So the Aussies now know what “tietsjen” is and what we do/did in the Netherlands for Easter. I went down to Canberra with Justin and Belinda to visit Belinda’s sister Louise, who lives down there. Canberra is the capital of Australia and built with the reason of being the capital. In the old days Sydney and Melbourne both thought they should be the capital, so in the end it was decided to build a capital. For that reason, Canberra is a well planned and organized place with the Parliament House on top of Capital Hill overlooking the city. The top of Parliament House is covered with grass where you can wonder around and enjoy the views. This was done on purpose to symbolize the fact that Parliament is there to serve the people and not to rule them!!
There are some weird things related to Canberra. As it is a city-state, there’s only Federal Police who is seemingly not really interested in normal police activities as pulling people over for over speeding. Also, Canberra is the only place in Australia where it’s legal to buy fireworks and porn. So there’s that one suburb (Fishwyck) where you have one shop after the other where they sell porn movies and all kind of attributes. Yes, yes, we went there and Adam & Eva has quite an extensive assortment.
Also nice in Canberra is the embassy suburb, where the Thai embassy is a copy of a Bangkok temple and the PNG (Papua New Guinea) one a copy of a spiritual house. They were rebuilding the Dutch one, but nothing special about that one.
OK, back to the Easter traditions. I boiled eggs in the morning and invited my friends to join my decorating the eggs. This turned out to be a very competitive activity (especially Justin) as I promised a prize for the best coloured egg. Once coloured I sent them out of the apartment so I could hide the eggs. Another fierce competition followed. After the last egg was finally found I explained them what “tietsjen” is, see picture as well. We had great fun.
So, what else is going on here?
I spent the last four weeks in Brisbane for work, which is a 1.5 hour flight north of Sydney. We had 3 weeks to prepare a demo for a client and the last week was the actual demo. Unfortunately we were too busy to see a lot of Brisbane, but it looks like a place to go back to. If we win the project some of us will have to go up for a couple of months I guess… And if you ever end up in Brisbane and are in for a good, no a great steak, go to the Breakfast Creek Hotel. Don’t ever go to the kebab place on Brunswick St. Mall because that means trouble. Be very careful there because before you know tables and chairs are flying around, the police takes you to the station, handcuffs you and starts questioning you!!
Ever heard of the Southerly? The other day I was sitting behind the computer and thought: It’s really getting cold here. But the sun was shining outside. So I walked onto the balcony and it just felt like walking into an air-conditioning room. So that was the famous Southerly, an Artic wind that hits Australia during this time of the year.
Just before going up to Brisbane I went on a dive trip on the Great Barrier Reef. Great diving but unfortunately who couldn’t dive the Yongala because the sea was to rough in this area. The Yongala is reckoned to be one of best wreck dives in the area. But I saw Nemo!!! Anyone interested in going to the Cocos Islands, Costa Rica for a 10 day dive trip in September 2006? The local dive club is organizing a trip, check http://www.drummoyne.prodive.com/. I’m definitively interested.
I’m enjoying my residency and even got an Australian driving license already. Which was quite easy, I only had to do an eye test and no theoretical and practical test. Around 15 countries are listed as “good” countries, which means an eye test is the only requirement. Quite strange actually, imagining you drive on the other side of the road in the Netherlands.
When I got my residency sticker in my passport when I was in New Zealand it was stated on the sticker that I was not allowed to marry before entering Australia. Not that I had/have any plans to marry at the moment… But marrying an Australian girl would allow me dual citizenship. Otherwise, if I voluntarily would apply for Australian citizenship (which I can only do after being a permanent resident for two years), I will loose my Dutch, which I don’t want to give up.
I started playing indoor soccer again and in the first match I equalled the number of goals I scored in the 2 years I played for Mr. Z in the Netherlands. OK, I was a goalie at Mr. Z and a filed player now, but still… Unfortunately the goal and assist where not enough to beat the other team.
Hope you are all doing well and planning a trip to Australia in the next 70 years. In case you are depressed, over worked or have money worries, check out the ad for the new wonder pill.
Picture 1: Belinda and Louise “tietsjing” Picture 2: View from the top of Parliament House Picture 3: Australian permanent residency Picture 4: Nemo at the GBR! Picture 5: I will support the Dutch where ever I am Picture 6: The new wonder pill
The questions below about Australia are from potential visitors. They were posted on an Australian Tourism Website and the answers are the actual responses by the website officials, who obviously have a sense of humour.
Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, how do the plants grow? (UK) A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.
Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA) A: Depends how much you've been drinking.
Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden) A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water.
Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden) A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.
Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? (USA) A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not... oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.
Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA) A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.
Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK) A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.
Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA) A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? (UK) A: You are a British politician, right?
Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? (Germany) A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal.
Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA) A: Rattlesnakes live in A-me-ri-ca which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.
Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA) A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of Gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.
Q: Do you have perfume in Australia? (France) A: No, WE don't stink.
Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia? (USA) A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy) A: Yes, gay nightclubs.
Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? (France) A: Only at Christmas.
Q: I was in Australia in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the girl I dated while I was staying in Kings Cross. Can you help? (USA) A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.
Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA) A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first
