Seeking feedback from United Kingdom members of RedBubble
Hello United Kingdom friends of RedBubble.
I’m seeking your feedback as to your knowledge about Australia – The Land Down Under.
Specifically, I’d appreciate if you could share your knowledge relating to the;
- Places
- People
- Tourist attractions
Whether you have visited Australia or not, your response is appreciated. If you would like to elaborate, you’re most welcome
You’re invited to favourite this journal entry, return to it and post as often as you wish.
Thank you for your time.
Darren – Melbourne, Australia.
Halcyon007
Darren
It’s not much, as i’ve not been, so my responses are based purely on media representation, hearsay and the people i’ve met here on RB.
It looks a beautiful, almost untouched to a degree, natural place. My visions are vast open deserts, small towns, beautiful coastline, and some large cities scattered around the coast.
The people are very friendly and nice (bar a few digs when you stuff us at cricket every 2 years!!!!) and i’ve (virtually) met some very kind and helpful people on here.
(p.s. The female Aussie accent is very easy on the ear to some of us Brits too)
Tourist Attractions – before coming on here the usual of:
Although seeing the images on here, there is more to the country than the above that appeals to me personally.
I’m not sure for what purpose you ask, and therefore how relevant the above is, but that’s my knowledge as it stands. Finance and family dictate that it will be a fair few years before I get around to visiting, but it is on my list!
Stuart
Darren Stones
Stuart,
Thanks for your contribution. I’m in a similar position to you – I rely on media coverage etc of the UK for my fix.
I’m hoping this information will provide some useful leads down the track for some writing.
I’m glad you mentioned the cricket. :)
Halcyon007
Where was RB 2 years ago, when we beat you for the 1st time in like 143 years!
Simon Mears
Hi Darren..
i’ve never been to Australia either, so here’ s my potted view on Australian life..
I imagine loners and farmers living in the back country, making up about 2% of your population who otherwise live in towns and villages fairly close to the coast, when i say fairly close, in England that means within 10-15 miles, in Austraia i think that probably means within 70 miles.
I think of a very wild and dangerous outback, in terms of snakes and spiders, and a pretty wild and dangerous sea, meaning nasty jellyfish, sharks and crocs.
However all these things are insanely beautiful and its the untamed wilderness that is Australia’s number one attraction for me – it’s a safe country as opposed to those in Middle East or Africa, politically, so you can offer the dangers people want to be near and go home and say they have seen and survived, mostly, but without the worry of a sudden civil war erupting.
As for the people, well i’ve met a few Aussie girls and they are very cool,, very friendly and, this is the big difference between young people in Australia and in UK, when asked about their country, they are gemmed up politically (the 2-3 i’ve met anyhow) and fairly proud of their heritage. I mentioned this somewhere on redbubble earlier this month, but nowhere else will you find the phenomenon of youth, under their own steam, making a pilgrimage to a place in the Dardanelles to show respect to fallen Anzacs. Have to respect that. I don’t think i’ve really ever sat down and shared a drink with an Australian guy although i did see Shane Warne at my hotel in Nottingham having a drink and a meal with his family on the 2005 Ashes trip here.
The main images the Brits have of Australia is one of beaches, great chilled cities, a great place to work, but otherwise an immense place of largely nothing except impenetrable wilderness. Everyone i know who visits Australia talks mostly of Cairns, more so than Melbourne or Sydney. Nobody talks of tourist attractions, such as the Opera House in Sydney, although you have to see it once you’re there. People, certainly young people, are more interested in the environment and ecology these days and these form the reasons for a visit to Australia and for travelling across Australia.
For lots of Brits like me, we’re waiting a for an ultra-cheap long-haul service, Australia return ticket for £250 maybe.. i’d pack my own sandwiches and sign a waiver about not making any deep vein thrombosis claims! It’s price that is stopping most of us from coming over. Those guys who do swamp your stadiums, and drink your beer, well there’s lots more waiting to come over given the chance really the sports thing.. rugby and cricket.. are huge attractions for us.
more when i think of something!
Simon
Ann Macdonald
Ive never been to Australia too .i think some places might be like parts of the USA were theres small towns in the middle of knowere,then the big lovely citties too,Airs rock looks great,and the outback too minus snakes etc,eeekk,the weather i would love to be there for and the fantastic surf and beaches and a vissit to the Sydiney opera house:)
Darren Stones
Thank you for your feedback, Stuart, Simon and Ann. Much appreciated.