left our jobs, went to Asia

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Being in a country as a transit destination (in our case from New Zealand to Thailand), I like to have it as easy and comfortable as possible.
Not worrying about anything, until the connecting flight arrives.
But it's not working in Australia. After changing the money with a goal to get some coffee, you get metal coins.

Obverse side of one and two dollar coins, Sydney, Australia

Intuition and rules of usability dictate that the bigger coin is the more  READ MORE »

I've said mostly positive words about Australia so far. Well, maybe except the level of IT and internet development.
Still, we need to be objective, right? Therefore, a few words of criticism about how Australia treats its own citizens.

Let's start from Europe.

I come from there, so the comparison comes naturally.
Travelling in Europe is easy - if you're a citizen of an EU country, all you need to travel to the rest of the continent, is an ID card. The passport can stay at home.

Look what the authorities say:
“It is best to have your passport or ID card when travelling in the EU because you may be required to prove your identity.”
 

You may be required, how's that?

What happens in reality, is that you just drive past the border of yet another European country, sometimes even without noticing it. And nobody bothers to check you, except some rare cases.

Nice and easy.

In Australia, on the other hand,

even the citizens of Australia are asked to fill out the departure card!

Australian outgoing passenger's card  READ MORE »

New York. Central Park.

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While discussing your compensation package with a new employer, how much would you be willing to sacrifice for having lunch breaks like this?

Two construction guys relax on Manley beach during a lunch break, Sydney, Australia  READ MORE »

Sydney reminds me somewhat of a Singapore. Water, high rise buildings and reflections in a dark water.

CBD reflecting in the waters of the bay, Sydney, Australia

Except the prices. No more negotiations when  READ MORE »

At least one hour's climb to Mount Oberon via a wide and winding gravel road is rather boring, but two things while on the top are definitely rewarding.

View to down below from the top of Mount Oberon, Wilsons Promontory, Australia

Views to the surrounding beaches, and  READ MORE »

The highlight of my today's sightseeing in Melbourne is visiting one of the high-rise hotels.

Actually, the hotel's toilet.

It is situated on a top floor and has a huge window from floor to ceiling. The views are magnificent.

Birds-eye panoramic view at the city from the toilet of a hotel, Melbourne, Australia

We all know that some people love reading in toilets. Well, in this one, you one can  READ MORE »

So far we have driven all along the West coast of Australia, from Darwin to Perth.
After the flight from Perth to Melbourne, we plan to drive again, this time from Melbourne to Cairns.

In total it will be more than 8000 kilometers.

Postcard comparing territory of Australia to Europe, USA, Japan, New Zealand, SE Asia

Back home it usually takes me half a year to cover  READ MORE »

After a nice dinner out in Melbourne, we decided to give it a go and try a dessert in one of Italian ice cream shops that are open till late.

All kinds of desserts are tempting passers-by, Melbourne, Australia

After the waitress brought the blueberry cheesecake, we realized our mistake.

Even for two of us the piece was  READ MORE »

An example of Australian marketing.

Ice cream named "Golden gaytime", Melbourne, Australia

Costs 6.49 AUD.

Of course I bought it! Tastes great, by the way.  READ MORE »

Statue guarding entrance to the shop, Melbourne, Australia

I've asked a resident of Melbourne, living there for over twenty years, if he could tell me the name of the most dangerous suburb. Gangs, guns, drugs, that type of  READ MORE »

A few posts back I mentioned kangaroos, wombats and emus. Thought you might like to see how they look, umm, in a different context.

I.e. alive.

Emu you already saw, so I'll start with a kangaroo.

A portrait, if you like. I think she's dreaming about grass that's even greener.

Portrait of a kangaroo, Phillip island, Australia

Also, meet wombat. A boulder of  READ MORE »