Originally Posted by spouse of scouse (Post 11394554)

Probably unsurprisingly, I love the wide-open spaces of Australia. I've had some terrific trips from Perth, ranging from camping in the sand dunes north of Lancelin, to a 2 week camping trip up through the northern goldfields as far as Sandstone, to twice driving right around Oz.

Making sure that you take absolutely everything you might need with you as you head off into the outback is one of this kind of travelling's pleasures for me. Starting from the 4WD in tip-top condition, to the CB radio, enough food to last you, comprehensive first aid kit - you have to be really organised and know how to pack it all. And water - you never miss an opportunity to fill up your water containers at a road station. There is never a spare drop so wet wipes become your new best friend :lol:

I have such great memories of my travels - emus running by the campsite with their babies trying to keep up, Japanese tourists who were hopelessly lost and had no survival gear at all with them, spooky experiences on the Nullabor Plains, a particularly aggressive tiger snake in the food tent, finding a bit of real gold with a metal detector, sing-a-longs around the campfire, whole days spent on beautiful beaches with not another soul in sight: I wouldn't have missed a moment of it. The worst moment of all of my trips was my first sighting of traffic lights - back to civilisation :(

However. I do feel as though I've 'been there done that', and the old bones no longer take so well to camping. I now get the same pleasure from exploring the world, UK, Europe, the US, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia - with lots more to see yet! Scouse and I aren't really hotel people, we prefer to rent apartments in areas where the locals live. For us, this makes the trip so much better and we invariably strike up conversations with people who are keen to talk about and show us the way of life in their country, rather than sticking to the tourist places.

No one could ever experience all there is to see and do in the world. Appreciating the uniqueness of wherever you happen to be is the first step in enjoying and understanding it. Our motto - don't waste a single day of your life, because you're a long time dead.

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle (Post 11395063)

What a fantastic post :thumbsup:

Just the reigns of parental responsbilty holding us back from where your at right now.

Some interesting thought provoking feedback on this thread.

Originally Posted by Grayling (Post 11392173)

I think it was :"when a man is not tired of Melbourne he has never lived".

Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack (Post 11399467)

I thought it was London that the great quote was about.

When a man relies on Tesco he certainly has never lived.

I would say "When your life can be lived in one city as it was lived in another, then you're doing OK"...

:p

At the risk of sounding like Chris, it's down to the individual -
there would be plenty of people in the UK that don't do half the things that Australians I know do - even when the distance is in their favour.

Many Australians I know save up their vacation time and use that time wisely.
For example, some might ski the Haute Route in the Alps one year, then spend the next in North America. We take a lead out of their books and do that, save the time up, and ensure our children get to use a foreign language (etc). I lived in Central Europe so got some of that wanderlust out of my system, leaving me with happy memories. We will return of course.

Originally Posted by spouse of scouse (Post 11399525)

Oi, what's wrong with Tesco? I love Tesco! :lol:

Of course it's down to the individual, as most things in life are. And as long as each of us is happy in what we're doing and where we're doing it in, then absolutely no argument can be made in favour of one place over another.

(I don't know what Chris said, he and Grayling have the honour of being the first people on my ignore list) :lol:

Originally Posted by Dorothy (Post 11399534)

I truly do believe you're my doppelganger. I love Tesco, too. :)

Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack (Post 11399467)

Many Australians I know save up their vacation time and use that time wisely.
For example, some might ski the Haute Route in the Alps one year, then spend the next in North America.

Originally Posted by spouse of scouse (Post 11399525)

(I don't know what Chris said, he and Grayling have the honour of being the first people on my ignore list) :lol:

Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack (Post 11399467)

I thought it was London that the great quote was about.

Originally Posted by spouse of scouse (Post 11399525)

Oi, what's wrong with Tesco? I love Tesco! :lol:

Originally Posted by Grayling (Post 11400188)

So it is only Australians that do this is it?:rolleyes:

No other nationality does anything with their spare time??....or knows how to use it wisely?

Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack (Post 11400284)

Most of the expats I have met are nowhere near as accomplished as the Australians I know.
Try harder G!

Originally Posted by Grayling (Post 11400288)

Most of the Australians I have met are nowhere near as accomplished as the Brits ( and expats) I know

Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack (Post 11400327)

I see you have failed to comment on my point about this factor of distance being a factor in how Australians (or indeed anyone who lives here) travel.