Bernieboy

VBSatans piss

Pollyana

Couldn't have been much of a decent bruise if VB sorted it! Its not decent unless its at least a TEDs x 4 level

ROMFT_WO2RN

must try some of this mythical TEDs

expatasia

This heading towards a 'very first impression of Oz beer' thread?

ROMFT_WO2RN

compared to Kingfisher, Seybrou or the anonymous brown bottle sh!t in Alexandria it's the dogs bollox

Pollyana

cascade Premium discovered in Tassie, never yet bettered

Bernieboy

Yes indeed,trip to walkabout bar soon me thinks

ROMFT_WO2RN

available in UK then? must try once in Glasgae

Pollyana

Sounds good, I could do with a pint of it right now!!

expatasia

You'll end up with more than just a bruised thigh up there - no naked backpackers either...

ROMFT_WO2RN

used to live up there, it's a cracking run ashore

just avoid the complete sh!thole pubs and thankfully not too many naked sweaty's either - deep fried pizza isn't good for the figure

JenniGee

July 2008...Arrived in Sydney & was so knackered & didnt even look out of the window of the train until we got to our hotel on Circular Quay. It was a marathon that day & the train was full of chattering competitors, welcoming us to Oz & asking us to come watch the race We completely ignored all the anti-jetlag advice & went straight to bed, even though it was something like 4 in the afternoon!!!

Eldest daughter (then 13) & I woke up at 3am & were absolutely wide awake, whilst OH & little'un were still snoring.

We put our coats on walked up the waterfront to the Opera House, which we had completely to ourselves, marvelled at the lights & the flags on the top of the Coathanger & then went for hot chocolate & muffins in an all-night cafe we found on the quayside....the waiter chatted away to my daughter & she was amazed at his real-life Ozzie accent....

after that, we just had to come back

Dreamy

We'd left snow on the ground and arrived in Brisbane in full summer. Even at 7am it was absolutely, breathtakingly hot.

I thought 'flipping heck' (or words to that effect) 'how on earth am I going to cope with this?'

We had the absolutely best taxi driver in the world, he gave us this running commentary of where we were on the road and the things we could see, he was great.

Things I particularly remember - palm trees, heat, humidity, rain(!!), the friendliness and being scared to walk near bushes (cos of the killer spiders, obviously)

iamthecreaturefromuranus

Very similar. Snow at Heathrow changed to mid 30's in Sydney and stifling humidity. Back to the hotel and into the bar, talking to a young English roofer who looked like he had been roasted on a spit.
Next day, to Wollongong, down the hill from Mount Ousley and thought "shit, I've moved to Wyoming"

Jen1977ni

Well due to being paid twice in one month (going from being a casual to a contract teacher) I threw caution to the wind and bought a ticket to see my mate in Oz in July 2003! My first impressions were OH SH*T cos I'd got the dates mixed up and arrived a day later than I'd thought I was gonna, luckily my mate knew and was there waiting for me! The first thing I saw upon leaving the airport was a ute and that made me giggle. She lived in Adelaide, so well, enough said, but I travelled up through Melbourne, Sydney, Surfers and Cairns and remember how comfortable I felt the whole time, even in Sydney, a seemingly big anonymous city. I cried the day I left Oz and vowed to return someday to live, it took me nearly 7 years, but I got here in the end! If it wasn't for meeting my OH I'd probably still not be here though, as he really spurred me on to make the leap, thanku Simon, miss you...