What if you lived in Australia?

[deepsepia]

Originally Posted by palo5

Australia is the seventh least corrupt country in the world, according to the Corruption Perceptions Index

Curiously, I hear Aussies complain bitterly about corruption. Perhaps its because I'm in Queensland now, and there's a pretty slimy history here. Queensland seems to me to have a history a bit like a southern hemisphere Florida, and there's a recently published book called "Three Crooked Kings" that's worth reading

http://www.uqp.uq.edu.au/book.aspx/1...rooked%20Kings

Oz is a mix of an extremely honest population and a political and police system where the wheels have been greased with money for a long time.

For those interested, the story of the Fitzgerald Inquiry makes interesting reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitzgerald_Inquiry

[Tmee2020]

Originally Posted by deepsepia

Queensland seems to me to have a history a bit like a southern hemisphere Florida...

I don't think it's quite that bad.

[billybunter]

When I first went downunder I got back home and a mate said "what was the outback like?" I tried to explain it wasn't a theme park, WTF would I even want to go there. He never got it. Oz was outback Bushtucker Man. Stupid dick.

[effCup]

Originally Posted by billybunter

Oz was outback Bushtucker Man.

Yes, & I think I've also read its the most urbanised country in the world... although surely Vatican City might pip it? Monaco?

Heh, only #16... though with another 13 non-numbered above, so poss. only #29. Don't believe everything you wiki, though.

[winebeavis]

Originally Posted by billybunter

When I first went downunder I got back home and a mate said "what was the outback like?" I tried to explain it wasn't a theme park, WTF would I even want to go there. He never got it. Oz was outback Bushtucker Man. Stupid dick.

I'm fully expecting Australia to be a lot like the Crocodile Dundee movies.

[Sir Honkers]

Originally Posted by winebeavis

I'm fully expecting Australia to be a lot like the Crocodile Dundee movies.

Too flamin' right yer drongo. Chuck another prawn on the barby for winey darls while I crack him a coldie.

[Sir Honkers]

Originally Posted by effCup

Yes, & I think I've also read its the most urbanised country in the world.

That just means most of us live in cities on the coast, don't wear hats with corks dangling off them, have never climbed Ayres Rock...sorry Uluru or been to the outback and have only ever seen koala's when we took the kids to Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary.

[billybunter]

I spent a day at Steve Irwins zoo. Those crocs and Tasmanian Devils scared the shit out of me.

[deepsepia]

Originally Posted by winebeavis

I'm fully expecting Australia to be a lot like the Crocodile Dundee movies.

In places it is . . . in places its kinda like what Miami or Orange County could have been if development hadn't turned them to crap.

I've had some of the very best food of my life in Australia . . . incredible ingredients, great cooking. Aussies eat some horrible crap, and some of the very best food as well. I really didn't expect more than great barbeque in Oz, but the restaurant cooking at its best is terrific.

Just had a tasting menu in Brisbane that was cooking at the very top of the game (and a bargain). If you've eaten at fancy places in Napa, its that style (the chef is from Byron, but trained at Noma -- world's #1 restaurant-- and at French Laundry.

Oz really wears that combination well, they can do the delicious part of fancy stuff -- without becoming stuck up about it.

For a flavor of it, there's a series called "Gourmet Farmer", about a chef and restaurant critic from Sydney who moved to Tasmania to grow his own food (easiest to find on Usenet, as SBS geo block access outside of Oz).

So the good ol' boy/crocodile hunter thing is real, but so is terrific wine and food.

(weird thing about Oz: an ordinary restaurant meal is expensive by US standards, but an extraordinary one is cheap . . . has to do with the high minimum wage and benefits. So there's value in going to a great restaurant, but not to an "OK" one)

[winebeavis]

I was actually kind of kidding about the crocodile dundee to play along with the outback comments a few posts earlier.

But in all seriousness, I'm hoping to spend at least 1 day in wine country, hopefully it won't be crowded in September. And pop a cork with Tmee or whoever is in the area if they feel like it. I'm just a tourist having fun.

I also want to say thanks to the VEF member who have pm'd me suggestions. I'm very grateful. I'm not certain I'd be able to accomplish everything in a year, let alone 2 weeks.

Originally Posted by loosegoose

Too flamin' right yer drongo. Chuck another prawn on the barby for winey darls while I crack him a coldie.

WTF language is that? Reminds me of the last time I went to London. Couldn't understand a damn word they said. But let me give it a try translating anyway:

"You are correct kind sir. Please place some big shrimps, or prawns, or langostinos, on the grill for goodness sake. I shall provide him with a cold, refreshing malt beverage."

Am I close ?????