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Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Aussie Slang Dictionary
In Australia, they speak English, but with some British terminology as well as some locally grown slang. Here are some words you will need to know in order to communicate while in Oz (see definition below):
Arvo -- afternoon. The Aussies love to abbreviate terms, but some are not always as obvious as others.
Aussie -- short for Australian. Pronounced: aw-Zee. The s is said like a Z.
Boot -- car trunk (i.e. your luggage is in the boot)
Boys -- a group of men (i.e. "I went golfing with the boys")
Bottle Shop -- liquor store
Brekky -- breakfast
Buckley's -- No chance whatsoever (i.e. If you are losing in a game, somebody may say "you have Buckley's chance of winning.")
Bum -- your butt (i.e. "do these pants make my bum look big?")
Chips -- French fries (i.e. Fish and Chips is really fish and French fries)
Cobber -- A mate (see below), but less frequently used.
Croc -- Crocodile. Very edible.
Dunny -- outhouse. Sometimes used to refer to a bathroom. Synonyms: long drop, thunder box.
Flat white -- coffee term used to refer to espresso with milk (similar to a latte, but typically served in a smaller cup). Note: a “skinny flat white” uses skim milk
Girl -- a female person of ANY age. For instance -- "my grandmother is a great girl." They have feminists in Oz, but they will not give you a hard time about calling them a girl.
G'day -- short for Good Day (good morning or good afternoon). The Aussies really say this.
Hard work -- used to describe a difficult person (i.e. "my wife is hard work").
Hectare -- about 2.5 acres
How ya going? -- How are you? Synonym: how ya traveling?
K -- One kilometer (i.e. the beach is 2K from here). One K is about 2/3 of a mile. They use the metric system, so get used to it.
Kiwi -- a person from New Zealand. Has nothing to do with the fruit -- it is the Kiwi bird, their national bird.
Lift -- elevator
Lift -- fizz or carbonation in a soft drink (i.e. "do you want lemonade plain, or with lift in it?").
Long Black -- Coffee term used to refer to a tall cup of espresso using more water than usual to dilute the drink.
Long drop -- outhouse. You will encounter this in the outback. Synonyms: thunder box, dunny.
Lovely -- very nice (i.e. "this wine was very lovely"). Even men say this, and they do not realize they look a bit light on their feet to the Yanks.
M -- Meter. If a road sign says turn right in 300m, then you will be turning in about 330 yards.
Mate -- friend (i.e. a man named Dan may refer to his good mates Bob and Ken – this is perfectly normal, and has nothing to do with any of them being gay).
Nappy -- diaper
Oz -- another term for Australia
Pom -- a British person (derogatory)
Right -- OK (if you start coughing, someone may ask: "are you right?")
'Roo -- Kangaroo. The national animal, and a great, tasty meal (a bit on the gamey side, but extremely low in fat content).
Skippy -- kangaroo (i.e. "I can't believe you ate Skippy!") Spat the dummy -- went ballistic, got very upset. A "dummy" in Australia is a child's pacifier. If a kid spits out the dummy, it meant they got very upset. Same for an adult.
Surname -- your last name, or family name.
Thunder box -- outhouse. Synonyms: dunny, long drop.
Yank -- an American
Zed -- the letter "Z." If you wish to spell Zebra, you say: "Zed, e, b, r, a."
The Australian Museum's focus is on natural history and indigenous cultures. While we loved our visit and spent several pleasant hours exploring the exhibitions, we found that much of the Museum looks a little tired around the edges. So we were glad to learn that the Musuem is currently in the early stages of a $41 million construction and refurbishment plan that will improve both the research and exhibit facilities.
The Search & Discover centre was, by far, our favorite part of the Museum, and under the new plan, this area promises to get even better. No matter what area of the Museum you want to explore in more detail, there are specimens you can get a closer look at (often with the aid of a microscope) or even touch; computer simulations and interactive programs that provide in-depth information; plus a wealth of books and videos at your disposal. The staff is unbelievably knowledgeable and helpful -- just tell them that (for example) you want to see how it looks when a boomerang is thrown, and they will direct you to the appropriate resources.
We also liked the section on gems and minerals. Don't miss the chance to view the largest nugget of gold ever found (it's as big as a pillow!), plus a look at a selection of Australian opals. We found it amazing that all the specimens in the Albert Chapman Mineral Collection were found by one man -- and an amateur mineralogist to boot!
It isn't often that you see a collection of skeletons that makes you laugh out loud, but the witty poses of the human skeletons in the Skeleton Exhibit will do just that. This gallery, which is in the oldest part of the Museum complex, would make a fabulous setting for a Halloween party!
We had been warned that there are limitations on the Aborigine artifacts on display because so many in the Museum's collection are sacred and shouldn't be seen by the uninitiated, so we weren't surprised that much of the display is made up of photos and videos that tell the stories and legends of the indigenous Australians, rather than case after case of ancient items. Still, you'll find examples of boomerangs, didjeridus, and Pukumani poles used in mourning ceremonies. And we loved the examples of artwork -- past and present.
After several hours indoors, we wanted to spend some time enjoying the unseasonably (but delightfully!) warm winter weather, so we decided to head over to nearby Hyde Park. Originally a racetrack and playing field, this Park is now primarily a green space frequented by officeworkers. The south end is dominated by the Art Deco-style Anzac Memorial, a large stone-covered structure facing a reflecting pool.
The Sydney Harbour is full of boating options. There are a wide assortment of ferries, water taxis, sightseeing boats, and dinner cruises. But for speed and pure exhilaration, none of these can beat Oz Jet Boating. Their 30-minute Thrill Ride tours the famous sights of the harbour, including the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Fort Denison, and Taronga Zoo. We doubt, though, that your mind will be on on the view. Instead, you're likely to be focusing on keeping your equilibrium as the boat spins, fish tails, and rides the waves. You will be strapped in and covered with a waterproof poncho, so you can fully enjoy the twists and turns and the splashing that accompanies them. This ride has proved so popular that, inevitably, competition has surfaced. The ThunderJet, nicknamed "the silver bullet," provides a similar adrenalin rush. Both boat rides launch from the Circular Quay's Eastern Pontoon.
After the rush of our speedboat ride we needed a calmer afternoon activity, so we headed over to the Museum of Contemporary Art. We had children in tow, and we always find that modern art, with its wide use of different media holds their attention better than more traditional art works. As it turns out, our visit coincided with MCA's exhibition of the 2006 Biennale of Sydney. Although much of the exhibition, called "Zones of Contact," with its theme of war and displacement (or, in the official language of the show: "zones people live in and move between, the merging and separation of public areas and private territories, and the places where people encounter and make contact with one another") was somber, there were some witty moments. For example, we enjoyed making up possible rules for the giant interactive board game on the 2nd floor. Another highlight was the pulsating speakers that hung in the main gallery on the first floor.
We made a brief tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens on our first day in Sydney, and loved what we saw so much that yesterday morning, we decided to go back to explore the gardens further. And we're happy to report that the love affair continues! Even in the heart of winter, the gardens are full of life -- we saw plenty of flowers in bloom and plenty of Sydneysiders enjoying them. We recommend the trackless train tour as way to get a good overview of the gardens. But don't just ride the 30-minute loop -- get off at each stop and take a closer look at everything your guide has described -- you can always hop back on the next train when you've seen enough. There is a broad variety of specialty gardens, historic buildings, and artwork -- so no matter what your particular taste is, you are likely to find something "up your alley."
We spent yesterday afternoon at the Australian National Maritime Museum. We pride ourselves on our ability to size up a museum quickly and estimate how long it will take us to view the sights, but in this case we grossly underestimated all that this fascinating museum offers. In two hours we had barely scratched the surface of what there is to see -- and we hadn't allowed any time for exploring the vessels outside. Don't make our mistake -- even those with only a moderate interest in seafaring will find something fun here. There are a couple of special areas for young children: both a play area outside and a special child-sized "boat" on the 2nd floor. Of particular interest to our group was the exhibition on Clipper Ships and the galleries devoted to whaling. As an island nation, Australia relies on the sea for commerce and survival. This museum does a bang-up job of demonstrating the integral role that maritime life has played throughout the country's history.
Our first day in Sydney, Australia was a whirlwind of activity. Our room features a gorgeous view of Sydney Harbour, including the Harbour Bridge and the famous Opera House. We've done the BridgeClimb in past visits and have had fun this trip watching the steady stream of climbers crest the bridge summit. But with the city beckoning beyond our window, we couldn't linger in our hotel room long (as tempting as it was to stay and enjoy the view all day!), and so headed out to see the sights. We began with an exploration of the Circular Quay, watching the street performers (most memorable were the female contortionist and the didgeridoo player), sizing up the plethora of restaurants and cafes, and checking out the ferry schedules/fares along the way. After clamoring up the steps and around the plazas of the Opera House complex, we wandered through the Royal Botanic Gardens, enjoying the variety and beauty of plants we found there. We made a quick tour through the Central Business District (CBD), before heading down to the Sydney Aquarium at Darling Harbour. The Aquarium offers a number of treats, but our favorites were the twin seal and shark exhibits with underwater tubes that that take you through the tanks so that you are surrounded by the aquatic creatures. We were also impressed with the glorious Great Barrier Reef display.
Day 2 features a ferry ride to Taronga Zoo. We rode the Sky Safari cable car from the ferry landing to the main zoo entrance -- we definitely recommend that you choose this option over the bus, for the magnificent Harbour views along the way. The highlights of this zoo are the native Australian animals, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabys, wombats, billbys, emus, dingos, and platypuses. They, along with a number of other "marquee" animals, such as lions, tigers, snow leopards, giraffes, and bears, are in enclosures that provide both close views for humans, and comfort for the animals. Volunteers were on hand with a corn snake named "Alabama" and a blue-tongued lizard for children to meet, touch and learn about. Unique photographic opportunities are available for those wishing to pay an additional fee for an extra-close encounter with koalas, kangaroos and other Aussie friends.
The remainder of our day was spent in the pleasant suburban home of a friend, enjoying an Aussie barbeque. A lot has been said about the special lifestyle that Sydneysiders have -- combining the sophisticated culture, cuisine and nightlife of an internationally-renowned city with the passion (and climate) for a wide variety of outdoor activities and sports. Having seen how this unique blend works, we have to say that Sydneysiders are truly fortunate!
G'day mate! It has been a while since we've added a new location to our network of travel sites, so we are especially excited to be expanding once again. We will kick off the debut of The Aussie Insider with a two-week tour of the land down under, starting tomorrow. Look for our posts from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Ayres Rock. Then, in the weeks to come, watch as we flesh out the site with in-depth reviews and a photo gallery.
There is lots of information about what to do with young children in NYC but once they reach the middle school years, suggestions often seem to taper off. And there is no question that while what works for a toddler or elementary school child will seem too babyish for a 6th grader, kids this age don't yet have the patience for a full day at the Metropolitan Museum of Artor the hours-long wait required for a visit to the top of the Empire State Building. So what to do? Well, first of all, if the weather allows, we recommend that you take to the water: the Beast, the Shark and the Chelsea Screamer are all speedboats that provide wonderful views of Manhattan (with plenty of photo ops near the Statue of Liberty) -- you'll like the narrated tour; they'll love the wind in their hair and the salt-water spray in their face (and on our favorite, the Beast, a real chance to get thoroughly soaked!). Eschew the Central Park Zoo in favor of the NY Aquarium -- not only are the exhibitions more appropriate for a more sophisticated audience, but once the kids' attention flags, you can head over to the amusement park attractions that Coney Islandoffers in abundance. If you must go shopping, consider including Fantasma Toys (a magic store with ongoing magic shows and a Houdini exhibition) or Halloween Adventure (an amazing source for practical jokes, toys, costumes, and year-round ghoulish glories) on your list of stores. If a Broadway show is on your itinerary, have a pre- or post-show meal at Dave & Busters -- the food isn't bad and the arcade atmosphere will provide a fun counterpoint to two hours of sitting still. Museums are still a possibility, but choose carefully with plenty of thought given to the specific interests of your child. For example, the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art might be appropriate for a kid who likes the latest in Japanese anime.
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