Australia Culture
Aussie Slang, How to understand Aussie #7
OK so I haven’t written one of these in a while, and man are there some great Aussie-isms out there! I love the Aussie Translation Guide series. I hear-by promise to keep these coming. When you are traveling Down Under, you will undoubtedly hear slang that is very uniquely Australian. I provide this series to give you a fighting chance at understanding what is being said. Some slang phrases are pretty obvious, but others, you definitely need a translator. I picked a couple of particularly colorful ones today.
Australian …
Date: September 13th, 2007 |
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Australia in the News- Booze is Good for You
Ah, the Aussies! Some very good research dollars have been spent by some of the World’s Top Neurosurgeons and the findings presented at a conference in Carins.
Most of us believe that a big night drinking means a few less brain cells in the morning, but new research suggests this isn’t true. A conference of some of the world’s top neuroscientists in Cairns has heard that there is no evidence drinking alcohol leads directly to the death of brain cells.
In fact, research by Queensland Brain Institute director Professor Perry Bartlett …
Date: July 17th, 2007 |
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John Williamson- Aussie Exports to Look For
During the Tamworth Music Festival last January I had the great pleasure of going to watch John Williamson perform. I knew absolutely nothing about him other than a friend of mine had bought the tickets. I was thoroughly enchanted. Watching him on a big stage with nothing more than a chair, guitar, and his “campfire,” the crowd was completely transfixed for over 2 hours. This man is a True Blue, Fair Dinkum Australian Performer. More balladier than just singer- each of his songs …
Date: June 24th, 2007 |
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Aussie Wine Review, De Bortoli Pinot Noir Yarra Valley Gulf Station
I’ve recently had the pleasure of trying a really fantastic, moderately priced ($17-19) Australian Pinot Noir out of the Yarra Valley. I’m not always the biggest fan of Pinot due to a few unfortunate glasses I’ve tried, but this one shocked me the other direction. It was absolutely delicious. You would do yourself a good deed by trying the De Bertoli Pinot Noir Yarra Vally Gulf Station.
Funny enough, I had made a note to myself to pick up a bottle or two for the house when a friend of …
Date: June 20th, 2007 |
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Australia Hosts the Dalai Lama
Bono’s got nothin’ on this guy! Perth, Bendigo, Geelong, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Canberra, and NZ! Do you need a bit of inspiration? You are in luck! The Dalai Lama is touring Australia! Love that picture!
The days are counting down to the arrival in Australia and in Melbourne of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama 2007 Australia Tour will be eleven days of events and opportunities to hear and see one of the most recognisable people in the world today, the …
Date: May 27th, 2007 |
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Sydney Observatory, Total Eclipse Party
Hey any one need a REALLY good idea for a date? The Sydney Observatory is placed in quite arguably one of the most scenic spots in all of Sydney.
On the hill just next to the Harbour Bridge, it is a stunning vantage point. At any time of year, a visit during the day or evening is not misplaced. They quite frequently have family friendly programs and events. One that has caught my eye is coming up next Tuesday.
There is to be a Total …
Date: August 20th, 2007 |
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Australian Surf Reports
Surfing is like breathing for most Aussies. Braving cold, jelly fish, sharks, and tourists, the hearty Aussie surfers can be seen year round.
Headed to the beach, a boat trip or looking for a surf get-a-way? Check out the Surf report to see what kind of swell or beach conditions you can expect in your chosen vacation spot. Most of these websites also have heaps of information on Learn to Surf schools, surf camps and other surfie related items. Click on the below links.
Magic Seaweed
SwellNet …
Date: July 12th, 2007 |
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Oz Survival Guide to Food- Fresh Juice Shops
Oh the Aussies really nailed it with this one! One of my favorite ways to start a day is with a freshly squeezed juice. The best part about it- you get to pick the fruit/veggies/flavors you want in it. MMMM! Watermelon, Apple, Orange, Pineapple, Mint, Ginger, Carrot, Celery, Pear…you name it!
Granted at the moment it is winter and the fruit isn’t the best but it is still miles better than anything you can get in the states outside of California and Florida. Years ago I was given a …
Date: June 20th, 2007 |
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The Cosmic Psychos- Aussie Exports to Look For
After a blazing return oto the live scene last April after a 9 year hiatus, The Melbourne Rock legends Cosmic Psycos are back with the release of a brand new album.
The Psycos new Album Dung Australia is out June 9th. A recent article described their new album as “Dung Australia reeks of the balls out, grunged up punk rock that the Psycos pioneered. Empty the pool, get on your deck and ride the walls.”
Date: June 7th, 2007 |
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Aussie Translation Guide #6
Hey you Mob! It is time for another colorful Aussie Translation guide! Today we are going to talk about Car related words. 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. Feel free to add a few of your own in the comments section.
Australian = North American Translation
Ute = Elllll Caaaminnnoooo! The half car/half truck thing that failed miserably in the States. Wildly popular with Tradies (Trades people) and cowboys (Jackaroos). It makes North Americans giggle, while the Pommies just don’t know what to make of them. The Term Ute can sometimes mean truck, but more often than not, it means an El Camino.
Tarago = Toyota Mini Van, but it has become a generic term for the Mini Van. The Tarago is considered a full size van in Australia with Avis saying you can fit 8 people in them. We tried with a women’s soccer team on our trip to Griffith (see picture above). We fit- but I would not call it comfortable
Tyre = Tire. The round rubber thing on a car. He he he.
Boot = The trunk. The back end. Where you store things. Also used in Pommie English…..
Kerb = Curb. The hard cement thing that denotes where the edge of the road is. People tend to back into them while trying to parallel park on ridiculously narrow streets. Known to wreak havoc on wheel rims.
Petrol = Gasoline. The thing that makes the car go, unless you have a solar powered car, which are illegal in Australia even though they hosted the first big solar powered car race…..
Prang = Doh! A crash.
Bingle = DOH! DOH! A little crash, minor accident, sometimes a big crash but someone is trying to make it sound better. “Sweetheart, I might have had a little bingle this morning…”
Date: May 23rd, 2007 |
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