Monthly Archives: November 2018

Victorian II

Melbourne’s architecture is more of what I think of as Victorian.  This particular building looks like a Sorcerer Supreme ought to live here.Appropriate, as the state is resides in is itself named Victoria.Much like San Francisco (which it reminded me … Continue reading

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Cockatoo

En route to Melbourne, saw lots of sulphur-created cockatoos (like the one from Wikipedia above) all just standing around the side of the road, like pompadoured street toughs loitering on a stoop.

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Drowsy

Australia is super serious about drowsy driving.  There are road signs with warnings and admonitions and suggestion every mile or two.

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Victorian

Spent the night in a boutique hotel in Albury.  (A Midnight Oil song was playing when I walked into the lobby.  Peak Australia.)The main street had architecture that reminded me of the Old West (if heavily painted over.) It’s absurd that … Continue reading

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Snorks

I’ve been shocked by how few American cars I’ve seen on the road here.  Almost entirely Japanese and German cars.  Only the rustiest of rust buckets turns out to be a Ford or a Dodge. The Toyota Hilux is a … Continue reading

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Tucker

My first meal after landing I ate under a giant sign that read “Real Aussie Tucker”. Then, driving down the M31, I saw a sign for “Dog on the Tuckerbox” (which, I discovered later, is apparently a famous statue.) Wikipedia … Continue reading

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Toponyms III

Bundanoon.  Goobarragondra.  Mirrabooka. All the toponyms here sound like they were invented by a child while drawing a crayon map of their paracosm. Wagga Wagga.  Tangambalanga.  Tumbarumba. Or like they’re the name of a Chumbawumba cover band. (More about my general … Continue reading

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Nutbush

I learned about this baffling phenomenon while listening to Australian radio.  Apparently, in public school or something, everyone in the country learned some choreographed dance to “Nutbush City Limits” by Ike & Tina Turner.  And no one seems to know … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Canberra | Tagged | 2 Comments

Sassy

North of Canberra there is a town named Yass.  Luckily it’s in New South Wales which spares everyone involved a lot of “Yass, Queensland” jokes.

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Territory

Visited the Australian capital of Canberra.  (Rather than being a part of any Australian state, it’s in its own thing called the Australian Capital Territory, sort of like how D.C. isn’t technically in a state.)  The Parliament house looks like … Continue reading

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Antipodes

First impressions of Australia?  Much like the western coast of New Zealand on the other side of the Tasman Sea, it reminds me a lot of San Diego! Although, sadly, a San Diego dotted with kangaroo roadkill in every conceivable phase … Continue reading

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Fragrant II

Sunset behind the clouds, high over Hong Kong.

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Pareidolia

I suffer from pareidolia as much as  anyone.  Which is why when I look at the control panel in the elevator at work I can’t help but see a sad, unshaven clown.

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Ghillie

Words cannot do justice to the colors of New England foliage.  The leaves don’t turn yellow, they turn golden. My first visit to New England in the fall, back in 2014, it was a revelation that even the leaves of … Continue reading

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