40. Australia in a nutshell

  • An image showing We came from South America, we came from New Zealand. We crossed half of the world.

    • We came from South America, we came from New Zealand. We crossed half of the world.

    • We arrived in this new land, Australia. We were dreaming about heavenly beaches, easy money, kangaroos, koalas, legendary road trip along the East Coast. Australia was the mix between surf toward beautiful beaches and the country of “Crocodile Dundee": the Outback.

  • An image showing We only had positive feedbacks. But for us, the Australian dream just changed into nightmare. It's a really disappointing outcome.

    • We only had positive feedbacks. But for us, the Australian dream just changed into nightmare. It's a really disappointing outcome.

    • But first a disclaimer! We were disappointed about Australia but it is not the case of the large majority of “Backpackers” living there. This is simply an incompatibility between our objectives of travel and the reality of the country. A disappointment that makes my speech bitter. You would maybe not feel this disappointment if you undertake a trip there.

    • Why?

  • An image showing Australia is a flat kingdom, expanding on hundreds of miles of similar lands. Even those truly heavenly beaches bored us after seeing the thirtieth one. When we wanted to reach and see something else, we were up to travel for hundreds of kilometers to finally may find an interesting place. Our former adventure in New Zealand was too intense and beautiful to let us really appreciate Australia.

    • Australia is a flat kingdom, expanding on hundreds of miles of similar lands. Even those truly heavenly beaches bored us after seeing the thirtieth one. When we wanted to reach and see something else, we were up to travel for hundreds of kilometers to finally may find an interesting place. Our former adventure in New Zealand was too intense and beautiful to let us really appreciate Australia.

  • An image showing For those three months we stayed there, we lost the Adventure as we knew it. We met back good comfort and good living condition of occidental standards. We left behind the unknown that spices up the travel and discomfort that worthes it. We fly from beach to beach and town to town without meeting – almost – anybody. The movement and the personal impetus allowed us the surprises, the meetings, the delights, and, victorious, we discovered treasures in hidden places. The car and its opportunities closed us from this world. Sadly, Adventure left us.

    • For those three months we stayed there, we lost the Adventure as we knew it. We met back good comfort and good living condition of occidental standards. We left behind the unknown that spices up the travel and discomfort that worthes it. We fly from beach to beach and town to town without meeting – almost – anybody. The movement and the personal impetus allowed us the surprises, the meetings, the delights, and, victorious, we discovered treasures in hidden places. The car and its opportunities closed us from this world. Sadly, Adventure left us.

  • An image showing Australia is not the country of freedom. The outrageous liberalism made the state’s lack of power turn to legislate on people's lives. They restrict all, but it is for people’s sake as much as to protect themselves from their own judiciary. Alcohol and tobacco are excessively expensive and everywhere we see as many warnings as we see Australian youngsters totally drunk and drugged. At the entry of each park, we see double panels of improbable restrictions to avoid the legal loophole and the trial in case of the slightest glitch. Our French civil disobedience spirit faced there a country of cameras and redundant cops. Singapore (which is a dictatorship) and Australia are, on this point, extremely similar.

    • Australia is not the country of freedom. The outrageous liberalism made the state’s lack of power turn to legislate on people's lives. They restrict all, but it is for people’s sake as much as to protect themselves from their own judiciary. Alcohol and tobacco are excessively expensive and everywhere we see as many warnings as we see Australian youngsters totally drunk and drugged. At the entry of each park, we see double panels of improbable restrictions to avoid the legal loophole and the trial in case of the slightest glitch. Our French civil disobedience spirit faced there a country of cameras and redundant cops. Singapore (which is a dictatorship) and Australia are, on this point, extremely similar.

  • An image showing In the countries we visit, we like to find a history and a culture. We are still searching for it in Australia. It was colonized two centuries ago. Everything is brand new here! A historic bridge would have been built in 1930. Australian culture owns a remain of English culture largely Americanized which is not very interesting. Aboriginals could have been a topic to deal in depth, but – and it is sad to say that – nothing remains from their culture (except in books and films). Aboriginals we met are drugged and alcoholic. The vices of the city caught them. Their integration, according to the Australian, failed. Today they are rejected. They are the "tramps" of Australia.

    • In the countries we visit, we like to find a history and a culture. We are still searching for it in Australia. It was colonized two centuries ago. Everything is brand new here! A historic bridge would have been built in 1930. Australian culture owns a remain of English culture largely Americanized which is not very interesting. Aboriginals could have been a topic to deal in depth, but – and it is sad to say that – nothing remains from their culture (except in books and films). Aboriginals we met are drugged and alcoholic. The vices of the city caught them. Their integration, according to the Australian, failed. Today they are rejected. They are the "tramps" of Australia.

  • An image showing So what? Will you hate Australia? Not sure!

    • So what? Will you hate Australia? Not sure!

    • The solution will be to find your interest somewhere else. You can find your passion in the local fauna, which is unique in the world. You can seek the solitude in the desert. You can revel in modern architecture. You can live day to day, as the majority of Backpackers does.

    • Do not come to Australia hoping to travel, but hope to spend holidays. You'll love Australia if you come to a breakaway for a short and intense trip, for tourism, when the distances are melting down. You'll love Australia as a first travel experience, when ease accompanies the adventure. You'll love Australia if you like the hippie style, guitar-beer-weed-fire beach parties. You will taste then the generosity and simplicity of Australians. Enjoy the Working Holiday Visa as one year or two of holidays, without expecting to evolve and thrive, but rather soothe and de-stress

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