Comments on: More Things That Make Australia Unique http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/ Adventures of a Girl with No Fixed Address Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:04:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: theprofessionalhobo http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/comment-page-1/#comment-43192 theprofessionalhobo Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:46:38 +0000 http://theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/#comment-43192 @John - Try the chili, especially. Oh yeah - and truly: give the pumpkin pie a chance. You'll love it! I've come to accept both Aussie and NZ telecom prices are murder. But the way people seem to get around it is by sending text messages, which are typically quite cheap. The last time I was back in North America, the SMS culture hadn't quite caught up to the same level. @John – Try the chili, especially. Oh yeah – and truly: give the pumpkin pie a chance. You’ll love it!

I’ve come to accept both Aussie and NZ telecom prices are murder. But the way people seem to get around it is by sending text messages, which are typically quite cheap. The last time I was back in North America, the SMS culture hadn’t quite caught up to the same level.

]]> By: John In Brisbane http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/comment-page-1/#comment-42944 John In Brisbane Mon, 29 Nov 2010 03:04:23 +0000 http://theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/#comment-42944 Hey just found ur recipes and have been reading more about your travels ... cool! I am going to try to chilli, peanut butter muffins and .. hell all of them! :-) I read years ago that in the Australia section of the lonely planet guide that we are likely to ask you what you think about australia ... and its true. It normally takes a few beers to get beyond the usual platitudes though and hear some really interesting thoughts. re - one of my soap box issues - We do get screwed for telecoms here in Oz :-( Its improving but still not good. As you said, though, you were on the worst deal - the normal plans are probably 10c a minute. I have put credit on my skype account and it costs 10x more per minute to call Aussie mobiles than US ones! I can chat to my friend in Wisconsin while she commutes to work in her car for 2.7c /min. Sigh. The Kiwis are even worse off... although you shouldn't be spending too much time on a phone over there. Love your site - I just saved it and I hope you keep adding to it. all the best, John Hey just found ur recipes and have been reading more about your travels … cool! I am going to try to chilli, peanut butter muffins and .. hell all of them! :-)

I read years ago that in the Australia section of the lonely planet guide that we are likely to ask you what you think about australia … and its true. It normally takes a few beers to get beyond the usual platitudes though and hear some really interesting thoughts.

re – one of my soap box issues – We do get screwed for telecoms here in Oz :-( Its improving but still not good. As you said, though, you were on the worst deal – the normal plans are probably 10c a minute. I have put credit on my skype account and it costs 10x more per minute to call Aussie mobiles than US ones! I can chat to my friend in Wisconsin while she commutes to work in her car for 2.7c /min. Sigh. The Kiwis are even worse off… although you shouldn’t be spending too much time on a phone over there.

Love your site – I just saved it and I hope you keep adding to it.

all the best, John

]]> By: Wha-Huh? Bush Fires? AGAIN?! @ Travel News Bureau http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/comment-page-1/#comment-2438 Wha-Huh? Bush Fires? AGAIN?! @ Travel News Bureau Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:20:16 +0000 http://theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/#comment-2438 [...] reports the smoke to emergency services (which is 000 here, not 911), while we sit on our front step and watch it rising from a patch of forest on the side of a hill [...] [...] reports the smoke to emergency services (which is 000 here, not 911), while we sit on our front step and watch it rising from a patch of forest on the side of a hill [...]

]]> By: Penelope http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/comment-page-1/#comment-1037 Penelope Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:40:34 +0000 http://theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/#comment-1037 Cheers! My son and I are about to leave for tropical far north QLD from Central Oregon, (USA). I have been organic gardening here for twentyfour years and am literally looking at a complete reversal of climate. We are in the high desert, arid with snowfall and almost no humidity! I have been scoring the internet to find info on gardening (shade frames to protect from insect, sun an rain- likely- and ways of cooling). Any tropical gardeners out there? I know that this life change will be a challenge but we are embracing it completely. Thanks for the opportunity to possibly converse with my new neighbors. Penelope Cheers!
My son and I are about to leave for tropical far north QLD from Central Oregon, (USA). I have been organic gardening here for twentyfour years and am literally looking at a complete reversal of climate. We are in the high desert, arid with snowfall and almost no humidity! I have been scoring the internet to find info on gardening (shade frames to protect from insect, sun an rain- likely- and ways of cooling). Any tropical gardeners out there? I know that this life change will be a challenge but we are embracing it completely. Thanks for the opportunity to possibly converse with my new neighbors.
Penelope

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/comment-page-1/#comment-196 Anonymous Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:33:00 +0000 http://theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/#comment-196 Hi, I somehow stumbled across your blog and, as a born and bred Australian, I find it interesting to read an "outsider's" view of where I have spent most of my life. I admire you for having the guts to up and leave your home to travel, too. I have just returned from a year in the UK and it was the best year of my life, but I couldn't see myself leaving home indefinitely! As for some of the differences you have mentioned, and in regards to nicho's comment, we also use both "aitch" and "haitch". I say "aitch" but some of my friends say "haitch". As for "schooner", that is actually the size of the glass, and some areas serve different sizes instead. You could probably ask for a glass of beer, but you'd be asked (in NSW, at least) "schooner or middy?". Anyway, to finish off, thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us! Hi, I somehow stumbled across your blog and, as a born and bred Australian, I find it interesting to read an “outsider’s” view of where I have spent most of my life. I admire you for having the guts to up and leave your home to travel, too. I have just returned from a year in the UK and it was the best year of my life, but I couldn’t see myself leaving home indefinitely! As for some of the differences you have mentioned, and in regards to nicho’s comment, we also use both “aitch” and “haitch”. I say “aitch” but some of my friends say “haitch”. As for “schooner”, that is actually the size of the glass, and some areas serve different sizes instead. You could probably ask for a glass of beer, but you’d be asked (in NSW, at least) “schooner or middy?”. Anyway, to finish off, thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us!

]]> By: russ http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/comment-page-1/#comment-169 russ Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:37:00 +0000 http://theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/#comment-169 haha i never left a msg on anyone's blog before in my life i think !!!! but i happened across ur blog just googling around on mountain ppl/beach ppl (or you had sea ppl i think ... and btw, im def a mountain person too :) [and loved ur pics!!!]). <br/><br/>anyway, i enoyed that blog so had a look around, n really loved this one about oz! lol hehehe i'm from australia, so it's interesting to hear about how other ppl see it through their eyes ... i was in montreal a few years back. was for work so only short, but it was dream come true as i've always wanted to go canada ... was awesome. hope to go back sometime soon n check out the west coast next time. maybe more of the rockies! haha i never left a msg on anyone’s blog before in my life i think !!!! but i happened across ur blog just googling around on mountain ppl/beach ppl (or you had sea ppl i think … and btw, im def a mountain person too :) [and loved ur pics!!!]).

anyway, i enoyed that blog so had a look around, n really loved this one about oz! lol hehehe i’m from australia, so it’s interesting to hear about how other ppl see it through their eyes … i was in montreal a few years back. was for work so only short, but it was dream come true as i’ve always wanted to go canada … was awesome. hope to go back sometime soon n check out the west coast next time. maybe more of the rockies!

]]> By: Nomadic Matt http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/comment-page-1/#comment-167 Nomadic Matt Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:51:00 +0000 http://theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/#comment-167 I always found the aussie lingo a bit different. In America we call it downtown too! <br/><br/>Other difference- the pharmacy is a chemist. flip flops are thongs.<br/><br/>a glass of beer is a schooner. <br/><br/>peppers are casicums. <br/><br/>but these are all things that make australia wonderful! I always found the aussie lingo a bit different. In America we call it downtown too!

Other difference- the pharmacy is a chemist. flip flops are thongs.

a glass of beer is a schooner.

peppers are casicums.

but these are all things that make australia wonderful!

]]> By: Nora Dunn http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/comment-page-1/#comment-166 Nora Dunn Sat, 02 Aug 2008 22:22:00 +0000 http://theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/#comment-166 @Nicho: Thank you so much for your support and comment! I had wondered how many of the differences I've detected had European roots. I certainly make no bones about Australia's characteristics being entirely unique to the world - just unique to me! <br/>And don't you worry - I'll let you know when Europe is on the list...(smiles)<br/><br/>@Bradipo - Well huh. Who knew that 9-1-1 actually made so much sense. How short my memory is...I forgot about rotary dial phones. Yikes! <br/>Thanks for this tidbit - I love it! @Nicho: Thank you so much for your support and comment! I had wondered how many of the differences I’ve detected had European roots. I certainly make no bones about Australia’s characteristics being entirely unique to the world – just unique to me!
And don’t you worry – I’ll let you know when Europe is on the list…(smiles)

@Bradipo – Well huh. Who knew that 9-1-1 actually made so much sense. How short my memory is…I forgot about rotary dial phones. Yikes!
Thanks for this tidbit – I love it!

]]> By: Bradipo http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/comment-page-1/#comment-165 Bradipo Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:22:00 +0000 http://theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/#comment-165 Dialing 000 is all well and good nowadays. But back in the days of rotary-dial phones it would have taken three times as long to dial.<br/><br/>You can see the same logic in other phone numbers. For example, the quickest-to-dial area codes (ones with lots of 1s, 2s, and 3s in them) are assigned to the most populous cities. Dialing 000 is all well and good nowadays. But back in the days of rotary-dial phones it would have taken three times as long to dial.

You can see the same logic in other phone numbers. For example, the quickest-to-dial area codes (ones with lots of 1s, 2s, and 3s in them) are assigned to the most populous cities.

]]> By: Nicho http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/comment-page-1/#comment-164 Nicho Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:47:00 +0000 http://theprofessionalhobo.com/2008/07/more-things-that-make-australia-unique/#comment-164 Nora, It's been really interesting to follow your adventures and I'm becoming really envious, particularly now you're bringing to the fore all my memories of Australia, which I've been lucky enough to visit a couple of times. Being a Brit, it's also pretty interesting to read your comparisons of two countries on which Britain has had a reasonably large cultural impact! Gaol, for example, is the original British spelling of the word - not that you see it here much, any more. And the aitch/haitch ("H") debate - well, there's a class issue attached in the UK. Apparently the more well-to-do say "aitch" (and so that's seen as the 'proper' approach), while the lower orders (!) say "haitch" - interesting that you're spotting a difference between countries, I wonder if the difference within countries will be replicated outside Britain? Anyway, I really enjoy reading the blog so keep it coming and let me know if you ever leave your various tropical paradises for Europe! Nora, It’s been really interesting to follow your adventures and I’m becoming really envious, particularly now you’re bringing to the fore all my memories of Australia, which I’ve been lucky enough to visit a couple of times. Being a Brit, it’s also pretty interesting to read your comparisons of two countries on which Britain has had a reasonably large cultural impact! Gaol, for example, is the original British spelling of the word – not that you see it here much, any more. And the aitch/haitch (“H”) debate – well, there’s a class issue attached in the UK. Apparently the more well-to-do say “aitch” (and so that’s seen as the ‘proper’ approach), while the lower orders (!) say “haitch” – interesting that you’re spotting a difference between countries, I wonder if the difference within countries will be replicated outside Britain? Anyway, I really enjoy reading the blog so keep it coming and let me know if you ever leave your various tropical paradises for Europe!

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