Australia History
Aussie Translation Guide #5
One of the fun things of Travel is learning the local lingo. Australia has no shortage of their very own Aussieisms. They are fun and inventive, though occasionally hard to translate. I endeavor to help ease your transition into this upside down language. This is the fifth in a series to come. This one is devoted to blokes and beer. YES! What fun! Feel free to add a few of your own in the comments section.
Australian = North American Translation
Kimberley Cold = Room temperature beer
Tinny = Beer in a can
Stubby = Beer in a bottle. The bottles are shorter than the standard long neck… therefore…the birth of the Stubby!
Stubby Holder = The foam thing you put a beer into to keep it from getting Kimberly Cold I’ve been told lately that real men don’t need stubby holders. They drink their beer before it gets warm. From that on to the next category please Maestro….
Ripper = One of my favorites I have to admit. A VERY Good Thing. As in “That Horse ran a Ripper of a race.” No matter how hard I try it still makes me think of good old fashioned toilet humor. I’m not so sure that it didn’t start that way… a couple of guys out in the bush….”MAN George! That was a real ripper!”
Corker = On a related note…Another term for A VERY good thing. You figure out how they are related.
Date: March 11th, 2007 | 3 comments
Sydney Harbour Bridge, 75th Birthday
Not a view of the Harbour Bridge you get everyday- and not one you are likely to get March 18th either…. Hey Everyone! It’s a party! Come help cut the cake and blow out the candles for this 75 year old beauty! Marvel at the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s engineering mastery right up close and experience the buzz of the original 1932 opening party (which apparently carried on for days!).
In appreciation of this Iconic Engineering feat,The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be open to the public on Sunday 18 …
Date: March 8th, 2007 | 4 comments
Holden: The Aussie GM to Cut Jobs
While Australia is a tourist mecca, there are still plenty of social issues that plague their surfer laden shores. One such issue, over cars, has reached the land down under. Lately there has been all kinds of debate over the future of climate change, alternative fuel cars, and the future of Australian manufacturing. Holden is basically the Aussie branch of General Motors. Like their American cousins, according to press releases, more job cuts are getting ready to affect Australia…
Date: March 5th, 2007 | No Comments
Moving to Australia- Some Useful Tips
Hey guys, As the Blog gets bigger and bigger, I know a few of my earlier tips on Survival in Australia and especially in Sydney have gotten a little lost. Here are a few posts worth revisiting.
Cheap Food
Finding an Apartment
Cheap Household Supplies
How to Outfit an Apartment on the Cheap
City Transport Links
Banking
Date: February 28th, 2007 | 2 comments
Manly Beach, Places to Eat, 3 Ducks Spice Bar
MMMMMM! I can’t believe it has taken me this long to discover this place. One of those cool little local places tucked away in a hallway of a shopping street- it is AMAZING! Hey Coeliacs! Almost EVERYTHING on their menu is naturally Gluten Free. That is good news for those of you who eat gluten as well- The recipes they use are made in the traditional ways and don’t use flour as a cheap thickener.
The food is fresh, high quality, healthy and tasty. Mostly Curries of some sort, …
Date: February 27th, 2007 | No Comments
Formula 1 Comes to the Sydney Customs House
Fancy yourself a bit of a Michael Schumacher of the weekend roads…aside from the places with speed cameras of course… Here is your chance to set yourself up against the pros. The RBS Grand Prix Challenge, using a full size Williams team Formula 1 car complete with simulator, lets you test your instincts to set a fastest lap.
Each lap takes approximately 1.5 minutes. Entrants in the challenge must hold full drivers licenses and be at least 18 years of age. The site will feature activities such as souvenir …
Date: March 11th, 2007 | 1 comment
Australia Travel Market- Travel Website
The following is a paid review: Short on time? Need to stretch those travel dollars? Feel like you do more research and planning than travelling? Don’t feel like searching each individual travel site for the best deals? Australia Travel Market is ready to help.
www.Australiatravelmarket.com is more than just a website, it is a price comparison super site! Sometimes called a Meta Search engine the Global Travel Market off-shoot, searches and compares prices from 100’s of travel websites to find you the best deal. By doing so, you can save time and hopefully loads of cash!
Search at their one stop shop for airfare, hotel, insurance, tours, car hire, cruises and special package deals. Prices are listed in pounds, but the do provide a handy currency conversion function for those of us who tend towards mathmatically challenged. Australiatravelmarket.com is not a travel agent. After putting in your criteria, you can then choose the most appropriate offer and be sent directly to the website advertising the special deal that you are searching for.
Date: March 8th, 2007 | No Comments
Sydney Explorer- Save Your Money
Getting around a strange city in a way that is cheap and easy is always a god send for travellers. The Sydney Explorer is not one of those. I paid the $32 (you can get a week pass for that) and took the ride one Saturday when I felt like playing tourist. I’m a fan of bus tours to some extent. Occasionally it is nice to sit back and let someone else worry about traffic while they tell you the history and interesting facts of the area. Expecting this to be the case- I was sorely disappointed in the State Transit run Explorer.
The ticket is expensive and they don’t really tell you anything about what you are seeing- little to no information on the buildings, history, architecture, bits of interest etc. It is essentially a very expensive shuttle service. I would not recommend this service to anyone visiting me.
Date: February 28th, 2007 | No Comments
Sydney, Art After Hours
Don’t have time to get to the museums during working hours? Want something more from your Museums? Need a cool place to take a date that makes you look like you care about more than beer and footy (even if it is just an act….)?
Check out Art After Hours. Running from the end of January for the rest of 2007 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Every Wednesday from 6-9pm come see the Art, listen to Artist Talks, hear Jazz, drink wine, eat food and experience the occasional film.
Want to study up for that date so you can show her around and sound like you know what’s going on? Go the week before and find out what all of that contemporary art means. Join the Guides for an informative tour of the Art Gallery’s Contemporary Collection. After the tour join Contempo for a glass of wine (whew!) in the members lounge. Meet at the information desk in the Art Gallery of NSW
Date: February 27th, 2007 | No Comments
Sydney, Taronga Zoo Concerts
Sydneysiders, prepare to party! Summer is set to sizzle when an outstanding array of Australian talent burns up the Taronga Zoo stage every weekend in February and March.
The Sun-Herald Twilight at Taronga showcases the best of Sydney in the summer - fabulous weather, delicious picnics in great company and sensational entertainment in an awe-inspiring setting.
Grab your friends, pack your picnics, and experience the thrill of an open-air night concert in the wild surrounds of Taronga Zoo, enhanced by the exotic calls of the animals and the stunning backdrop of Sydney Harbour. …
Date: February 26th, 2007 | No Comments