Australia History
Daily Dose- Cocktails, Concerts, and Cheap Shoes!
Keeping with my C theme today…
http://www.oceanspray.com.au/
Cocktails- Even Ocean Spray in OZ- likes an adult bevvie or two.
http://www.groovinthemoo.com.au/
JJJ outdoor concert!- Awesome line up! I went to this one in Darwin.
http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/
JJJ homepage – Home of the infamous Gig guide. A gig is a concert. A concert is classical music or a Rolling Stones size show. You WILL be scoffed at if you call a “gig” a “concert”
http://www.olympussports.com.au
OH my gosh! a source of cheap high quality running shoes in OZ (knows here as runners or joggers)! THIS NEVER …
Date: October 12th, 2006 | No Comments
Daily Dose- Useful Surf Stuff, Zoos, and Community Radio!
Surf Forecasting- check out those waves before you get out of bed.
http://www.surforecasts.com/australasiaeast/index.htm
Brilliant site- full of good site specific info, history, and gear links!
http://www.surfinfo.com.au/pages/surfzones.htm1.
Three Great Zoos - Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo
http://www.zoo.org.au/
Three D Radio - 93.7fm - Adelaide Community Radio
http://www.threedradio.com/
Date: October 11th, 2006 | No Comments
Havaianas Beachley Classic (Women's Surfing!)
A Havaiana is an extremely poular brand of thong (flip flop). Urban legend has it they are so comfortable and soft that they don’t give you blisters at all! This glorious footwear company sponsored the Havaianas Beachley Classic..otherwise known as the world’s biggest women’s surf comp. located in Manly. The massive prize money drew in the best and the competition has been amazing. Layne Beachley is one of the priemier women surfers and is a local girl. Being famous and local- she was key in …
Date: October 11th, 2006 | No Comments
Snowy Mountains- Wildbrumby Schnapps
The Snowy Mountains are in the Southern part of New South Wales. They are the home of the highest peak in OZ, and are a region worth exploring during all seasons. A Brumby is a wild horse. A lot that see themselves and “battlers”, the Aussies love their highly independent bands of wild horses. If you’ve haven’t yet- you should watch the classic The Man From Snowy River an entertaining flick, it embodies the feelings of outback frontier Australia and also showcases the romantic view of the horses. ‘Mountain bred and mountain born’ I think the famous line from the movie (which is based on a poem) goes.
About 15 minutes down the Alpine Way heading west from Jindabyne (Jindy) is the Wildbrumby Schnappery. Amongst the barren rock strewn Snowy mountain foothills- this little oasis has free tastings, continental cafe, artists studio and a sculpture garden. There’s a saying if it holds still long enough- the Swiss will try to shnapp it. Well I’m pretty sure Monika was Austrian and Brad Australian- but you get the picture. Regardless of pedigree. They have formed a world class schnappery with many varieties to chose from.
Date: October 10th, 2006 | No Comments
Australia- Public Ocean Pools
This is a bizarre but wonderful Aussie invention. Carved out of the rock and cliff faces that border most beaches, you will find lovely sea water pools. Some have lap lanes installed- others are just for regular swimming. Positioned in generally stunning locations, they are just above the normal water level which allows the waves to break invigoratingly into the pools.
According to popular legend, the pools started out as a class thing. The Aussies who as history tells it- were divided into two groups initially..basically either prisoners or the freemen come to watch the prisoners. As that culture subsided there was still a major class difference. The genteel upper class folks did not want to be seen as bathing with mere common folk (disregarding the dangers of bluebottles and sharks of course). However, the clear green blue sparkling seas and glorious beaches that bless this land were too much of a call to all classes. So ever inventive- the upper class found a way to enjoy the beaches and still not be “common.” They built pools that were fed from the ocean, right in the ocean itself! Bizarre but true.
Date: October 9th, 2006 | No Comments
Oz Survival Guide to Food- Chips, Crisps, Chilli and Chicken?
One thing I have always enjoyed when travelling to far and distant lands is checking out the local junk food. Even with different states in the US- there is regional variation. I do have to say- awards go to Texas for some of the most inventive corn chip flavours. ANYWAY… back to Oz.
Upon arrival here- at a pub…as one does… I took my turn to buy bar snacks- ie. Potato Chips. I came back with two bags of plain salt flavoured because I was uncertain about the popularity of the other flavours. I was immediately met with massive disapproval and scolded for my humanitarian efforts to sober us up a bit. I was very coldly informed- “Aussies like any flavour of chip EXCEPT boring old plain salt chips!” My tail between my legs… I tucked that piece of information away and watched them proceed to eat the boring old salt chips anyway. While some of you may be saying that sounds a bit harsh… you’d be right.
In an effort to spare any of the rest of you the same social embarrassment- May I suggest: The Aussies love their sweet chilli and chicken flavoured chips the best. (I know I know… it sounds gross). Chips at a pub tend to be around $3.80 and they give them to you in a bowl for sharing.
Date: October 12th, 2006 | 1 comment
Learn to Surf!
If you move to or are even just visiting Australia it is basically a requirement for entry into the country that you at least try surfing. There are tons of surf schools throughout Australia and some really fun surf tours you can take. Last year I took a 5 day Sydney to Byron ‘Learn to Surf Trip’. It was Awesome! Even if you don’t have 5 days- most of the big beaches have local half day lessons. The equipment and clothing is provided. These are just …
Date: October 11th, 2006 | No Comments
Cell phones are for Texting! A Must have.
If you are moving to or even just visiting Australia for more than 2 weeks, a mobile phone is basically a must have. You will end up meeting people you want to contact, making hotel reservations, needing to send a message home. these little babies are a fully integrated piece of Australian culture. I went…horrors… one whole week when I moved here with out a mobile. Now I have no idea how I survived. Cheaper, easier and more mobile than a land line- many people have them as their only phone (including me!).
Text Text Text! Unlike in the States where the latest fad is unlimited talk time- it is friggin expensive to call anyone- to the tune of around a dollar a minute. Not only great for finding people in nightclubs, texting is much less expensive. It is such a high tech world we live in- people text everywhere at all times-the word addiction comes to mind…..
If you are just visiting- bring a tri-band phone with you that works overseas- or purchase/ rent one from the airport arrival Vodafone shop. Don’t bother using you plan from home unless you get a really good overseas rate (unlikely). Upon arrival in OZ you can purchase a sim card that can be placed in any phone. For about $30 you get the card and $30 worth of calls and texts- enough to get you by for a week or so.
Date: October 10th, 2006 | No Comments
Daily Dose: Flags, Food, Funnies and finally... a Snooze
http://au.news.yahoo.com/061010/23/10v7g.html
Flag burner to be invited to markh in Anzac Day parade
http://au.news.yahoo.com/061010/21/10v5x.html
Drought to hit food prices
http://au.news.yahoo.com/061010/2/10uu6.html
Aussie bosses like the idea of a siesta
http://www.ozjokes.com/jokes/jokes.php?jokeid=852
Guide to an Aussie life- this is SOOO true…. he he!
A few Excerpts…
9. The alpha male in any group is he who takes the barbecue tongs from the hands of the host and blithely begins turning the snags (sausages).
11. A thong is not a piece of scanty swimwear, as in America, but a fine example of Australian footwear. A group of sheilas (women) wearing black rubber thongs may not be as exciting as you had …
Date: October 10th, 2006 | No Comments
Sydney- Belgian Beer Cafe
Epoch- Moooosels from Bruussellls!
There are 2 Belgian Beer Cafe’s in Sydney- One in Cammeray- (which was said by Australian Cosmo to have the most attractive eligible bachelors in all of Sydney) and one in The Rocks. They have beer bigger than your head and pots of mussels that just won’t stop. Please note…the Belgian Beer Cafe’s are not to be confused with the two Bavarian Beer Cafe’s also in Sydney… but they are a story for a different day.
I’ve got to say- I have never been a …
Date: October 9th, 2006 | 1 comment