 4 comments
Learn to Cook! Classes for the Masses!
As part of Good Food Month- many of the premier restaurants offer cooking classes to the public. They keep the classes small –around 10 people and give an in depth look and… most coveted- the recipies for favourite dishes. I took the Class at Benzin Thai located on Crown street in Surry Hills. The class on offer was to learn how to make their extremely popular Green Papaya Spicy Salad. The class was an absolute ball.
We were provided the tools and the opportunity to use a professional kitchen- with one on one tutorage from the owner and Chef. Not just a watch and learn experience- the Chef actually had us work hands on- critiquing and helping our crushing and grinding skills along with analyzing the flavor of the dish we each put out. After the class was complete, we were provided a fabulous meal which featured our salads, chicken and two types of rice so that we could compare the interaction of the flavours in the salad with other dishes. For only $35- these classes are a great value for money and something completely different to add to your travel experience.
Date: October 16th, 2006 | 2 comments
Cheap Stuff- Pub Meals
One other way to save a bit of dosh on your nosh- is to eat at a pub. You will have to scout your pubs carefully, some are tragically expensive. Then there are the few local beauties that offer $5 steak day, Free steak with the purchase of a beverage (oh darn), Trivia night with half price mains, etc.
If you are wiley and have the time between parties to scout it out- I reckon (Aussie for: I would imagine you would find it so..) you could find a local pub or Thai restaurant with a special …
Date: October 12th, 2006 | No Comments