verystormy

I am. I spent a fair bit of my life in some big council estates and if the worst happend financialy i could go back and not be too unhappy. But i would rather slit my wrists than live in one of the big burbs. Though a fair bit of the depression has a fair bit to do with the thought of living with the sort of people that find these place great.

chris955

Crocodiles are way more aggressive than Alligators, the latter become almost dog tame in captivity whereas Saltwater Crocs never tame down.

chris955

I'm not a fan of council estates anywhere but I hate the huge manufactured suburban estates just as much, bland soulless places.

Bix

I don't think the family members that lost family to crocs up that way in the last couple of years would agree with the guide.
He's talking shit.
Croc numbers are growing as are human attacks.

papilon

I think when you compare Australian cities to the UK it should be done individually, the vastness of Australia means when you take say Perth and Western Australia for instance it should be compared to living in the whole of Western Europe. And when you do such a comparison then it really shows how limited and just how much there is going on. If you live in the UK most events or cities are doable on a day trip. UK and Victoria are roughly similar size, Victoria has 1 fairly large city and then pretty much nothing else. UK has 1 mega city and then a few large urban areas and a whole host of small cities, if you lived in the midlands everything would be on offer. Another difference between Australian cities and UK cities is the British have always had a penchant for living in the country and leaving the city behind. The exact opposite is true for Australia.

Football could be a good example, In football mad Victoria they have 8 AFL teams to support, 7 in Melbourne and 1 just down the road in Geelong. In the UK you have over 100 professional football teams to support in a similar geographical area.

So my point is to make a fairer comparison between the countries take your individual state and compare it to the whole of the UK.

Turban Explorer

Just because you only see one on a croc spotting trip doesn't mean there aren't plenty around. Go at night with a torch and check out how many eyes you can see in the mangrove.

We went for a walk on an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria sailing around there - came back to the dinghy and a 5 metre croc had appeared on the beach between us and the dinghy. That was one heck of a sprint back to the dinghy - and thankfully for once the outboard started immediately! No way I'd underestimate a crocodile - for anyone who is complacent about the risks check out the deaths....

http://ozmagic.homestead.com/austral...leattacks.html

slapphead_otool

Saltwater crocs are very clever. They have to be to eat. Not being spotted is a part of their skill.

Having said that, they eyes in the mangroves may well be courting couples getting it off in a risky environment to add the the pleasure.

Turban Explorer

Do you know the Ramree Island story? When around 500 Japanese soldiers were eaten by crocs in Burma escaping from the British....

(what am I saying? You were probably there!)

Moneymatters

Well, yes. But fatal croc attacks have dropped significantly over the years thanks to extra safety precautions and signage.

Ok let me rephrase, Alligators certainly have the stonger bite

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't like to be caught in the water with either.

NKSK version 2

I don't think you can compare Perth to London or New York. But in terms of physical attraction, which I know is subjective, when I'm looking out on the city and the river from Kings Park or driving next the river on Kwinana or Stirling, I can't think of any large UK provincial city that comes close.

As for Perth suburbs, sure they are as dull and as soulless as they come but this in my experience is the same the world over. To judge the aesthetics of a city based on its suburbs is like trying to rate the beauty of a woman based on her toe nails.

verystormy

I agree. The river and city scape from Kings Park are stunning views. But that makes up a tiny fraction of the city and most people dont live with such nice views. A lot hardy ever see them unless they work in the CBD. So if we are going to consider a city as being pretty based on maybe 5% of its area then surely my home town of Middlesbrough must be up there. It has the most pig ugle centre, but my parents on the outskirts have a view of the moors which is world class.

Having lived and worked in countries around the world i do consider the burbs of Perth as being exceptionally dull. It is as if they have dreamt up some bizzare competition for making lifeless, slit your wrists dullness a major competition and are going all out to win.

Bix

Don't see there is a debate here really.

My personal experience of large cities is limited to European countries and Australia but I have yet to see anywhere the so called burbs are any different.

They are all inherently the same sprawling masses of built up areas with some taller than others and some with varying layouts.

None are exactly pretty or ugly.
They are what they are and have become what they are by necessity at some stage.

slapphead_otool

They tell me thats the issue. Croc bites aren't fatal, (although shock and loss of blood may be) but the buggers drag you in and under. On land you might be able to fight one off, if you were determined and lucky. In water you are dead meat. Literally.

boots

Was in Broome just after Malcolm Douglas died,staying at Cable Beach the disturbed bloke who jumped the fence into the croc park did die from infections recieved from a croc bite.

BadgeIsBack

Mobility is definitely a key in the UK, yes.

But I find Melbourne compares favourably to the UK for me on many levels because I'm not interested in London or some of the Uk conurbations. I would live anywhere other than the Midlands.