Australia

[glasvegas]

Canberra - no offense to anyone there - is frankly a shit hole that was only built because Sydney and Melbourne refused to allow the other to be the Capital of the country

You know Guy Pearce had to make an apology for saying that in public. Canberra has its own charm but I agree with you somehow, it's dead, shit cold, stone place but we have a lake, a beautiful one.

 

[ravenstar]

You know Guy Pearce had to make an apology for saying that in public. Canberra has its own charm but I agree with you somehow, it's dead, shit cold, stone place but we have a lake, a beautiful one.

Lake Burleigh Griffin is beautiful glasvegas. It was probably my favourite spot I went to when I was last there.

 

[teadrinker]

Well, I live in Melbourne and I like it very much. The weather can be changeable ("Four seasons in one day", "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes" etc) but that's part of its charm. Big sporting, cultural events here, and excellent food.

I love Sydney, although I've never lived there. I think Sydney and Melbourne are now comparable in terms of cost of living. Canberra has the reputation of being a dull bureaucratic place, but in fact its got plenty of lovely spots. Adelaide has its charms too, but you have to dig a little for them - it doesn't show itself on the surface as much as Melbourne or Sydney. I can't comment on Perth, as I've never been there, or Brisbane, which I've only passed through fleetingly a few times. There's also Hobart, which is small and colder (it is the most southern of the capital cities), but which has some beautiful old buildings, and in my view is one of the most handsome of all Australian cities. I reckon I could live very happily in Hobart.

Australia tends to be a mostly safe place, and if you don't act stupid (pick a fight in a bikie pub, that sort of thing, swim on an unguarded beach and get caught in a rip) you should have a fine time here.

-T.

 

[glasvegas]

Lake Burleigh Griffin is beautiful glasvegas. It was probably my favourite spot I went to when I was last there.

Yes. It is my favorite study spot. It is so beautiful and peace.

 

[fluxflux]

Australia kicks ass!

 

[bankside]

I have been there and as a Canadian I say it is like a hot Canada. It's fascinating, seeing somewhere which is simultaneously so similar and so different. I like Canberra. Yes, it's this new city in the middle of no where, but so was Ottawa at some point. Give it another 80 years and what is already interesting will be spectacular. It has its own kind of architecture….kind of reminds me of brasilia if anything.

Ahhhh….Sydney was easier to like at first glance than Melbourne…it looks like a fun prosperous place in the sun.

But people are very deeply loyal to Melbourne and this intrigues me.

In every way though Canada and Australia seem to complement each other's strengths. I think we should merge into one country of 60 million on both hemispheres...

 

[pat grimshaw]

…But people are very deeply loyal to Melbourne and this intrigues me...

Yes, it confuses me too. Melbourne has beautiful gardens and a good cultural scene but it tries too hard to out-do Sydney with some recent examples of thoroughly-adolescent "post-modern" architecture.

…I think we should merge into one country of 60 million on both hemispheres...

I like the idea but I fear we'd still just be an economic colony to China.

 

[bankside]

Yes, it confuses me too. Melbourne has beautiful gardens and a good cultural scene but it tries too hard to out-do Sydney with some recent examples of thoroughly-adolescent "post-modern" architecture.

I enjoyed the Melbourne architecture. More the mood than anything that stood out. If I compare Melb & Syd, it's like two kids at different ends of the high school hall cliques. The emos at one end and the preppies at the other. Canberra is like the kids in the middle who hang out in the library. I got the impression that Melbourne might be suspicious of wealth, while in Sydney they're hoping for it.

I like the idea but I fear we'd still just be an economic colony to China.

China has no economy without our resources. Australia, Canada and China are all about the same size. Even assuming all were equally resource-rich, divide 2 by 60 million, or divide 1 by 1 billion. There is no competition.

 

[glasvegas]

If I compare Melb & Syd, it's like two kids at different ends of the high school hall cliques. The emos at one end and the preppies at the other. Canberra is like the kids in the middle who hang out in the library.

Brisbane is the surfer jock and Perth is the outcast. You know why we hang out in the library? Because we don't have anything to do.

 

[pat grimshaw]

^ why aren't you studying? I hope you're not one of those who uses libraries as a social centre to eat and chat and giggle and nap.

 

[glasvegas]

^ why aren't you studying? I hope you're not one of those who uses libraries as a social centre to eat and chat and giggle and nap.

In my uni, we have a study space where we can eat and study. A few study rooms where we can use to chat/discuss. I can giggle anywhere as long there's something funny. I nap in my stats lecture not the library.

 

[bankside]

Brisbane is the surfer jock and Perth is the outcast. You know why we hang out in the library? Because we don't have anything to do.

Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed your capital…the architecture and the feel of the place are unmistakably Australian and that is a significant accomplishment in its own right. It still looks like a work in progress in some ways but if you're young there are worse places to build a career and buy a house than the new and growing capital of a prospering nation. (and I say "new" in historical terms…) Plus, if there is nothing to do there it's a quick drive to Syd, isn't it? Mountains nearby?

LOL at surfer jock and outcast….I've only been to the SE, but I'd like to see the rest.

Aussie High Court compared to Canuck Supreme Court:

I think the architecture is really fitting for each country.As Canberra expands, I hope they will build on the look and feel of the place rather than try to "reimagine" it. Keep what you've got; it's impressive. I think the High Court building is my favourite. It should look even better in a century.

Interiors too:

View attachment 806815

 

[chrisw87]

speaking of architecture and natural beauty.

One fond memory from childhood in Sydney was travelling to Jenolan caves (an interesting place to visit). But more impressive than the caves themselves was staying at the "Jenolan caves house". Built just before the 1900's, and with an impressive stature it just made me both amazed and petrified.

Late at night, this place (when I was young) had a very eerie vibe, but it is also HUGE in real life and would be a great place to stay a few days if you visited this state.

 

[glasvegas]

Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed your capital…the architecture and the feel of the place are unmistakably Australian and that is a significant accomplishment in its own right. It still looks like a work in progress in some ways but if you're young there are worse places to build a career and buy a house than the new and growing capital of a prospering nation. (and I say "new" in historical terms…) Plus, if there is nothing to do there it's a quick drive to Syd, isn't it? Mountains nearby?

LOL at surfer jock and outcast….I've only been to the SE, but I'd like to see the rest.

Aussie High Court compared to Canuck Supreme Court:

I think the architecture is really fitting for each country.As Canberra expands, I hope they will build on the look and feel of the place rather than try to "reimagine" it. Keep what you've got; it's impressive. I think the High Court building is my favourite. It should look even better in a century.

Interiors too:

View attachment 806815

I am not an Aussie. Sorry! I been here for like 2 months now. I haven't actually explore the city due to my laziness, just can't stand biking for hours. I don't really like the buildings here because I am more of a old buildings person. The only thing I find amusing is the lake. I just fall in love with it. National Art Gallery is really awesome as well. I found more Indian sculpture in there more than when I was travelling in India.

This is my favorite spot to study. It's so peaceful in here with family bringing their children to picnic and biking. Lovely

This is a place that I find some 'Sydney' feel in it mainly because you can listen to the splashing of the water and sunshine.

And I found Canberra very convenient because it is on the middle of two major cities in Australia. 4 hours of bus drive to Sydney and 8 hours of bus drive to Melbourne.

 

[frankfrank]

And I found Canberra very convenient because it is on the middle of two major cities in Australia. 4 hours of bus drive to Sydney and 8 hours of bus drive to Melbourne.

Awwww, poor Brisbane, just sitting there entirely ignored.

 

[teadrinker]

"Bite Me" with Mike Leahy looks at the animal and plant dangers of tropical Queensland:

SBS On Demand - Bite Me With Dr Mike Leahy S1 Ep6 - Queensland

Good stuff, eh?

-T.

 

[bankside]

Never mind that, don't you have all the really dangerous stuff (snakes and spiders) in the zone between Melbourne and Sydney?

also "this content is currently unavailable." Probably stupid geographic restrictions.

 

[Telstra]

in Yahoo news, a gang bashed and rubbed Chinese students in Sydney.
I guess that happens in most countries ? So be street smart i guess.