Flying is an option but can be expen$ive!

Transportation

Unfortunately Australia is not quite up to speed on their transport options around their huge and undeveloped country.  Your options are very limited.  Taking a car can be very expensive with the cost of fuel or petrol as they call it.  Either renting or buying a van or car can have issues such as a high chance of it breaking down every 500 km.  Flying can be quite expensive but really isn’t practical for most cities because they’re so small and without a major airport nearby.  If you are going to make a long distance trip Virgin Blue, Jet Star, or Tiger Airways are the cheaper airlines, and you can get some good deals if you book far enough in advance.  I found the most economical and easiest option is to take the bus- ew yes I know the bus.  I bought a Hop on Hop Off Pass from Greyhound, which is based on an amount of kilometers that can be traveled within 90 days.  My pass was from Cairns to Byron Bay and cost me about $250 AUD.  Although bus travel does suck and takes ages, the pass is very flexible and you only need to book about 24 hours in advance.

Ready for the next adventure on the Greyhound

But hating my way of transportation....ew

Backpacking Culture

So 99% of people that do this trip or are traveling through Australia are “Backpacking.”  I am not quite one to have a backpack and was called numerous times a “Flash packer” with my red matching rolling suitcase, numerous bags, and of course my purple pillow.  Just a tip- Don’t bring that much stuff with you!!  Not only is it a pain to lug from hostel to bus to hostel, it’s also horrible to be repacking every few days!  Although I didn’t have the backpack aspect of it- I still was living the lifestyle.  Go to a new location and check into your hostel, meet some people, cook or buy a cheap meal, party a little and do it all over again the next day.  Although it was a blast it got to be exhausting getting up and changing locations every 2 or 3 days.  And of course the mornings that you had an early bus your hangover was always horrific and the bus ride a constant struggle to keep down what you had eaten.  What I love about this culture is how open and friendly other travelers tend to be.  Most people are either going up or down the coast so you tend to bump into people you’ve met before a few towns down the coast and that’s always a great experience.  Also I can’t mention the topic of backpacking in Oz without explaining “Goon” to you.  Basically goon is boxed wine that’s super cheap- like $10 for like 2 or 3 liters and everyone drinks it.  I was able to steer clear of it for the most part, but had a bad night being an angry drunk on it and the hangover is just horrrible.  So my advice is to splurge a couple extra dollars and buy the cheapest bottle of wine they have!

No backpack for me...Matching luggage please!

Too much baggage! Travel LIGHT!

$ Saving Money $

My main tip for saving money is booking everything as a package.  There are heaps of companies out there like Travel Bugs, Peter Pan’s Travel, Wicked Travel etc. etc.  We ended up getting the best deal and booking with Nomad’s Travel while still in Cairns.  The way it works is the more you book, the more you save with packages.  Even if you don’t know the exact dates you want to be certain places- you are given vouchers and are able to book them when you are ready.  Our trip was all mapped out so we had all our excursions, hostels, and buses booked and ready for action when we purchased.  To give you an idea- our package was about $1,500 total which included the bus down the coast, all accommodation, and all the excursions we went on.

Hope this article was helpful to those that are looking to cruise down the East Coast of Australia!

Stops Along the Way

After finishing up work in Cairns (Click to read my fabulous article about it!:) my Norwegian co-worker Sabine and I set off on our East Coast adventure.  Our itinerary was as follows:

• Mission Beach- Located about 2 hours south of Cairns by bus.  Mission Beach is the perfect place to relax without a worry in the world.  We stayed at a cute hostel called Scotty’s Beach House right across from Wongaling Beach, which was one of my favorite hostels due to the friendly staff, helpful transportation and cleanliness of the rooms.  There is not much to do in this small town but the beach is definitely a must see with minimal visitors.  Skydiving in Mission Beach is very popular and I had many friends who had a great experience with Skydive Mission Beach.

Gorgeous Mission Beach with no one in sight!

• Townsville- Another few hours south of Mission beach.  Townsville itself doesn’t have much to offer but its where you take the ferry to Magnetic Island.  I stayed here for a 3 days at Base Magnetic Island while enjoying the beach and parties at the hostel.  Be sure to rent a car and explore the island and all of the gorgeous beaches the island has to offer.

One of the many beaches on Magnetic Island

• Airlie Beach & The Whitsundays- Airlie Beach is where most Whitsundays cruises leave from.  There is unfortunately no beach in Airlie, only a lagoon, but some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world are just a short boat trip away in the Whitsundays.  Read my blog “The Whitsundays: The Atlantic Clipper and Airlie Beach” for more information about the gorgeous area.

The gorgeous waters in The Whitsundays

• 1770- To be honest I would not recommend wasting your time stopping because its so small and nothing to do.  The main appeal is that this is the farthest north you can surf on the east coast and they have cheap lessons.  There is a beach and a small town area with a few restaurants, but that’s about it.  The best reason to stop here is to break up your trip down the coast.  Also many friends enjoyed a tour of the town on minibikes with a company called ScooteRoo, but due to weather we unfortunately weren’t able to go.

Just enjoying the beach in 1770

• Hervey Bay- Fraser Island

Hervey Bay is a smaller city where a lot of the Fraser Island tours depart from.  We stayed at Nomad’s Hervey Bay, which wasn’t one of my favorites but it made it easy to get sorted for the trip to Fraser Island.  Read more about how amazing my 4X4 trip on Fraser Island in my article “Fraser Island: Australia’s Nature at it’s Finest.”

On top of the sand dunes on Fraser Island

• Noosa
  

Noosa is a nice little town on the Sunshine Coast.  It is quite upscale and has lots of lovely shops and restaurants in town.  We unfortunately didn’t get to experience the beach due to the weather but they’re suppose to be great and have good surf as well.  We stayed at Nomad’s Noosa and it was great minus our drunken English roommates who managed to take a piss all over my travel partners bag! :/ Not ok but hey what a story right?

Sabine and I enjoying snakebites @ Nomad's Noosa!

• Surfers Paradise

What to say about Surfers Paradise?  To put it simply it’s kind of like a cheesy, touristy Miami Beach.  It definitely isn’t like any other city in Australia and lacks any charm and simplicity that most coastal towns offer.  With that said- the beach is nice, as long as there aren’t any Schoolies- and there is a good going out scene!  Oh and there is good shopping!

My travel partner Sabine and I in Surfers Paradise

• Byron Bay

Byron Bay is an absolute must on the East Coast.  It’s one of my favorite places I saw in Australia and had an amazing time there.  Read more about it in my blog that’s coming soon!

View of Wategos Beach in Byron Bay

Australia’s East Coast is absolutely gorgeous and I hope these recommendations helped map out a future trip for you travelers! Email me with any questions or your personal tips!

Our 4WD Vehicles for the Fraser Island Journey

Nomad’s Fraser Island Tour

The tour I went on and would definitely recommend was the Nomad’s Fraser Island Tour that departs from Hervey Bay.  It was a 3 day tag-along 4 wheel drive tour with about 40 people and a wonderful guide, Tony, who had been doing this for years.  The guide was the lead car, which I was in because I couldn’t drive a manual, and there were 4 4X4′s that followed us through the diverse terrain of the island.  Another great aspect of this tour is the camp site provided with working toilets, showers, and BBQs.  Also your tents are already set up- so you don’t have to deal with that.  Obviously the facilities weren’t “5 Star” but you’re grateful for what you can get while camping.  It beats the hell out of digging a hole to do your business in- let me tell you!

Loving life in the front seat of our 4X4!

Our Base Camp

Things to Do

With Fraser Islands diverse landscape comes many things to do and see around the island.  Although the island is surrounded by some gorgeous beaches you are not able to swim in the ocean due to dangerous tides and predators such as sharks, which is unfortunate.  Fraser Island is fortunately home to over 100 freshwater lakes and I was so happy to experience a few of them.  Our first stop on the trip after some pretty hardcore 4X4 was at Lake Garawongera, which was absolutely gorgeous and perfect for a swim in the clear waters.  Lake McKenzie is hands down the most beautiful and worth a visit and a swim in the gorgeous waters, but is quite touristy and can get very crowded.  We also hiked miles through the rainforest and sun dunes to discover Lake Wabby and took a much needed dip.   Relaxing in the Champagne Pools was one of my favorite things to do as they were located right on the ocean.  Floating down Eli Creek was also nice and relaxing and the views from Indian Head were breath-taking.

Me mid-hike to Lake Wabby in the Dunes

Gorgeous Lake Wabby

Jumping for joy @ Lake McKenzie

Spectacular Views from Indian Head

Gorgeous Champagne Pools

Wildlife

Australia definitely takes the cake when it comes to intense wildlife and Fraser Island isn’t lacking in this area.  The first animal to be aware of and worry about is all the wild dingos on the island.  They look cute and innocent but definitely aren’t and you always need to stay with at least one person while on the island to steer clear of these bad boys.  There are also tons of dangerous snakes, spiders, bugs- you name it and the island probably has it.  The wildlife that was the worst for me was these huge horseflys that they call Marsh Flies.  They bite the shit out of you and it really hurts, but thankfully the bites don’t itch.  A tip that I learned is that they are attracted to blue- so try and refrain from wearing this while on the island.  I of course had a blue towel and these babies loved me!  Definitely also make sure to get some good bug spray cause you will get eaten alive by mosquitoes and god knows what.  We used Bushman spray and it seemed to work quite well.  Although we were prepared we still ended up with tons of bites and came across tons of wildlife I would been ok with not seeing!

The Evil Marsh Fly! *On my blue towel of course*

One of the numerous Dingos we saw up close and personal!

Hope this post was helpful to those of you looking to visit Fraser Island.  It truly is an amazing experience and an absolutely breathtaking place in Australia.  For some more pics check out my Fraser Island pictures on my Flickr!!

Koala's in Cairns- my home for a month! :/

What to Expect

Basically hostels are as plain jane as accommodation comes, but with a price that reflects this from $10-$35 a night.  You can expect basic bunk beds with your standard sheets and a pillow, a common area, and a common kitchen.  When booking a hostel there are a few things you need to consider regarding what type of room you choose.  Hostel rooms aka dorms generally sleep anywhere from 4-10 people in a room, but private rooms are usually also available at a higher price.  The dorms either have bathrooms attached, which is called “ensuite” and I think is key- or bathrooms down the hall.  An option for ladies that don’t feel comfortable with random boys in your room or want a more low-key experience without the chaos and mess that guys bring, most hostels offer girl only dorms for a few dollars more and can be worth the investment.  While traveling the coast my friend actually got all her stuff pissed on by a guy in our hostel when he came home drunk one night- so ya those things do happen, but hey it could have just as easily been a girl.  More important factors for me were having air-conditioning in the rooms, internet access, proximity to the cities I was visiting, and the cleanliness of the hostel.  A lot of hostels in Australia have issues with bed bugs and this is definitely something you want to check out prior to booking.  Also you will find that many hostels have their own bars on site, which is nice but be careful about sneaking in your own booze- as they may try and confiscate it.

A great site to check out different options for various cities and reviews about hostels is Hostel World.  Also Trip Advisor has reviews on most hostels and is usually a good source.

Base Hostel on Magnetic Island- in an all girls suite! Much cleaner!

Safety

Also a lot of people, as I was, are concerned about safety of themselves and their belongings while staying in rooms with strangers.  Honestly I never had an issue or knew anyone that did but you should be careful.  Don’t leave electronics or valuables out obviously, and keep your bags closed up while not in the room.  All hostels should allow you to check your valuables ie passport, extra cash, credit cards, laptop, etc. at the front desk so you don’t have to worry about having any issues.  Just be smart about it and if you don’t feel comfortable about the room you were put in, ask to be switched.

Experience

The main reason why I would recommend staying in hostels, minus saving tons of money, is the experience it brings.  For myself, the experience of getting over sharing a room and a bathroom with complete strangers definitely was an adventure that changed me and I love that.  Also the random people that you meet at each hostel is amazing- well usually.  I still keep in touch with tons of people that I met and partied with in my hostels all the way down the East Coast of Australia.  I feel that after I first lived in a hostel for 5 weeks in Cairns and then stayed in various ones down the coast for another 3 weeks my maintenance level has definitely gone down and that’s a good thing. You have to learn to get the most out of situations that aren’t exactly ideal.  Of course I would have rather stayed in a gorgeous hotel with my own room and bath, but would I have all these crazy hostel stories to tell down the road?  Hell no.  I will never forget the stories or the crazy people that go with them, and for that I love that I’m no longer a hostel virgin!

Great group @ Koala's Cairns - French, Japanese, Americans, and English all love to party!

Just some drinking games with some new friends @ Nomads in Noosa!

Hope this entry helped ease some nerves of you hostel virgins out there and provided you with some helpful information.  Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns about your upcoming travels!

The lovely lagoon in Cairns

My Experience

I lived and worked in Cairns for a little over 3 months and felt completely at home.  One if the reasons I loved this city is due to the small proximity of everything.  Most bars, restaurants, and the lagoon are all walking distance which is a nice change from a big city like Sydney and their horrible public transport.  Also I found Cairns to be the cheapest city in Australia including rent, meal deals, and drinks.  While in Cairns I worked at a bar/restaurant called Rattle ‘N’ Hum and absolutely love it.  The job was very laid back and I loved the local crowd and all the new lingo I learned while serving them.  My co-workers consisted of mostly backpackers from all over the world and were pretty much all characters who loved to party.  I have to say my experience bar tending in Cairns was a lot different than the more uptight scene in Sydney and I absolutely loved working here- minus the daily hangovers!

Enjoying some beverages with my Rattle N Hum co-workers!

Where to Stay

There are options for both the classy upscale traveler and the more common backpacker trying to save some money.  For those on a budget Cairns is home to heaps of hostels of all living conditions.  Important things to look at is the proximity to the actual town as many hostels are about a 15 minute walking distance away and also the hostel reviews.  There are a lot of very dodgy hostels and hotels up there- so beware.  The place I found to be the nicest and cleanest hostel in Cairns is The Northern Greenhouse and will run you about $26 a night for a 6 share dorm with an ensuite.  For you Americans- ensuite means a bathroom that is attached to the room- and yes this is key!  Gilligan’s is very well known and is definitely a party hostel with a huge bar/club downstairs.  For those of you not on a budget there are a few nice hotels in town including a Novatel, The Shangri-La Hotel, and The Reef Hotel and Casino that are all in town.

Nightlife

Although Cairns is small the city is not lacking in the party department.  There are tons of bars and clubs in such a small area that is walkable and there is somewhere for all types to enjoy.  The most popular place in Cairns has to be The Woolshed and it really is somewhere you will inevitably end up and have to experience.  Upstairs you can enjoy dancing on tables and going wild to all the hottest music and classics, while downstairs The Lounge provides you with some amazing house Dj’s and you can dance you ass off or chill on one of the many couches.  Gilligan’s is another favorite for backpackers and is an absolutely huge bar and club.  On the weekends some classier options are Society Bar and Nightspot, The Attic, and a few clubs at the Reef Casino.  A great area to enjoy some drinks on a nice day or start your night out at is The Pier Complex at the Marina which includes Pier Bar, The Shangri-La Bá8 Lounge Bar, and Bella Vista.   PJ O’Briens and where I used to work Rattle ‘N’ Hum are also great places to grab a drink or some food and have daily happy hour from 5-7, which is amazing.

Just dancing on tables at The Woolshed!

What to See Around Cairns

Most people venture up to Cairns to see the numerous sites close to the city.  The most popular obviously being The Great Barrier Reef.  There are tons of companies that take you to the reef to snorkel, scuba dive, or sail and take in the scenery. You can choose from day trips or 3-5 night trips that enable you to get your scuba certification.  Also close to Cairns via a quick ferry ride are Green Island and Fitzroy Island, which can be a great place to snorkel, scuba, or just relax on the beach.  By car both Palm Cove and Port Douglas are close and cute little tourist towns with great restaurants and beaches as well.  And lastly if it’s the tropical rain forest you’re after you can take a trip up to the Mossman Gorge, The Daintree National Park, or take the Skyrail Rainforest Cabelway up to Kuranda.

Enjoying the views in Palm Cove- Just north of Cairns

View from the lookout @ the top of Port Douglas!

Enjoying the all coral beach on Fitzroy Island

I hope this blog was helpful to those of you looking to make the trek up to Cairns.  I can definitely say it’s a town to experience and you can’t beat the versatile attractions that are also close by.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or further advice about my experience in Cairns!

The Grand Hotel

The Basics

Most Australians are very serious about two things: their local pub and their booze of choice.  Being a bartender in this country gives me a sense of power and importance to the locals- plus they love my outstanding service because I am an American!  Understanding the different beers, their sizes, and the appropriate slang were all very important aspects in my success in bartending in Sydney.  It took me a few weeks to get down the lingo for their booze and my pour to perfection but I can proudly say I can pour a mean beer with the perfect amount of head.  Here are the basics for those traveling to Sydney- and throughout New South Wales- in the alcohol culture of a pub.  Keep in mind the beers, names and pours do change from state to state.

• Middy:  The smallest most ridiculous glass that holds 285 ml / 10 fl oz
• Schooner:  The standard pour in Sydney- 425 ml / 15 fl oz
• Pint:  570 ml / 20 fl oz
• Jug:  America’s “Pitchers” 1140 ml / 40 fl oz
• Nip of spirits:  Shot; Must be measured with a shot glass and is 30 ml / 1 oz- They are serious about this!!
• Wine:  100 ml pour

Keep it Simple

One of the amazing things about working a pub in Australia is the simplicity of their beverages of choice; beer, wine, or basic mixed drinks.  Typical pubs will have about 10 beers on tap that are mostly Australian- no they don’t drink Foster’s- and an additional 20 plus beers in bottles that are both local and imports.  Most stick to the Australian beer basics such as: Victoria Bitter / VB, Carlton Draught / Draught, Toohey’s New / New, and James Boag’s Draught.  Some of the more upscale favorites are Coopers Pale Ale, Hahn Super Dry, Pure Blonde, and the numerous Jame’s Squire Ales.  I’ve found that with each beer comes a typical profile of drinker, which really becomes quite obvious the more time spent in pubs.  Generally the really old school Australian men prefer VB and are quite upset when the keg is temporarily out of order.  Younger pub go-ers tend to drop that extra dollar and go for something a little less basic.  When it comes to spirits most Australian’s don’t specify their type of alcohol and since their “house” spirits are generally good quality unlike the plastic bottle booze that is typically served in the states.

Me enjoying my favorite Australian beer- a Pure Blonde!

Some Tips

~Don’t order a “light beer” unless you want a low percentage- 2%- alcohol beer- If you want low-carb stick to Pure Blonde.

~They refer to Sprite as lemonade while our lemonade is their lemon squash.

~When you order a single shot drink- expect that.  Free-pouring is illegal in Australia and damn is it hard to get a buzz from spirits!

~When ordering a shot don’t expect it to be shaken and chilled or for them to be familiar with most common shots.  Stick to the basics, expect it to be room temperature, and in a standard small ass 30 ml shot glass.

~Watch your behavior in the pub- they are very strict about cutting off customers and kicking them out of the pub if they are being obnoxious or seem intoxicated.

~There generally aren’t seats at the bar so don’t pull one up unless the bartender is keen.

~Don’t bother asking for a wine from any other region in the world- most pubs only carry wines from Australia and New Zealand.

Gambling in Pubs?

One aspect of the Australian pub culture that came as a shock to me was the Australians obsession with gambling.  All traditional pubs have a separate room with “pokie machines” aka slot machines in them, which seem to be constantly occupied.  In addition to the pokies a lot of pubs have a Tab Sports Bet inside as well, which allows people to bet on pretty much anything their little hearts desire.  Try to stay away from these if you can- drunken gambling is never a good idea.

The Crowd

Obviously all pubs do tend to draw a different type of crowd to some extent, but after working in one for months and frequenting many other pubs in Sydney there are a few generalizations that I have drawn.  The main one that is most apparent is the ratio of guys to girls, which tends to range around 10 men to 1 woman.  Ouch.  Not the best odds for the men in these pubs, but oddly enough the Australian men don’t seem to care.  Unlike some cultures- cougggh the USA- the men here aren’t about constantly chasing girls and being surrounded by them.  They simply enjoy having some schooners with their friends and nothing more.  The attire of pub-goers also tends to vary depending on the time of day, but is generally quite laid back.

There are hundreds of pubs in Sydney so you definitely have your options depending on what you’re looking for and what area of town you’re in.  Some of my favorites are The Local, The Grand, The Beauchamp, and Beach Road Hotel. I’ve obviously been to and enjoyed dozens more pubs in Sydney but for some reason their names seemed to have slipped my mind.   If you have any questions concerning working in a pub, recommendations, or just general questions please comment or contact me!

Lexy and I by the Yarra River - Pre Storm

Getting There & Getting around

There are two airports in Melbourne; Tellamarine is the main one and closer to the city, while Avalon is about an hour outside of the city.  There are multiple carriers that fly within Australia to Melbourne including Virgin Blue, JetStar and Tiger, and if booked in advanced you should be able to get a reasonable fare around $100 Aus.  To get into the city from Tellamarine we took the SkyBus which was $16 for a one way or $26 for a return ticket.  The bus drops you in the heart of the city at Southern Cross Station in about 20 minutes.

As far as getting around the city, Melbourne’s public transportation is easy to navigate and minimal drama, unlike Sydney.  There is a combination of trams, trains and buses that get you where you need to go in a timely fashion.  There is also a free tram that runs in a circle around the CBD every 12 minutes and is very helpful.

The free tram that takes you around the city

Nightlife

The nightlife in Melbourne is amazing and I absolutely loved the scene.  There are two main areas to go out in Melbourne with tons of bars, clubs and pubs to choose from.  The CBD, central business district aka the city, or Chapel Street.   My favorite place was Spice Market, which is actually the first place in this country in which I’ve seen “Bottle Service” offered, but it had a great crowd and music.  I also enjoyed The Long Room, which is also in the city and features a massively long bar that was great for easy access.  On Chapel St I loved Electric Ladyland and the fact that it had lots of seating and a great laid back vibe.  Also a great rooftop bar is it the Palmz at the Carlton Hotel, just be sure and check the weather!

Lexy and I loving Spice Market

Electric Ladyland on Chapel Street

Weather

They say that you can truly experience all four seasons in one day in Melbourne and we experienced this full on.  What started as a gorgeous morning, not a cloud in the sky, turned into one of the most intense storms I’ve ever experienced.  About an hour into our lovely sightseeing day the clouds started to roll in along with some strong winds.  This was our cue to literally run for cover.  Within moments of arriving at the Crown Casino a full on rain and hail storm, with golf sized hail, was in full affect.  Watch this video to see how intense it really was.  We were stuck in the casino for a few hours to let the storm pass and we killed the time with a bottle of wine.  The journey home was quite an experience as well due to the flooded streets, closed transport, and leaves and debris everywhere.  The other days we were in town were also very inconsistent with their weather, starting out sunny and then turning to clouds and a lot of rain.

The hail accumulating outside the casino!

Food

Melbourne has the most cafes/restaurants per square meter in the world.  While visiting we definitely experienced some of the delicious food the city has to offer.  Ranging from a great all you can eat dumping restaurant, Camy Shanghai Dumpling & Noodle, to the cute cafes on Centre Place, we were not disappointed with the cuisine.  Centre Place is a charming street in the middle of the city that is closed to traffic during the day and is lined with dozens of charming cafes and shops.  Also be sure not to miss Stalactites, which is open 24/7, to experience some amazing Greek food and where I had the best slovaki gyro of my life.  The quality doesn’t come as a shock to me considering Melbourne is the city with the second largest Greek population in the world.

Lexy and I enjoying an amazing breakfast at one of the cafes on Centre Street

Centre Place!

What to Do

Regardless of the time of the year Melbourne seems to always have something going on.  The city hosts dozens of festivals which range from fashion to food to film.  Also Melbourne is home to many sporting events such as the Australia Open, The Formula 1 Grand Prix, and the Australian Masters.  Melbourne is the home of Aussie Rules Football and they are serious about this sport with numerous local teams.  The city also has teams representing rugby league, rugby union, soccer and cricket.  If sports aren’t your thing check out some of the amazing shopping in the fashion mecca.  Also there are 5 wine regions within an hour and a half drive of the city that are definitely worth having a look…or a taste!  Lastly as you wander around the streets keep your eyes open for some of the best graffiti I’ve ever seen.

Some amazing graffiti on a random street in Melbourne

I hope this article proved to be helpful to those of you that are planning a trip to Melbourne sometime soon or I possibly interested you in venturing down to Victoria to check out this amazing city.  The architecture, culture, cuisine, nightlife and friendly locals make this a city I will definitely be back to in the near future.  And to those of you that live in Melbourne and think that it’s the best….I’ll stick to Sydney!   Check out my Flickr account for tons more pics!

First to answer everyone’s question: no the water in the toilets doesn’t spin counter-clockwise, (or what they would call anti-clockwise here) the water is just sucked straight down.  The odd part is that there are two flush options available depending on the damage done…

The hot water gets super hot quickly and does kind of have a funky smell to it, but I have yet to be able to describe it.  Also most sinks have 2 facets; one for cold and one for hot, which is kind of old school.

Me posing with my lovely bathroom sink!

The bugs are absolutely disgusting and are everywhere.  There is everything from huge spiders, cockroaches, ants, flying bugs, mosquitoes/mozzies to things far worse that I don’t even know about yet and don’t want to come across.  I am constantly de-bugging my place and have to keep all food sealed up or they will come out by the dozens.

The humidity here is unbearable at times.  When this is the case your only two options are a dip in the ocean or a nice cold shower since nowhere has air conditioning.  I’m from the desert and can handle the heat but 95º with high humidity kills me.  The only thing I have on my side is the amazing ocean breeze.

The weather changes instantly.  One minute you’re on the beach, enjoying the sun and the next it’s pouring rain.  I’ve learned to run for cover immediately at the moment I feel even a drop of rain because it will a complete downpour in moments.  And normally not too long after the torrential downpour, the sun is out again! Check out my video of it pouring at my place!

The sun is so strong here! Didn’t get the memo before the move that there is practically no ozone layer above Australia and the sun is extremely powerful!  Everyone better use protection here or you will be fried to a crisp and be that tourist miserably burnt.  But if you play your cards right you could end up ridiculously tan like myself.

Me looking quite dark after my die hard tanning routine!

Australian TV as a whole is horrible; well basic cable that is.  Most of it is old and new American sitcoms and movies.  There are also Aussie sitcoms and soap operas, which don’t do it for me.  The sports selection could be better as well; I’m not quite into bull riding or trashy car racing.  I’m seriously having NBA withdrawals.  On the plus side there are a lot less commercials that tend to be quite witty and entertaining and the movies and shows are not edited.

Obviously they drive on the other side of the road here in Australia.  I can actually proudly say I’ve gotten used to this aspect of change.  I no longer try and get in the car on the wrong side or am in the middle of an intersection with no understanding of what lane we’re turning into.  While walking I do still look both ways juussst to be safe, but generally am aware of the traffic.  Also the escalators and walkways are all backwards as well so be aware!

A walkway in Manly that gives you a nice reminder of what side to walk on!

In the suburbs there are round-abouts at every intersection.  I don’t enjoy the bus ride from Bondi into the city mainly because of these little obstacles.  Ew.  Buses are bad enough, but hot crowded buses that have to maneuver around tight circles every few moments.  Double Ew.

Some of the signage and advertisements here is Australia are hilarious and the pictures can be quite ridiculous.

A ridiculous sign/advertisement in the woman's bathroom @ the cricket stadium!

One of my favorite signs on the bus!!

Obviously like I talked about in my previous blog, the lingo and language they speak here has definitely thrown me off.  I reckon I will never catch up with all their words even after having been here a year.  Yes I know a lot of it will wear off on me and become part of my vocabulary, as it has, but there is too much content to master!

Yes those would be tater tots. I think our name is actually much more ridiculous!

How expensive it is!!!!!  Sydney is the most expensive city in Australia and Bondi is definitely one of the more expensive areas rent-wise.  Yeah hello $250 a week rent, I hate you!!!

Didn’t realize how big gambling is here.  “Pokies” aka slot machines are in pretty much every pub.

Their money, which looks like monopoly money, has taken some getting used to.  The bills are different sizes depending on the value and the size of their different coins doesn’t quite make sense in regards to their value.

The Australian Coin family

The Australian bill family; minus the hundred...sorry I'm broke!

Light beer here in Oz means low alcohol like 2%.  Don’t make that mistake just look for low carb if you’re looking to minimize the calories.

The craziest thing that throws me off the most is always being a day ahead.  I arrived in Sydney on New Years Eve and experienced 2010 18 hours before my hometown of Phoenix, Arizona.  Now every time I talk to someone I’ve already lived that day they’re experiencing and am onto the next.

Hope this article gave those of you that will be traveling to Australia a heads up about some of their customs and odd situations.  Overall there are no real set backs in this country and you just have to appreciate all the quirky little things about this country with a smile! Hey I’m not complaining!

How to Speak Australian

The first obstacle one encounters when talking to someone in Australia is deciphering if the person is a true Aussie, a Kiwi (from New Zealand), American, Canadian, or from the England/Ireland region.  With these different nationalities comes a completely different accent and their own lingo to go along with it.  Also there are heaps of Europeans from non-English speaking countries, Asians, and a lot of Brazilians in Sydney.  You really never know what you’re going to get when you start speaking to someone down here, which makes it that much more interesting.

Some of the stereotypical phrases that we’re used to in the states are present down here, but not exactly the same.  Shrimp on the barbie is not accurate because they call shrimps prawns, but the Aussies do love their barbies, as do I.  They do say g’day, mate, cheers, no worries, no dramas, and wanker.  This is only the beginning of the lingo and their language continues to boggle my mind daily…

Lingo

How to speak Australian can be summarized with a few key rules.  First, they abbreviate EVERYTHING!  After half the word is cut off it’s usually safe to assume that you add -ies to the end and you’re good to go.  For example sunglasses are sunnies, breakfast is brekkie, and mosquitos are mozzies, which have been eating me alive.  Another trend in the lingo is shortening words and adding an -o to the end like with avro, which is afternoon or seppo which is short for septic tank and a lovely nickname for us Americans, along with Yanks.  One thing I don’t quite understand is their tendency to end sentences with the word but.  The first time I experienced this I was like, “Yes continue on…”

Just in my cozzie...enjoying the view of Bondi Beach

One phrase that really caught me off guard is someone asking you if you “Fancy a root?”  This and tons other variations on this phrase means “Do you want to have sex?” or something to deal with being absolutely messed up, like rooted when you’re really drunk.  So ladies this is one you definitely want to take note of because I’m sure you will come across a similar situation down here.  But don’t get the wrong impression about the Aussie guys, they really aren’t usually that forward and don’t come across as complete womanizers like many other nationalities.

Here are some helpful sayings / words to get you acquainted with the language Down Under….

Ankle-biter: Infant or baby

Bog in : Begin eating, to attack food with enthusiasm or be a Carnie

Bottle Shop: Liquor store

Cabbie: Taxi Driver

Chemist: A pharmacy or someone who writes you prescriptions

Chips: French Fries

Cozzie: Swimming costume aka swimsuit

Dead Horse: Tomato sauce / Ketchup

Gronk: Complete idiot / moron

Good on ya: Well done or good for you

Hotel: A pub that can be with or without food or accommodation * You always have your local pub/hotel!

Lollies: Sweets or candies, not necessarily lollipops

Longnecks: 750ml bottle of beer…On Australia Day I was called out for “longneckin” my Passion Pop

Macca’s: McDonald’s

Off one’s face or on the piss: Drunk

Roadie: A beer you take with you…gotta love these!

Skull or skol: To drink a beer without taking a breath aka our pound or chug

Slab: A case of beer/a 24 pack

Follow this link for a more detailed list of Aussie sayings and lingo.

I’ve also learned about the ridiculous world of Aussie Rhyming Slang, which is extremely confusing and hard to get the hang of!

My local Bottle Shop! Love this place..

The Australians do cuss a lot and are constantly insulting each other, but it’s all in good fun.  They have a very dry sense of humor that I love and there is never a dull moment around them.  They have no “sensor” regarding what they say and to whom.  There is no BS down here and you’re going to hear how someone really feels and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Most Americans can’t quite handle the truth, but I love the brutal honesty of the Australian culture.  People are not easily offended here or worried about being politically correct and it’s amazingly refreshing.

Pronunciation & Spelling of Words

The Aussies have a tendency to completely leave out letters in a word.  For example Melbourne is pronounced simply as Melbin, because that makes sense? Both the letters “h” and “z” are pronounced differently.  I just joined ANZ Bank, which is pronounced A N Z(ed).  WTF?  The word aluminum is also one that they have their own way with and manage to pronounce it al-u-min-e-um, which is adding an extra syllable.  Also their spelling is much like the Queen’s English with all their ou’s like in colour.  The word that really caught me by surprise was the word jail is actually spelled gaol.

Yup Tomato Sauce it is!

My Lingo Progress

The more time I spend with Australians the more their lingo is rubbing off on me.  It really is inevitable for this to happen and I’m loving all the new words and ways to say things.  I have really become a fan of sayings/words such as: I can’t be bothered, reckon, something bad is just sh*t, heaps, bottle shop, and the list really does go on.  I’ve also picked up the cue after many people giving me a blank stare that ketchup is actually called tomato sauce, but must be pronounced with a hard o sound like in Tom.  I’m sure the longer I’m down here the more sayings and lingo I will pick up and say without even realizing.  It should be interesting to see how much these Aussies do rub off on this American girl living in their world!

Hope this was helpful to those of you wanting to hear a little about the lingo and language down here in Australia.  I’m sure I’ll have more favorite words in the future and my Australian vocabulary will continue to grow!

Just a few Americans enjoying some beverages responsibly!

Taxes

Everything is expensive in Sydney, but alcohol is sooo expensive it’s seriously disgusting.  At bars, clubs, restaurants, and in the “Bottle Shops” the amount they charge for booze here should be illegal! For example, if one were to buy a bottle of Smirnoff here it would cost about $40, in the US $12, and a good bottle like Grey Goose will cost you $90, in the US $40. Ew. Right?  Plus who even drinks Smirnoff?  Even a 6 pack of Corona’s or other import can cost you $20 at a local bottle shop in Bondi.  Wine is the one alcohol that you can get at a decent price.  Most younger Aussies and backpackers drink “Goon” which is boxed wine, that is disgusting, but for $10 you can get around 3 liters.  The origin of goon comes from the Aboriginal translation, which means pillow, because the Aborigines would drink the goon wine and then blow up the bag for a pillow.  Classy huh?  I’m hooked on a great $10 Rosé that I discovered at my local bottle shop on Beach Rd, and my most recent obsession, thanks to my fellow American Liz, is Passion Pop, which is a $6 bottle of sparkling goodness that does the job.

A classy box of Goon Wine chillin' on my balcony

Laws

In addition to placing ridiculous amounts of taxes on of their booze, they also have tons of laws and rules they have put into place.  RSA class or Responsiblity for Serving Alcohol, is a mandatory class for anyone that plans to serve alcohol for a job.  It was a 6 hour lecture about the dangers of drinking, binge drinking, “drink” driving, and the laws surrounding serving alcohol.  It was not a fun day and of course I went straight to the pub after for a beer.  Also the fines for serving minors or over-serving someone can cost you up to $11,000.  Alcohol can only be purchased in bottle shops aka liquor stores, and is usually not for sale after 10pm.  Most bars highly monitor who they’re letting in and will ask you how many drinks you’ve had, and if your answer is more than 2 they usually will deny you entry and tell you to come back later, which you then just head to another club.  Drinking on the streets and in public places is not illegal unless stated on a a sign, so that’s nice.  Finally the limits that they have imposed at sporting events, such as cricket, are horrible and you aren’t even able to get a full strength beer.

All the different "Standard Drinks" here in Oz

Hot Messes

Everyone knows Aussies are big drinkers and they know how to have a good time, and I love them for that.  I thought I was prepared for this but I was sorely mistaken.  Since I’ve been in Sydney I’ve learned the hard way that there is absolutely no way I can keep up with the Aussies.  I don’t know how they do it.  They will drink all day, while at a barbie or whatever it is they do, and just continue into the nighttime not even phased.  Well I mean they are usually wasted, or pissed as they say, but somehow keep it together.  I can’t do it, I’m one or the other: day drinking or night drinking.  Also a new term I’ve learned is to “skull” a beer, which would be like “pound” or “chug” in the American culture.  Oh yes all these life lessons the Aussies are teaching me.

A typical Aussie fridge in a bottle shop

Getting Around It

If you’re coming to Australia for a holiday or to move I would recommend buying the maximum amount of booze at the duty free store in the airport to save yourself some money.  These bottles will come in handy for your pre-drinking activities and your new best friend in Oz, your flask.  In the bars here a cocktail will literally be one shot, which is 30 ml aka about an ounce.  This caught me by surprise since I’m used to the states where normally your single cocktail will end up being a at least a double.  It’s actually sobering to drink single drinks here and is super expensive.  This has turned me into more of a beer girl and of course I am still enjoying my wine.

Don’t let this article leave a bad taste in your mouth about Australia.  It is unfortunate but believe me there are tons of things that make up for it in this country.  Hope this was useful information and gives you a better idea about what it’s like to drink Down Under.  It really hasn’t slowed me down, in fact Australia has made me much more of a lush but everything in moderation right?  Please comment and give me some feedback regarding topics you would like to know more about while living in Australia! Thanks!