An Aussie hangover

MELBOURNE, Australia –Years back when I was in Vienna, I saw a shirt that said, "In Austria, there are no kangaroos." Well, now, I’ve been to the country of the kangaroo.

Australia, known for its beaches, it’s difficult to understand Ozzie accent, kangaroos, Kylie Minogue, prime steaks, where swimmers are superstars and thongs are the footwear of choice. The list of unique things in this country is endless.

When I was told that I had to accompany my grandmother to her home here, I was delighted. I think no grandson in his right mind would pass up the opportunity to grab a free trip. I realized I was no longer in the Philippines not when I felt the nippy Melbourne air or noted the confusing right-hand drive cars. But, rather, it was when my cousin watched in amazement as my fingers texted away in rapid succession, "You’re not really looking at the keys, are you?" he asked.

Melbourne may not be the first choice for the regular tourist. Sydney and Brisbane in the Gold Coast rank higher. Still it has its noteworthy sights.

Getting Around

For young people in developed countries, a holiday could mean roughing it up in some Third World destination, far from the suburban comforts of their homes.

But for us young Pinoys, roughing it up is a daily experience – dodging speeding vehicles to cross a street, inhaling all sorts of pollutants, getting that mucky feeling just standing outside the house for five minutes, or using the tabo to take a bath when water suddenly runs out.

So my idea of a holiday is not to ogle at the touristy places and click away at famous buildings. Rather I like to have a taste of first-world cosmopolitan lifestyle – give me an efficient mass transit system and I’m in heaven. I like places where the way of exploring the place is through walking or sitting in the park or on a bench in the main avenue, and just gawking at passersby as I take the ambiance in. Yes, it’s like one of those "just-like-in-the-movies" moments.

Melbourne, being a walking city and a garden city, is one such place. Even the 20-minute walk I had to take from our house to the train station in the suburbs was surprisingly pleasant. But everything works on schedule – after the rush hours, the trains to the city arrive every 30 minutes. That’s why even my walking had to be planned, so an otherwise leisurely stroll turned into a dash when I heard the train-crossing siren.

Why didn’t I take a bus to the station, one might ask? Well, I was just savoring the pedestrian-friendly city.

Downtown Melbourne has the biggest and most efficient tramway system outside of Europe, and some of the trams still being used are vintage ‘30s. So going around and exploring was no problem.

The area is quite compact and everything worth seeing was just walking distance or a tram-hop from each other; getting lost was even fun. Coffee shops and squares are everywhere.

At the State Library of Victoria, one can sit on the grass and watch people (mostly students and yuppies) hang-out, sunbathe and eat their lunch. The library offers free internet access, convenient for vacationing students who want to get ahead with their schoolwork.

Other places worth seeing are Federation Square, beside Flinders station; Bourke St. shopping district, and the National Gallery of Victoria. And one can see the Broadway version of the Lion King as well.

Tip one: Learn to read a map – I know we Pinoys are not used to maps, we get more more confused with our already chaotic streets in Manila, but Melbourne maps can be your best friend. Funny, crossing the streets can get a little tricky, given they drive right-hand. You may habitually look to your left first, unknowingly there’s a tram headed your way on the right.

Where To Shop

Shopping is probably the most irresistible activity for the traveling Pinoy. This makes Melbourne, a shopping city, particularly attractive. Problem is we also have this habit of converting dollars to pesos every time we see something we want, and seeing the atrocious figure, we end up not buying, or even eating, at all.

But don’t despair, sales are everywhere, and when they mean sale, they really mean it. The sale season starts on Dec. 27, and stretches all the way through January up to early February. Then it is sale season again come July or August.

Bourke St. is the local shopping Mecca with rows of stores on and off the main avenue.

Australia is board shorts haven; this is the "motherland" of beach wear brands we are all too familiar with, like Quicksilver and Billabong. So any beach junkie would have a field day looking over racks and racks of board shorts and beach wear. But aside from these familiar brands, other Aussie brands one must keep an eye on can be found on www.YD.com.au, www.jayjays.com.au, and www.jeanswest.com.au.

At the city’s outskirts, more shopping can be done at the DFOs (Direct Factory Outlets) and more malls.

The downside is that everything closes at five, even on weekends, except on Thursdays and Fridays where they close at nine. Australia isn’t really a malling country, which could be a downer for us Pinoy mall rats. Aussies are the outdoors type when it comes to recreation.

Tip two: It is common for store clerks to strike up a conversation; asking how you are or how your day has been. Do not hesitate to have a chat with them. Most are extremely friendly and are the type you could talk to for the entire afternoon. They take pride in their work. As a wise friend from Down Under said, "It’s hard to fake niceness."

What To Wear

When traveling, I try not to look like a tourist to blend in with the locals, I find that more fun. For many traveling abroad this is an opportunity to dress up more adventurously. What could be over the top back home is normal here. There is no room for plainness and sameness.

There’s something in the way people in developed countries dress. Being stylish is an every day thing and does not scream "pretentious." Aussie street gear is both cosmopolitan and laid back, in touch with global trends with an Aussie flair. Since Aussie culture is much influenced by the beach and the surf, it is such a common site to see guys in beach gear like in board shorts, thongs (flip flops), and surf shirts walking down its busy streets.

Another trend is the "distressed look," ripped shirts and collared Ts. Match them with the "collared-up" look. One can also find hoards of edgy designs of men’s shirts.

Generally, weather is unpredictable but in Melbourne weather is several notches higher in unpredictability. All four seasons can be experienced in one day. It can get really bone-chilling in the mornings, then scorching hot during the day, then get cold again in the evenings. That’s why it’s common to see people wearing cold outfits pairing with "thongs." So aside from the beach getup, a nice jacket is always handy. One learns to check the weather days ahead to plan what you’re going to wear. Especially now when the seasons are the opposite; we may be experiencing the scorching summer here but it’s Fall Season down there.

Tip three: Always bring sun block. Because there’s not much humidity one may not be bothered much by the Aussie sun; one might even enjoy it. But sun exposure can be harmful since Australia is close to the Antarctic where the hole in the ozone layer is.

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E-mail the author at ketsupluis@yahoo.com.