American individualism and Australian mateship make two similar countries very different. I’ve written before about the little differences between Miami and Melbourne. It’s hard to make generalisations because the United States and Australia are both large countries with different regional cultures, political and social ideologies, and state laws. Life is very different in New York, Georgia, … Read more
One thing I love about Melbourne is the blend the old and the new, its historical architecture alongside or even inside contemporary structures. Melbourne was founded in 1835, more than 250 years after the first Spanish mission was constructed in Miami. You don’t see many old buildings in Miami. There are some notable exceptions particularly … Read more
It’s the anniversary of the Mariel boatlift. On a day like today, 20 May 1980, my family arrived in the United States. Between April and September 1980, 125,000 Cubans arrived in Florida from the port of El Mariel, in a dramatic boatlift that had long-standing repercussions for the United States and for Castro’s image. It … Read more
Here’s a tip on how to take good pictures. Photography can be complicated, but this is one tip for point and shoot. There are lots of people snapping pictures at the Twelve Apostles. Bad pictures. Some of them have fancy DSLR cameras. Others have simple point-and-shoot cameras or are using mobile devices. This is not … Read more
Boomerangs are an Australian icon. It’s one of the most popular souvenirs. You see them in all the tourist shops and museum gift shops. Most of these are overpriced and they may not fly well. I wanted to get some real boomerangs for my family and friends back home. The boomerang is tens of thousands … Read more
Last week I blogged about 12 dangerous Australian animals. Most of them are pretty obvious – spiders, snakes, sharks. But Australia has also cute and fuzzy animals that can kill you. They are especially nefarious because, well, they’re so darn cute. Australian Dingo: “Who’s a good boy? You are! Yes, you are!” Aw, look how … Read more
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We aim to provide an inclusive service.