Some Things I've Noticed

-There is no, or very little tipping in Australia, but the service is also lacking. Most of the time I have to service myself, which is fine, at least my meal didn't cost me 15% more. And really wait staff don't really do to much anyway to earn an extra 15% most of the time. Sorry to all you wait staff people out there.

-We say "How ya doin'?" They say "How ya Goin'?"

-The $2 coin is smaller than the $1 coin. That took me a couple of weeks to get used to.

-The Traveler's Information Centers are great. These people go out of their way to get you what you need. Especially if you need a place to spend the night or want to do some touristy sight seeing.

- The electrical outlets all have a switch on them. Plus the plugs are bigger and different than what we have in the U.S. A light switch looks like the switch here, but without a plug next to it.

-THE BEER -- Most of the beer is yellow but with more body and malty tasting, but with more flavor than a Bud or Coors. The big ones here are Victoria Bitter (which isn't), Toohey's New (I usually drink this one), there are others but I can remember these right now. I've only seen and tried one beer that was darker in color that is a Toohey's Old. It was not good. Tasted like a bad amber. Bleh.

-Road signs are few and far between. You gotta know where you are going and if you miss a road sign you better go back because they don't like to repeat themselves.

-Bottle shops are the common way to get your alcohol. They seem to be everywhere. A bottle shop sells beer, wine, and spirits in the bottle and some are drive through. Tell them what you want at the window and they bag it up and send you on your way. Many resteraunts and cafes are B.Y.O. and have no corkage fee. They will even provide glasses or mugs, sometimes kept in a cooler for you, and some even provide a wine bucket with ice, if it's a white wine.

-Washing machines cost about $3 to $4 per load and a dry is about $2 to $4.

-We have beware of deer signs. They have beware of Kangaroos and Wallabees.

-Sometimes their accent is tough to figure out. -- At a petrol fill up I go in to pay; I have yet to see a gas pump with a card reader you have to go inside to the attendant to pay, the guy inside says "How ya goin'?" I say fine thanks, he says "Yawndatooah?" I say pardon me? He says "Yawndatooah?" I say I'm sorry, say that again? He says "Yawndatooah?" I say, did you say "Yawndatooah???" He says yeah. I say I don't know what that means. He says "Ah you on dah tooah, on your motorbike?" Oh, yes, yes I am on the tour on my motorbike. I'm awndatooah.

-Happy Mother's Day!!!