Australia has been incredible so far: we have seen The Great Barrier Reef, mastered (ok maybe not mastered) driving on the left side of the road, met some very friendly people and explored a ton of beautiful beaches. Here are our most recent top takeaways from the land of Oz.
Quiet beach days in Hervey Bay.
1. After a month in Asia it definitely feels a lot more like home in Australia We are relishing the lack of a language barrier and love that we don't feel so out of place (Alex is no longer the only tall, bearded Westerner!).
2. We are trying to pick up a few new Australian phrases. "How you goin'?" means "How are you?" and "Cheers" can be used for basically anything, including "Hi," "Bye" and "Thank you."
3. Sydney is very similar to London in terms of atmosphere, street names and - unfortunately for our first two days - weather. Okay, it did rain quite a bit but the temperature was still in the seventies so maybe not a truly fair comparison!
4. Prices are high. Things are just as expensive as NYC, if not worse. The exchange rate works slightly in our favor but I'm happy we are heading to the much cheaper Southeast Asia after Australia and New Zealand!
5. Australians do iced coffee right! The first time we ordered it, we assumed it would be like it is in America (which, in our defense, makes sense: coffee over ice). Not the case here. An Australian iced coffee consists of milk, ice cream and a shot of espresso. Some places will even bring you the glass of milk and ice cream with the espresso on the side so you can pour it in yourself. Don't get us wrong, it's delicious; but be prepared for a sugar-heavy way to start your day if you order one!
6. Credit card systems are different. This sort of applies to each place we've visited actually - whether or not credit cards are accepted, the prevalence of debit cards and preference for cash has varied by country. In Australia every credit card transaction must be either "checking, savings or credit" and often requires a PIN as well. Takes a few days to get the hang of it!
7. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most beautiful places we've ever seen. Turquoise waters, blue skies and an abundance of sea life make this a dream for snorkeling and diving. Definitely a natural wonder of the world and a true bucket list destination!
8. Driving up the coast to Port Douglas we were reminded of our scenic drive down the Route 1 in California - lots of twisty roads with beautiful blue ocean views. Once we arrived in the Daintree Rainforest we were brought back to Costa Rica - lots of quiet beaches where the sand meets the jungle.
9. Driving on the other side of the road (and car!) feels very strange at first, but then you get the hang of it. The biggest challenge is staying away from the curb (and trying not to overcompensate or overconcentrate!)
10. It is HOT on the east coast. Summer is just starting and the temperature has risen above 90 every day since we arrived in Cairns. A lot of places go without AC so it's definitely been an adjustment coming from Asia!
Peak: Snorkeling during a day-long boat cruise at the Great Barrier Reef
Pit: Almost running out of gas in the middle of nowhere
Next stop: Noosa Heads