Australia Basic Info on Oz
Arrival into Australia- What you need to know about Customs
You did it! You booked your ticket, survived the flight, and are here! You are excited and ready to meet a person who actually uses G’day as part of their everyday speech. All Right…you are still in the Airport… but here’s a few tips on how to get yourself and your luggage out as smoothly as possible. Ready, Set, Que.
Duty Free- If you haven’t managed to be tempted by cheap booze, silk and perfume at one of the outlets in your home country or on the plane, Australia gives you one more chance…..As you arrive, there is a huge Duty Free Store before you even make it to Immigration. Ask about the quantity limits.
Immigration- this line is an interesting place to observe humanity in it’s disheveled, disorientated and unwashed glory. The line does generally move pretty quickly. You will need your passport (with appropriate Visa already in place) and the arrival card that was supplied to you on board your plane. Australian and New Zealand Passport Holders to the left, all Others to the right. You MAY NOT!!!!! use a cell phone in this area. You will be severely scolded if you try.
Date: February 18th, 2007 |
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Australian Slang. Translation Guide #3
One of the fun things of Travel is learning the local lingo. Australia has so many terms that are completely unique to their part of the World. This is the third in a series to come. It is designed to help Aussies headed overseas and travellers coming to OZ alike. Feel free to add a few of your own in the comments section.
Australian = North American Translation
Sunnies = Sunglasses! A necessity for life and fashion! The bigger the better at the moment.
Combi Van = Volkswagen type van. Think hippies. Little vans that have flat fronts and turn into a camper by night.
Mozzie = Mosquito. Grrr awful things that like to bite at 5:00 am right on your knuckle.
Loo Roll = Ha Ha Ha! Gotta love toilet humour! Seriously though, Toilet Paper Roll is the right answer. The thing that Men, regardless of the continent they live on, don’t know how to change.
Flippies = Flip Flops, Thongs (he he he that still makes me giggle)
Date: December 14th, 2006 |
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Australian Emergency Phone Numbers
Hey gang! No one wants to need emergency phone numbers- but everyone should know them. Here are a few of those critical numbers to know. If there is another you are looking for- let me know and I will add it. Happy Travels!
Ambulance, Police, Fire Brigade
000
Crime Stoppers
1800 333 000
Energy Australia
131388
General Post Office
159-171 Pitt Street
131318
Local Directory
12455
Overseas Operator
1225
Date: November 7th, 2006 |
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Australian Quarantine Domestic Regulations, I am sorry Ma’am- I’m going to have to check those Peaches!
If you are travelling between Australian States- believe it or not- there are still yet more Quarantine laws! Domestic Quarantine Laws are designed to prevent the spread of disease, insects, and invading plant species. They are mostly aimed at fruit and food products. You should be aware that they do apply, fines can be given, and there are stations at interstate borders and airports to check that prize tray of Mango’s you have just purchased. To avoid getting indigestion from trying to consume 8 kilo’s of gorgeous fresh oranges- here are a few guidelines:
Date: October 25th, 2006 |
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Cheap Stuff- Pub Meals
One other way to save a bit of dosh on your nosh- is to eat at a pub. You will have to scout your pubs carefully, some are tragically expensive. Then there are the few local beauties that offer $5 steak day, Free steak with the purchase of a beverage (oh darn), Trivia night with half price mains, etc.
If you are wiley and have the time between parties to scout it out- I reckon (Aussie for: I would imagine you would find it so..) you could find a local pub or Thai restaurant with a special …
Date: October 12th, 2006 |
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Australian Translation Guide #4
One of the fun things of Travel is learning the local lingo. Australia has many terms that are completely unique to their part of the World. This is the fourth in a series to come. It is designed to help Aussies headed overseas and travellers coming to OZ alike. Feel free to add a few of your own in the comments section.
Australian = North American Translation
Wonky = He He. I love this game. Wonky is a great word to describe anything that is a bit off. You can be wonky if you are hung over, a car can be wonky of there is something wrong with it, a throw in a game of catch can be a bit wonky if it misses it’s target.
Mo = Moustache. This one definately made me giggle. At first I thought it was a Radio-DJ-made-up-thing. Back in November they had MOvember where many men grew out moustaches for Men’s Health Awarness month. They then had friends bid to do good community deeds in order to get them to shave the Mo’s off at the end of the month. But NO! it IS actually a term the Aussies use to refer to a moustache. “Hey dude, that’s like a nice Mo!”… Mo man responds…” You Reckon?” GizMO: any gadget designed to technologically enhance a moustache’s splendour (An excerpt from the MOxford Dictionary click for more MO words….)
Reckon = Helllooooo Redneck USA! I felt like such an imposter the first 3000 times I said Reckon. It’s not a widely used term in the States, but it is VERY widely accepted in OZ. It is actually part of everyday speech. To figure, To guess, To agree, To think something to be so. Usage: “Geee Bobby that boat looks like it is going to crash into us!” Bobby Responds….”You Reckon?”
Date: January 18th, 2007 |
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Aussie Translation Guide #2
One of the fun things of Travel is learning the local lingo. Australia has innumerable terms that are as unique in the world as their very own Platypus (which I saw in the wild just recently- fascinating little creatures!). This is the second in a series to come. Feel free to add a few of your own in the comments section.
Australian = North American Translation
Fair Dinkum! = Honestly! Truthfully! Used like “No way dude!”
Bottle-o = Liquor Store. They don’t sell beer in gas stations but they have drive through Bottle-os
Salad = crappy tomato, onion, a couple of whole leaves of lettuce (not torn up into bite size pieces), and maybe grated carrot or beetroot. Generally no dressing. Served on the side of most dishes.
Woop Woop = No not that! You dirty people! Woop woop is the middle of nowhere. Waaaay out in the country.
Sus = Suspect, Dodgy, Questionable. Usage- “That taxi driver seemed a bit Sus”.
Date: November 20th, 2006 |
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I said “Supa Centa!” Where to find storage solutions in Australia.
When I first arrived into Sydney I had a very humbling exercise in race relations while trying to find storage solutions for my bathroom. I have already written about the variety stores which can be found in almost every strip shopping center in OZ- most of what I needed could have been found there- but alas- unlike you lot- I didn’t know about them at the time.
I had moved into a fully furnished apartment but the new modern bathroom had no where to store anything- modern, shiny and stark- I was afraid my tooth brush would eventually make a swan dive into the toilet. I set out to find…storage solutions! As a standby- I figured I would go to Ikea. The Ikea I was able to locate in Sydney was down near Moore Park. So far I had been unsuccessful at our North American standby- Target- for what I needed. I figured out which bus to take and headed down towards my adventure. I asked the first bus driver who was of Asian decent- how to get to ikea- he said “ah yessss…you need the Supa Centa. You walk and you will see sign…” He told me which stop to get off- and away I walked looking for a sign that said “Super Center”
Date: October 29th, 2006 |
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Coffee in Australia- a land of extremes.
Ahhh the endless search to find a great cup off coffee and a great place to enjoy it. Funny- enough- that is my theory on travel-(and in fact the migration of people around the globe)- the search for new food… or in this case- beverage.
Australia is a land of extremes- lush tropical regions juxtaposed with desert- and the coffee is the same. The average workplace juice of life or the kind you would have at home, is total $#%$%^%. You might think I am being harsh…. But wait till you have tried it. Freeze dried coffee…how do you say…. Ick? No wonder they have to drink it with milk and two sugars! ACK! I think it is actually capable of stripping the enamel off your teeth. Seriously- you are likely to encounter the instant freeze dried coffee on the road, in work places, and at people’s homes. The Driver Reviver locations generally have this too. Known as a “cuppa”- you generally drink it with at least milk.
Date: October 18th, 2006 |
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Oz Survival Guide to Food- Chips, Crisps, Chilli and Chicken?
One thing I have always enjoyed when travelling to far and distant lands is checking out the local junk food. Even with different states in the US- there is regional variation. I do have to say- awards go to Texas for some of the most inventive corn chip flavours. ANYWAY… back to Oz.
Upon arrival here- at a pub…as one does… I took my turn to buy bar snacks- ie. Potato Chips. I came back with two bags of plain salt flavoured because I was uncertain about the popularity of the other flavours. I was immediately met with massive disapproval and scolded for my humanitarian efforts to sober us up a bit. I was very coldly informed- “Aussies like any flavour of chip EXCEPT boring old plain salt chips!” My tail between my legs… I tucked that piece of information away and watched them proceed to eat the boring old salt chips anyway. While some of you may be saying that sounds a bit harsh… you’d be right.
In an effort to spare any of the rest of you the same social embarrassment- May I suggest: The Aussies love their sweet chilli and chicken flavoured chips the best. (I know I know… it sounds gross). Chips at a pub tend to be around $3.80 and they give them to you in a bowl for sharing.
Date: October 12th, 2006 |
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