Leaving Melbourne: back to Sydney

My apologies for the lack of logitems lately. I guess the main reason is that I have not been travelling that much in the last two weeks. And although I really enjoyed myself in Melbourne, there was not much to tell about it for you guys. I spend some afternoons playing soccers in one of the numerours parks, readings books in the botanical gardens or along the Yarra river. Chilled out on a free african music festival. Drank beer in the most dodgy metalcafe, and ordered cocktails in the finest R&B clubs in town. And everything in between. I watched free comedy shows on _federal square, _and went to the cinema’s. One day I would visit a museum, the next I was jogging on the Melbourne F1 racetrack. I met a lot of nice people at the hostel to hang out with (for some reason a lot of germans) to spend the evenings playing cards, watching a movie or just having a chat. In short: I had a great time in Melbourne!

But it was time to move on, so last night I took the night bus to Sydney. Where I have already spent a couple of days upon arrival in Australia. Did you know that the cost of flying here in Australia is in many cases comparable or even cheaper than taking the bus or train? For a trip from Melbourne you would pay AUS$77 for the bus, AUS$79 for the plane and AUS$124 for the train. No wonder flying is so popular here! However I chose the bus option, since you save money on accomodation and shuttlebuses. And time is something I can afford to waste. And ofcourse it more environmental friendly (ha).

What more to tell. Could I live in Australia? I certainly could for a couple of years. Although it didn’t capture my heart, there is something unique and refreshing about the easy-going lifestyle, a real multi-culture living environment (far more than in the Netherlands) and the joy of having great nature and wildlife on the doorstep of a cosmopolitan city. That said, in Australia it is still not happening. There is this sense that you are far and remote from the other western countries (which is true). As a global economic player, it has little importance. The influence of Australian music, movies or arts in the world is small. Maybe that is why the australian people are so focused on sports. In which they excel, having won relatively by far the most olympic medals in the world. All this is not surprising, ofcourse, since the total population of Australia is only a mere 20 million people. Barely more than in the Netherlands. But where the dutch people have a modest view of their small country’s role in Europe and the world, Australia need in some way to compensate that justifies the occupation of a whole continent! Austrlian people are proud of their country. They make their own cars (Holden) and have their own fastfood chains. There is not a product or shop here that doesn’t say ‘Proudly Australian Owned’ or ‘Made of 100% Australian products’. Even on products where it highly unlikely that no other countries were involved in the production. And even then, who are australians? A population that has such a rich mix of people all over the world, now spanning from first to third generation, and still so young is difficult to just approach them by their common denominator: australian citizenship. The influences of all these cultures and foreign people is too important. I still do not really understand where this ozzie patrionism comes from.

I will stay in Sydney until Sunday the 22nd of April. On that day I will depart to Los Angeles. I am looking forward to go to the states. But still need to figure out the best way to travel there, and where to go to. I have spoken quite a few people that have been in L.A. and actually none of them really likes it; they all say I should go to San Francisco instead. So I will probably travel to there as well. There is not really a backpacker culture as here in Australia, so it will be a bit harder to get around and travelling. Maybe I can team up with somebody and hire a car for a couple of days. I figure that is the best way of getting around, as here in Australia.

I have been very lucky with the weather in Australia during my last six weeks here! Except for a couple of chilly nights in Melbourne, the sun was shining every day with good temperatures and most importanly almost no rain! Which is a good thing for me as a traveller, but a major problem for Australia where they face big drought problems this year. But not as extreme as back home, though! With temperatures hitting almost thirty degrees in mid-april… I am almost getting jealous!

I uploaded some new pictures as well. See the right side of this site.

I hope you are all doing fine! And enjoy these lovely mid-spring days coming to you.

C ya,

Bas