Australia

A lot of things have happened in the last few weeks and I’ve been either quite lazy to tell about it or maybe I just want to save some mystery about my whereabouts so that I do have some stories to tell when I go back home.

As I have been reading about it in Down Under (Bill Bryson, I do recommend it) Australia is quite unique in its own way. It is so far away from everything that hardly anyone can remember the name of its prime minister because it simply doesn’t matter to anyone but Australians. And even some of those are not sure about who is running the country because they are so far inland from everything that no matter who is calling the shots, life will be as it has been since they can remember.

It is, though, a country of some antagonism.

A country where it is forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages on public ground (Beaches, parks, streets and pretty much anywhere outdoors) but that has a record of being the biggest alcohol consumer per capita and in volume when talking about Bourbon. (This is a distant cousin from whiskey). And I won’t get started on the taxes on alcohol.

A country where smoking is forbidden or heavily restricted indoors (bars and nightclubs included) but that sell cigarettes in packs up to 50!!! And that has more brands and variations that you can ever imagine. (Also heavily taxed…)

A country where the sun shines most of the year but is so strong that Australians rather stay indoors and most of the time don’t show any signs of sun bathing. (And one of the reasons for such a strong sun is a hole in the ozone layer right above us)

A country with one of the most beautiful and varied landscape in the world but holds in its corners the most dangerous and poisonous animals on the planet giving the expression “walk in a park” a whole new meaning.

A country where the only real Australians are the ones that where here before it was “discovered” and that are nowadays marginalized by the new citizens and the government in power.

A country that claims to be a sanctuary for foreigners and travelers but that turn any application for a visa into a living nightmare. (unless you are a refugee to who the doors are always open).

A country that dreams about detaching itself from "Mother England", calling englishmen POME'S (Prisonners of mother England) but still drives on the left side of the road and wears the Queen's face on their two dollars coins.

A country struggling with its problems like any other. Don't get me wrong, despite of all this, it is still a very sweet place to live in. But don't take my word for it, come and take a look for yourselves.