Australia History
Daily Dose- Food, Politics, and Free Board Baby!
Free Board- a dude skateboarding across OZ!!!
http://www.boardfree.co.uk/home.htm
It’s taken 105 years, but on Monday a woman led the Australian government in the Senate for the first time.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/061009/2/10uh3.html
The Bass to Barra trail was launched in April 2005 and has been so popular that a Bass to Barra Trail Guide has been released. This trail is Australia’s only closed freshwater sports fishing trail.
http://au.travel.yahoo.com/great-outdoors
Good Food Month Info!
The Food Festival
Location: Hyde Park, Saturday, 28 October food stalls noon-2pm, entertainment until 5pm
Wine Show
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Date: October 9th, 2006 | No Comments
Australia- Moving in on the Cheap!
As one person has wisely pointed out- Sydney is a very expensive place to live… to help battle that, here are a couple more suggestions for moving to Australia and setting up house on the cheap. Council Clean Up and Garage sales baby! On the North Shore of Sydney and in several on the south shore I am sure, the garage sales and council clean up piles are a wonderful redistribution of wealth. They are also the potential cause of many car wrecks due to people looking at the piles on the side of the road to see if there “is anything good.”
Cremorne, Mosman, Clifton Gardens and Balmoral definitely offer some of the best options for this second hand extravaganza. Most of you should be familiar with the concept of a garage sale, however, Australia has a phenomenon I’ve never seen before. Horrifying yet incredibly useful- ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce the Council Clean up. Sydney is divided into tons of tiny little suburbs- in fact “Sydney” is only a couple of blocks square. Anyway- Each suburb or collection of suburbs belongs to a council which governs things like zoning laws. Once or twice per year- they allow a curbside “free for all” anyone can throw away anything. Couches, bed frames, dressers, clothing racks, heaters, TV’s- anything! Granted some of it is actual trash- but Some of it is in perfect condition and works.
Date: October 8th, 2006 | 3 comments
Finding an Apartment in Sydney...Ready.. Set.. Go!
This will more than likely be the most horrifying experience of arriving in Australia. Customs, quarantine, and visa officials have got nothin’ on the apartment-hungry-maddened-hordes and indifferent real estate agents.
In Sydney- the housing market is extremely competitive- if you are moving from overseas- bring along past landlord contact information and if you can swing it- a recommendation letter. To find an apartment- look in the papers on Saturday and on the Internet www.domain.com.au as a couple of resources to start with. Once you get the paper you will have to read it as you run and come up with a list of several you want to see because…horror…they are only open for 10-15 minutes at a time.
When you roll up to see an apartment still reeling from the night before…sunnies and flip flops on (this IS Australia riiiight!)cappuccino in one hand… paper circled in pen in the other…you will immediately be smacked upside you sore head by the tension in the air. There will be 6 other couples also lined up to see YOUR perfect apartment! All with neat and tidy appearance, matching t-shirts that proclaim “Pick Me!”, references, extra pens for filling out applications, and running shoes laced up!
Date: October 5th, 2006 | 1 comment
October in Sydney- The Sensational Festival Season!
If you are planning a trip Australia for next year… try and get here for October… or better yet get here right now! Airfares are at low rates, the weather is gorgeous, and the massive throngs of tourists are not here yet. October is the beginning of the fabulous ‘Festival’ season in Sydney!
The October long weekend- the first weekend- is the NSW Labour day holiday. This is marked by all day outdoor concert Park life, the Darling Harbour Brazillian fest , The Spring Carnvial horse races, and parties everywhere you look! Out come the cocktail dresses, the big hats, fascinators, colourful shirts and ties, and the most important! Great BIG Sunnies (sunglasses). Manly hosted the Jazz Festival which had amazing markets, talented local and international acts and sea sun and surf! Life doesn’t get much better than laying on the beach listening to live music.
One of the most amazing features of October is Good Food Month. Throughout the month- there are cooking classes- special set menus at swanky hotels, learn to make signature cocktail classes, and the NIGHT NOODLE MARKETS in Hyde park. These are gorgeous! Local Asian restaurants and famous bars get together under fairy lights to serve up tasty fresh cuisine for about $7 and cold bottles of white. (I’m bringing my stubby holder from Pine Creek
Date: October 5th, 2006 | No Comments
Aussie Art Films! Watch Out!
The Last Train To Freo
About a Suburb of Perth- Fremantle- lovingly known as Freo, the Critics loved this movie- It is an Australian film produced in Australia by Australians.
The Synopsis:
“At midnight, on a hot summers night, two ex cons board the last train to Fremantle. Bored, restless and looking for trouble, they start to poke fun at their mind numbing existence. Until a beautiful young law student, steps into the carriage, alone, and seemingly unaware that the guards are on strike.
But there’s more to this young woman than meets the eye. And when two other passengers join the train further down the line, the balance of power takes an unexpected twist.
Date: October 4th, 2006 | No Comments
Moving to Australia- General info
Be aware- most of the buildings in Australia do not have AC, central heat- or for that matter screens on the windows. This means you will need to purchase a heater, fan and a mosquito net depending on the season you are here.
The weather is glorious most of the time and 95% of days you will not miss AC or central heat- but it only takes one mozzie (Aussie Mosquito) biting your knuckle at 4:00 in the morning to completely ruin your night. Check out Ikea, Target, camping/outdoors stores …
Date: October 8th, 2006 | 2 comments
Sydney- The Manly Wharf Hotel
The Wharf Bar- shiny slick, hip, and ever so convieniant. Lovingly known by locals as The Wharf Bar , the actual name is the Manly Wharf Hotel. The coolest new lounge music plays discreetly above the roar of the afterwork crowd that gathers each night at this perfect stop just steps from the ferry. Signature cocktails, beer, wine, a new eating establishment, and the outside Jetty Bar (which actually is on the deck over the water) all are designed to entertain and allow for the appreciation of Manly’s …
Date: October 8th, 2006 | 1 comment
Banking in Oz- How do you say...Painful?
After trying to find an Apartment, this will be the second most shocking item of setting up housekeeping to most of you- setting up a bank account. Not far off Neanderthalic- lately it has gotten a little better- but not much. The banks in Oz are some of the most profitable businesses in the country- and all at your expense. The Aussies still firmly believe in bank fees for everything!
To help battle the fees, a few pioneering banks have established “All You Can Eat” accounts which they …
Date: October 5th, 2006 | 2 comments
Organized Sports and Travel Insurance
While in Oz or other places overseas- do you plan on skiing, snow boarding, water skiinig, surfing- or mega worry- play organized sports? If so…please look at the terms of your travel insurance very carefully.
I am sure you all have heard- the Aussies are MAD about their sports. If you are planning to spend anytime in Australia and are sporty at all- you will be faced with the opportunity to play organized sport of some sort- a corporate comp, a neighborhood comp or even a club team. I …
Date: October 4th, 2006 | No Comments
The ARIAs! Aussie Music of the year!!!
The ARIAs are the Aussie equivalent of the Grammies, except they are riddled with all kinds of goofy drunken behaviour by celebs and fans alike. The TV generally cronicals past silliness and speculates what the newest faux pas of the year will be. Over all they are pretty fun to watch on TV, but, I have several friends that have scored tickets in the past to attend and they loved it!
There are several Aussie bands that have really made a name for themselves this year- globally- such as Wolfmother. If you get a chance to see them tour- Have a ball!
This year the ARIAs will be held October 29th.
Date: October 4th, 2006 | No Comments