(Diarist's Note: I know many of you are disappointed not to see the name Chrislove, our regular Friday Commenteer, at the top of this diary. I am too! But Chris is celebrating Chinese New Year with his BF, so we will forgive him--this time! Have fun, Chris, but be back next week!)
I have never been to Australia, and, alas, I probably never will go. But I would like to. Last Sunday, January 26, was Australia Day, or from the indigenous perspective, Invasion Day. I almost did my New Day diary on it but lying Republicans proved to be an irresistible topic so we had a Sunday bash instead.
But I'd still like to chat about Australia, not because I know anything about it but because I'd like to. If you'd rather skip to the Good Stuff™, that's OK, too. But, first, a word from our sponsor:
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Of all the places on Earth I've never been (and there are a lot!), I think I might like most to visit Australia. I just think it would be like being on another planet in some ways. The environment is strange in both flora and fauna, the night sky is totally unfamiliar, and water flushes down the toilet counterclockwise. The seasons are backward, the maps are upside down, and they drive on the wrong side of the road. But the landscape is awesome with wild extremes and everything in between, the ocean and beaches are spectacular, and there are beautiful cities, too.
And the people seem really cool too. They get to wear great hats, and many of the women are gorgeous. In fact, 357 Australian women recently set a world record for largest bikini parade ever. You gotta love a continent like that.
You don't have to learn a foreign language to visit Australia, and like American English, Australian English is distinct, colorful, and slangy. I have always imagined Australia as a more relaxed place than most, probably because of their speech. Even when you take pictures in Australia, you can't go wrong. If you don't like 357 women in bikinis, then you can always get a snapshot of a koala. It is impossible to take a picture of a koala that isn't cute.
But these are my fantasies. I know Aussies have to deal with real issues like racism, global warming, and inequality just like the rest of us do. I know they have a greedy 1% who wants to own everything. After all, Rupert Murdoch is from Melbourne. I know Aussies are regular people, and like people all over the world, there are all kinds in Australia. But as a nation, they have always seemed likeable to me.
So I am asking you, Kossacks. Have you ever visited Australia? Have you ever lived there? Do you live there now? Are you now, or have you ever been, an Australian? If so--or if not--I'd love to hear your perspective on the Aussies and their continent.
Image Credits:
Map courtesy about-australia-shop.com
Hat courtesy brookstone.com
Koala courtesy acuteaday.com
Sydney courtesy sydneyrealestate.webs.com
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TOP PHOTOS
January 30, 2014
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