Pollyana

Take a book with you, then you can sit and survey the scene while ostensibly reading and without looking like a billy-no-mates - I do that when I go drinking in either country on my own

DanSolihull

Might be an idea there, a book or a magazine..even if it's just not to look awkward

Pollyana

Works for me You can then just melt into the background, or join in if you like the feel of the place

BadgeIsBack

I agree - leave no stone unturned initially. I reckon you have to be careful about expats, and even going to meets though - I find the incessant chitchat about houses, cars, prices, wildlife, and how you got there, and money a bit tedious. Certainly, being an expat does not gurantee you will have anything in common.

:-)

I'm not sure what this means, Chris. Lots of people here correctly define the place they are talking about. There are pubs and bars, both are places to buy and consume... To me, one is based on a traditional 'hostelry' model, one is based on a city/urban shop front model. Maybe the clientele is different.

And in a pub/hotel in Australia, there is often accomodation too.

There's often a lot of chat about the lack of pubs in Australia...there are loads! You would have to be blind to miss them. Or live in suburbia!