After being part of the pageant during our first year in Adelaide (parading with other nationalities and wearing our French outfits, we were representing the diversity of Australia), we have this year the opportunity to watch every of the 60 floats,
This pageant is the largest Christmas parade in the world. Maybe due to the fact that it is too cold to organise such an event in the North Hemisphere.
Click here to see more pictures
Wikipedia - click here to learn more
1 year ago in Perth
The 24th on October 2009, we arrived in Perth in Western Australia, 17kg in each backpack, impatient to discover this country. We have been welcomed by a nice and helpful Australian couple for a week. That was the beginning…
Also, we left Europe with many questions in mind (see our thought in section on the website before we left) : what to do, how to travel, is the budget enough, would we like this life of backpackers, and of course it was a big question mark what we will do next.
One year after, we both have a job for Schneider Electric, living in a nice flat close to the beach in Adelaide, 2 cars and we have got plenty of staff and furniture; we are definitely at more than 17kg each.
We have seen all seasons. Summer is great , winter a bit cold but short and other time nice to live. We have travelled in most of the country, experience all kind of accommodation.
Let ‘s see how the second year will look like.
Few days ago, we met other people members of www.couchsurfing.org in St Kilda night market . St Kilda is the beach of Melbourne (20 min by Tram from CBD) ; it has a great night life and a market every Thursday.
Imagine that, you meet somebody from Germany who knows your native small town (= Roche la Molière & Saint Victor sur Loire), who has been there and who has been hosted by one of my best friend (Delph C., not to mention her).
The world is so small…
For the ones not passionate in Tennis, there are 4 big tournaments in the World called “Grand Slam” :
More than 40 000 people a day, great atmosphere (when it is sunny), famous players close to us. Don’t forget your hat, sun glasses and sun screen because it can be very hot. Don’t forget also some snacks because the food is very expensive. Finally, we have discovered that Tennis is probably the only sport where you can see better in live than on TV.
To the organisers of the tournament : please don’t invite Federer next year, because semi-final and final won in 3 sets are is a bit short, isn’t it ?
It is difficult to imagine how big is Australia from France. From one city to another, there are at least 1000 km. And not that much between.
We were driving all the way done from Adelaide to Melbourne. We spent between 5 and 10 hours on the road and it took us 5 days !
In the outback, imagine that the road is like on the pictures for a while, straight, without traffic or building. Sometimes (every 200 km), hopefully, there is a road house where you can buy petrol and some food…
You are suppose to take lots of extra water, some food, to check your car before leaving. Of course, you need spare tires. It is preferably to stop at each petrol station. Mobile phones don’t get network and it is not recommended to drive by night as you will increase the chance to hit an animal (we have seen hundreds of kangaroos dead on the side of the road).
In our case, we did the trip without spare tire… And of course, we have got a flat tire, fortunately it was close to Melbourne, lucky us. But I would check next time we found a driver to go in the outback.
It seems it would be impossible to define what is the climate in Melbourne. Locals say that you can have 4 seasons in one day. Unfortunately, this is true.
From morning to evening, it is always changing. So, it is common to see people walking with umbrella when it is shining and people with flipflops when it is raining.
During one week, temperature was 13°C, later 43°C, then 20, and finally 30°C on Sunday. Do you need more example ?
