I know I bypassed all the countries that I visited in Asia on doing this, but that’s really for two reasons. Reason #1 Due to me being such an idiot and loosing my camera in Hong Kong (which I do now actually have back) I didn’t take as many pictures as I wanted. And Reason #2 Asia is soooooooooooo much different then anything I’m use to it almost doesn't seem fair to mock them…
Right then, so Australia. Well out of everywhere I’ve been, Australia is the country most similar to England than anywhere else…although it does also resemble the USA quite a lot (I’d compare Queensland to a tidier Florida). And similar to Canadians, Aussies also seem to love telling you “that’s funny”….a laugh will do! I also love that when I watch the football here (at like 4 or 7 in the morning) I’m still getting “enjoy responsibly” messages between the adverts….who’s drinking this early!?!?
But just a few other things that I just couldn’t let slip:
Pretty name
Just a random wild turkey
hhmmmmmm
How Bogan...aka Chav
I really dunno what Gravity has to do with it
Wish I could limbo as funky as this
Big chips
...And again, surely you can't call it this
Random Brisbane artwork
Surely they can afford to get this fixed!
How much more info do you need...
Speed bumps on pavements
In the Suncorp offices
Exciting magazines
This really feels a bit English
So what you gonna do about it...
....free pies!
A great thing about the Aussies though is that they really are so forward and so quickly too, no beating around the bush! Straight out with it, nothing hiding, and sometimes it’s quite entertaining the things you get told from someone you haven’t really known all that long. I always try and wonder what the catch is, but the thing is, there is no catch, it really is just the way things work over here. I also love how it really aint ever cold here…it rains, and it gets chilly at nights, but not cold, and this is Winter! It feels like late spring in England! I also love how Australia is the only country that I've been too that is so proud of all it's stereotypes, good for you guys!
I also went to give blood the other day, but I wasn't allowed to, they didn't want my blood. Now this wasn't cos I was in Asia 3 months ago, nope that's fine. But the fact that I was in the UK between 1988 and 1996 meant I couldn't due to the mad cow disease, apparently in wiped a fair few Aussies out.....
Overall I have to be honest, I do prefer the American, Australian and the Canadian way of life over England, maybe cos that’s where I’m from and it’s the norm so it’s easy for me to knock it. But I think the attitudes of the general public is just that much nicer than that of the English. Plus England just has history (I know you foreigners love that stuff), America, Canada and Oz have landscape, the countries are like massive playgrounds…love it! Having said that England does hold my family, my roots, my ASC, my non-accent living, and my SFC within it…much love, you’re all missed.
I also wanna point out that my job at Groove Train also has a theme song...this plays A LOT too!
Apparently this bar was just called "The Train" until I started working here!
Right so, what I've been doing. Last Thursday Dan and I headed to the Glass House Mountains with James, (who I work with at Groove Train) and his mate Lee. After driving about an hour north we reached the info point and decided to climb Mount Ngungun (253m) as we could actually get to the summit (unlike Mount Tibrogargan which is the tallest mountain in the range (364m) but you can only walk around it) and you need to scramble to get right to the top.
James and Lee's 4WD
It's Michael Jackson
Near to reacting the summit of Mt Ngungun, looking out to Mt Cooee, Mt Tibrogargan (364m), and Mt Tibberoowuccum (220m)
At the summit of Ngungun looking out to Mt Beerwah (556m) which is hidden behind Mt Coonowrin (377m)
We then headed up to Kondalilla National park, which is a massive waterfall in the middle of a rainforest. We did leave it ab it late, and ended up getting completely lost coming back, walking home in the pitch black. Thanks to technology and mobile phones for providing us with some light.
$1 chocolate
Closed off rock pool
Top of the falls
So I start my new job tomorrow in the as a Data Communications Technician for GroundProbe (which is gonna be weird cos of the way they say Data over here). Kinda looking forward to it. I'll be working with Radars that are used in mines as thy can detect land movement. It does mean I'll be doing less hours at the Groove Train, but they seem to be reducing my hours anyway!
Also, last Monday Dan and I managed to pick up a Toyata Camry for $1300 off some German traveler. Road trips in the near future!
Wednesday will be 12 weeks since I arrived in Australia, that'll be the longest I've been in the same country this decade (so what if it's only 2011, that's still sounds good).
I need to head off for steak for a friend's birthday (Happy Birthday Kirra-Lea (and also happy birthday Gramps for tomorrow, hope your card arrived on time)) so I aint read through this one.
