Continuing on with my rambling,

I was talking about the hearing to the local news on the radio as I drove along and the news has interesting traffic updates like – watch out for koalas. Yes they exist and I have invaded their world. I have not seen one in the wild though. I think I am far too north for koalas. What about kangaroos hopping by you ask? Unfortunately I have seen more kangaroos and wallabies dead on the sides of the roads than hopping by as I drive. The Australian roads are death traps. They are gruesome. I have seen countless kangaroos/wallabies and birds dead. I guess it is pretty common but the animals that lie dead are the ones I consider exotic.

The place is teaming with exotic birds. Sulphur-crested cockatoos, galahs (the pink-breasted cockatoos), ibis, egrets, rainbow lorikeets, kookaburras are my neighbors. They wake me up with their screeches. They fly around and I gape at them still (especially the cockatoos – they look beautiful when they spread out their wings). I still wonder if I live in an exotic zoo. Butterflies flutter past my windshield as I drive. It is enough to make me lose my concentration on the road and follow their trail. I have a thing for butterflies. I have not gotten over the wonder of watching the lorikeets feed on fruits as I sweat it out at the gym. When I get tired of the lorikeets I look around and spot the “made in Australia” sign.They are everywhere (fruits to gym equipment) – clearly labelled. Produce comes labeled clearly. Seeing “Bundy Pines”  or “Rockie melons” advertised is nothing new. I am all for going local but the Aussies clearly take it to another level. Shirts with tags that read “styled in Australia and made in China” are new to me.

That brings me to the next thing. Kids adding “y” and “ie” to words is cute but the grownup Aussie version of it is rather irritating. Bundy = Bundaberg, Rockie = Rockhampton. Breakfast becomes breakkie, biscuit becomes bickky, barbecue becomes barbie (let me fire up the barbie sounds gross), kindergarten becomes kindy and everyone uses them. It is the way the Aussies talk. Along with liberal usage of mate, love, dove and honey. I don’t think anyone called me a dove before I moved to Gladstone.

People are extremely friendly but they let you keep your personal space. After couple of years in Singapore, it is something I appreciate a lot. Maybe it is a small town thing but I find most people I interact with on a daily basis extremely nice that sometimes I feel that I am being gruff. There are days I don’t want to be called honey. Especially when I push myself to get to the store and get the groceries.

You probably have heard Aussies are laid-back. Believe me laid-back is not lazy. It is just that they have their priorities right (or wrong depending on how you see it). They enjoy the sun, worship the water and let life flow in between. Many stores are not open on Sundays. They close around 4 or 5pm on most days. Work-life balance is a great concept. Unless you are someone like me who is used to 24 hour super stores right around the corner and running to store at 6am because you forgot milk. It does take time to figure out when you should hit the stores and the bank and the post office. I put off cutting my daughter’s hair for 4-6 weeks because the hairdresser was open only between 9am and 4pm on weekdays. Duh!

The outdoors takes the center stage this side of the world. Parks are there everywhere with great play sets for kids, gazebos and barbecue pits. Kids are out most of the day (Even at school. I think my daughter spends 4-5 hours every day playing outdoors at her school). Barefoot kids and adults strolling down the grocery store aisles are common. I must be the only one bothered by the stuff they are stepping on. Bare chested guys walking around are a treat.

Life is short and meant to be enjoyed and the Aussie lifestyle attests that.

I cannot think of anything else to write about. Is there something else you want to know about? Let me know!