Perth is located along the coast in the Southwestern corner of Australia in the state of Western Australia which comprises approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of Australia. It is known as the most remote city on earth. Its closest neighbor, Adelaide, is about 1,678 miles away. Because of the lack of competition, stores can charge almost any price for their wares and people have to pay it! The US dollar is worth about $0.90 to $1.00 Australian, but that does not account for the huge difference in prices! A Snickers bar costs $2.20 (not the king size); a set of sheets for a twin bed (fitted and flat) $85 at Target (I did see a $25 set on sale). Generally speaking, it seems that things cost about twice as much as they do at home. I did not bring several items here thinking that it would be easier to purchase them here...easier yes, but much more expensive!!!
Sorry about the fuzzy picture. This "vegemite" is made in and loved by most Australians. It is a spread that you put on toast over butter in a very thin layer not covering the whole piece of toast. It is undeniably awful - it smells bad and tastes like composted salt. The Aussies say that you have to develop a taste for it and then you'll love it. That's what people have always told me about beer too, but I figure there are plenty of things I already have a taste for without adding others that aren't even good for me! (Although Vegemite does claim to be high in Vitamin B!)
On the topic of things you put on toast..."jam" here encompasses all kinds of jelly and jams whereas "jelly" is our jello.
This couple was playing some very beautiful music in the center of town. He's playing a guitar-type instrument, but had been blowing into the tall instrument in front of him called a didgeridoo. It is bamboo, I believe, and was, at least originally, constructed by termites! The sound wasn't quite like anything I recognized, but I loved it!
This store, called Kakula Brothers, is so far my favorite store in Perth! It is filled with unique foods many of which I have never seen before....heaps (a common Aussie word!) of different nuts, grains, seeds, flours, dried fruits, etc. If I had a stocked kitchen, that store would be dangerous! I could spend hours there.
Some other funny Australian terms.....I've always thought of Americans being more crass than Australians and British, but they both routinely say that they have to "go to the toilet." "Toilet breaks" were announced in school orientation. Going to the "loo" is another way to express it. Going to the "bathroom" indicates that you want to take a bath. They say "hey" a lot at the end of sentences - "that's true, hey?" Someone asked me today if I wanted a "cupa"... a cup of a hot drink, usually tea or coffee. Of course, there is "G'day" and "mate" which refers to anyone, male or female, that you know very well to hardly at all. Someone said that he was sore and I asked if it was from playing volleyball and he said "no, footy." I came to know that this is football, either the sport or the ball.
I'm not used to being thought of as having an accent. I was asked by a man if I had an American or Canadian accent. I wonder if it sounds cool like other accents do to me, but I can't imagine that it does. I'm starting to be able to distinguish between Australian and New Zealand accents, but not well. English accents, I've discovered, sound by far the best!
Trees down under are really different from trees as I know them. This street near my house is shaded with these "hide and seek" trees as I'm calling them. They're too big too hide, but their roots and trunks are convoluted and separated by gaps that almost look like children could hide in them - they are intriguing! The leaves look similar to magnolia leaves. I asked an Aussie girl if she knew what kind of trees they were, but she did not share my tree infatuation!
