Aussie, Aussie, Aussie...

Lifestyle & Culture | December 21, 2009

It's almost as if I never left, Central America seems a distant memory, closer to a dream than reality. Australia is as real and raw as I always remembered. With sun-drenched beaches, ocker accents an Sunshine Plaza and familiar festive preparations mimicking Christmases past so thoroughly, I could be 20 and home from University again, rather than 28 and about to embark on a spanking new life in Brisbane next year.

There are some things, however, that I'd come close to forgetting about Australia, but seeing and experiencing them once again made me realise what a fantastic country I (now) live in. It all started on Saturday morning, as I began a 3.5 hour drive to Bundaberg for a friend's wedding. I was a little bit nervous driving again on the right side of the road, after four years on the left. On top of that, I was driving a massive Land Cruiser (a girl's got to sleep somewhere after the wedding!). But, Australia's great stretches of greeny-brown land soon rekindled the familiar feeling of a road trip, as I sang to the Dirty Dancing sound track at full volume to keep myself alert.

In my short trip to Bundy and back I remembered a few things that, if you're Australian, maybe you take for granted, and if you're not, maybe you'll find interesting.

1) Driver Reviver

I'd been told multiple times by Mum to make sure to have plenty of stops on the way to Bundaberg. So, I dutifully pulled over near Tiaro at one of the countless Driver Reviver stations that dot Australia's highways. These stops are manned by volunteers throughout the year. They serve free cups of hot Lipton tea in Styrofoam cups to drivers needing a break from the road. As any Australian knows, driving the long, often lonely, stretches can take it's toll, and single-vehicle accidents caused by drivers having 'micro sleeps' are all too common. So these stops are around to help us all stay safe and alert on the roads. Pretty cool hey? And, who could resist a slice of home-made fruit cake for $1 as you bob your teabag in the steaming water.

2) The Warning Flash

As we travelled in convoy from the wedding to the reception an approaching car flashed it's lights at me and I immediately hit the brakes (I was following a bunch of testosterone-fueled hoons I had gone to uni with). In Australia, a flash like that means only one thing - cops on the lookout for speeding drivers. As far as I know, Australia is the only country that has a nationwide system to help fellow-drivers evade speeding tickets. Of course it's totally illegal, but you've got to help out a mate right?

3) The Wedding Flash

A different kind of flash entirely... only in Australia would a wedding guest decide it is an entirely appropriate forum to get nude, walk around a bit, and mingle with their still-clothed counterparts. Yes, there was a nudie run at the wedding. But, sadly it was less of a run and more of a meet and greet, just to make sure everyone got a good eye-full. Enough said.

4) The Flattie

This could mean many things in Australia; a flathead (fish), a flat tire, or, as in my case, a flat white. Australia has a coffee that is uniquely their own (well, they also serve it in NZ apparently, but does that really count?) Where the USA has the Americano, Italy has espresso, and France has the French Press, Australia has the flat white. According to reputable sources, a flat white is 30ml of espresso, textured milk and 1cm or less microfoam and served in a ceramic cup. A latte has more than 1cm microfoam and is served in a glass cup. After waking at 5am cramped and uncomfortable in the back of the Cruiser, I decided it was better to head home that force another few hours sleep with my feet pressed into the door and my head into the back seats. But, to facilitate the long drive a coffee beverage of some sort was required, and when i stopped at a road-side roastery (so awesome!) I saw a flat white on the menu and couldn't resist!

Out on the patio we'd sit,

And the humidity we'd breathe,

We'd watch the lightning crack over cane fields,

Laugh and think, this is Australia

- Ganggajang