What I've Learned From The 'Rough Guide To Australia'

[hwconundrum]

1) The most Australian activity ever is to stack some red rocks on top of each other, then meditate shirtless in the background2) Cheaper cinema tickets are available on Tuesdays and some matinees. (Seriously, it says this every single time it mentions a cinema for every single city/town

Comments

[hwcarnage]

When my Mum went to OZ it was winter and she was actually shocked that it could be cold there hehehe

[hwconundrum]

Yeah, experiencing that is going to be... interesting! What makes it even more confusing is that I've been informed Australia has "a different kind of heat", so 30C there doesn't feel as hot as 30C would here, or something. :-/

[hwconundrum]

I love that this made it into a 'Rough Guide of Australia'. However, the front of that book makes me want to throw things. Who the hell sits in the middle of the Australian desert with no shirt on?

I wondered that as well. Presumably he's wearing Factor 5000 sunscream which he's then painted on top of to give himself a normal-looking skin colour. Either that or he's trying to prove how manly he is by getting skin cancer.

You should see the beer ads. They're amazing. Try this one if you're interested.

It's certainly reassuring to know that Carlton Draught is made from beer. ;) The trouble is I don't actually like beer, which I imagine might make my stay in Australia a bit difficult. Some people have tried to convince me that I only dislike beer because the famous brands in Britain are actually watery lager/some variety of animal urine, but I suspect 'proper' beer is going to go down badly with my tastebuds as well. :(

Re: the pram/salty incident - not that I'm advocating eugenics or anything, but some people really shouldn't breed.

[chiroho]

Cheaper cinema tickets are available on Tuesdays and some matinees.

Yup, Tuesday was always half price day at the movies. It's the only day I ever went.

Beer, beer, beer, beer, beer, beer.

Well obviously! Australian beer is for, the most part, pretty regional. Queenslanders drink XXXX ('cause they can't spell beer), New South Welshmen tend to be more for Tooheys, Victorians drink Vic Bitter, and Western Australians drink more products from CUB. It's changed somewhat now as there are some more national beers, but you'll still find that it can be pretty regional.

Saltwater crocodiles can in fact live in freshwater too and will kill you.

At least a couple of useless tourists who don't read the signs every year!

Australia gets kind of warm sometimes.

Um ... it is about 70% desert in case you hadn't noticed.

The 'Manly' region of Sydney is so named after a comment by Captain Arthur Phillip on the well-built appearance of the Aboriginal men who were onshore at the time.Actually, it was because as member's of Cook's crew tried to

[hwconundrum]

I suspect Tuesday will be the only day I ever go to the cinema as well, assuming there are any films I feel I need to see! A few places also seem to have open-air cinemas or other slightly unusual things like that, so I suppose I might check those out too.

At least a couple of useless tourists who don't read the signs every year!

Does my knowing before I've even set foot in the country make me a 'useful' tourist? [ponders]

Um ... it is about 70% desert in case you hadn't noticed.

Don't worry, I am aware. :) Going from a Scottish winter to an Australian summer is going to be an interesting experience, especially given that a 'hot' summer in Scotland might reach 30C and that's fairly uncommon.

Actually, it was because as member's of Cook's crew tried to row ashore, the natives made a very "manly" demonstration on the beach.

Yeah, I wondered if the book was being slightly euphemistic on that point. :-/ Anyway, Manly in general sounds nice so assuming I end up in Sydney I'll try and pop across at some point. :)

[hwconundrum]

Unfortunately I don't like wine either, although hopefully I'll develop a taste for that as is befitting of becoming an adult. :-/ Either that or I may have to try and find some local brand of rum so I can claim to be supporting the Australian economy!