It was another interesting bunch of people that I came across this weekend at the airport. These included 3 Swiss travellers - more than I would usually come across. All enjoyed their stay and travels here and one did an intensive English course at Byron Bay. It'd have to be a good combination there - beach, partying and learning English all at the same time!
There were a lot of backpackers who had seen much more of the country than I have. One of them was a young Swiss guy who had strayed off the beaten tourist track a bit and visited quite a few places that I had barely heard of. It was his intention to get away from the tourist hordes. A German girl I met was only here for a short stay this time but had already organised her return trip in April with her boyfriend and had a job lined up.
Another one who loved Sydney so much that he was planning his return was a 30ish English guy. He was here doing 2 weeks training for his company and they offered him a full time position here. It sounded like he was going to to take it - just had to talk it through with his wife and sort out visa and other formalities.
I briefly chatted to a Kiwi on an Emirates flight who was travelling back to Bangkok to get his dental work redone. He had dental treatment there last year (at one third of the cost of in New Zealand) but there had been some complications. He didn't seem too upset about it though and thought that the Thai dental treatment was generally good and he had just been unlucky.
Till next week.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Crazy Weather, An Olive Farm and Aspiring Dutch Emigrants
The most common comment from visitors from England and New Zealand last week was that the weather was just like home and not what they were hoping for. We've had a pretty crazy few weeks weatherwise here in Sydney. There was a long run of extreme heat (40 degrees plus) then about a week of cool wet weather which was almost like winter had come 3 or 4 months early. Many of the visitors were only here for a week or less and just suffered the wet days which made it hard to do much sightseeing.
I ran across a young English guy (late teens) who had spent some time in Sydney but also about 2 months work on an olive farm in Hillston, NSW, He quite enjoyed the farm work but found it very hot.
Travelling home on Malaysia Airlines was a 30's Dutch couple who were here for 3 months, mainly in Sydney. They had been here a few times before and loved it so much that they were checking out job opportunities so that they can live here.
On the same flight was an older Malaysian couple who had flown to the Gold Coast with the budget carrier, Air Asia and had already booked another dirt cheap fare on Air Asia to Melbourne later in the year. We desperately need more low cost airlines such as Air Asia to fly into Sydney.
A couple of weeks back I finally got around to doing something that so many of our overseas visitors do in Sydney - the Harbour Bridge climb. It was a great experience and I would certainly recommend it. Not many locals tend to do it and just think 'it's something we can do anytime and put it off till later'. I'll try and post a photo here soon.
Till next week.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
I ran across a young English guy (late teens) who had spent some time in Sydney but also about 2 months work on an olive farm in Hillston, NSW, He quite enjoyed the farm work but found it very hot.
Travelling home on Malaysia Airlines was a 30's Dutch couple who were here for 3 months, mainly in Sydney. They had been here a few times before and loved it so much that they were checking out job opportunities so that they can live here.
On the same flight was an older Malaysian couple who had flown to the Gold Coast with the budget carrier, Air Asia and had already booked another dirt cheap fare on Air Asia to Melbourne later in the year. We desperately need more low cost airlines such as Air Asia to fly into Sydney.
A couple of weeks back I finally got around to doing something that so many of our overseas visitors do in Sydney - the Harbour Bridge climb. It was a great experience and I would certainly recommend it. Not many locals tend to do it and just think 'it's something we can do anytime and put it off till later'. I'll try and post a photo here soon.
Till next week.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A GPS Distributor, Student From Iran & An Austrian Practising His Aussie Slang
Here's the latest dose of airport tales.
Last weekend I met an American here who works for a GPS laser navigation company and was visiting their Australian distributors. This seems to be a huge business these days.
It was a little sad to speak to a UK woman who had been for a long stay but had to go home for a week to attend a funeral and then resume her working holiday Down Under.
There continue to be lots of people from many different countries arriving on our shores to undertake studies here. This time I chatted to a guy from Iran who had been studying here for 3 months. His English was quite good and he seemed to have enjoyed his stay here.
We've had a very long hot spell of weather in NSW, Victoria and South Australia over the last few weeks. This had taken its toll on one Kiwi who had been staying with family in Sydney. His wife was staying on another week but he thought it was too hot to do much so was heading home to the much cooler climate of Wellington.
Travelling out on Singapore Airlines was a young Austrian guy who had spent some time here on holiday. In his hand was an 'Aussie Slang' book which he had just bought at the airport. Perhaps this would have been more useful on his arrival in Australia but, as he seemed to have had a great time here, it was probably to help prepare for his next Aussie adventure.
Till next time.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
Last weekend I met an American here who works for a GPS laser navigation company and was visiting their Australian distributors. This seems to be a huge business these days.
It was a little sad to speak to a UK woman who had been for a long stay but had to go home for a week to attend a funeral and then resume her working holiday Down Under.
There continue to be lots of people from many different countries arriving on our shores to undertake studies here. This time I chatted to a guy from Iran who had been studying here for 3 months. His English was quite good and he seemed to have enjoyed his stay here.
We've had a very long hot spell of weather in NSW, Victoria and South Australia over the last few weeks. This had taken its toll on one Kiwi who had been staying with family in Sydney. His wife was staying on another week but he thought it was too hot to do much so was heading home to the much cooler climate of Wellington.
Travelling out on Singapore Airlines was a young Austrian guy who had spent some time here on holiday. In his hand was an 'Aussie Slang' book which he had just bought at the airport. Perhaps this would have been more useful on his arrival in Australia but, as he seemed to have had a great time here, it was probably to help prepare for his next Aussie adventure.
Till next time.
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
Holidaying On Bruny Island, A Desperate House Sale And A Sad End to A Romance
A little late but here are some stories of people I met the weekend before last.
Travelling home on United Airlines was an American couple who had spent a few weeks holiday on Bruny Island. I had to think for a moment and picture exactly where this was. It's actually a small island off the southern coastline of Tasmania and certainly well off the normal tourist trail. They went there the first time about 8 years ago and loved it so much that they bought a property there to come back and stay in regularly. The landscape reminds them of the upstate New York area where they live. Apparently there are only about 500 people that live there on a regular basis but that swells to about 5000-6000 during the peak holiday season.
The current economic crisis is affecting people in all sorts of ways. I met a woman on Qantas who was planning her emigration to Australia. She had just spent time with her son and daughter in the Central Coast and Port Stephens areas of NSW but had been trying to sell her house back in England for many months and was continuing to reduce the asking price. She was still hopeful of having enough money to be able to buy a property here.
There was an American guy who I chatted to who was in the wine business and had spent his time in the Barossa Valley. It was also fascinating to hear that he had been to Cuba. Officially US citizens still cannot travel there but he had done it via Mexico and didn't get any stamp in his passport. Cuba is one of those places that would be great to see and experience before it eventually and inevitably changes and modernizes.
I came across an English guy on his way home who wasn't terribly happy. I then discovered why. He had come to Sydney to marry his fiance but it seems they broke up instead and he spent the last part of his stay alone in the city.
A happier traveller was an English backpacker on his 3rd trip here and had spent 5 months travelling through WA, NT, NSW and QLD. He raved in particular about the great Whitsunday Islands cruise he had done.
What a mixed bunch of visitors that was!!
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
Travelling home on United Airlines was an American couple who had spent a few weeks holiday on Bruny Island. I had to think for a moment and picture exactly where this was. It's actually a small island off the southern coastline of Tasmania and certainly well off the normal tourist trail. They went there the first time about 8 years ago and loved it so much that they bought a property there to come back and stay in regularly. The landscape reminds them of the upstate New York area where they live. Apparently there are only about 500 people that live there on a regular basis but that swells to about 5000-6000 during the peak holiday season.
The current economic crisis is affecting people in all sorts of ways. I met a woman on Qantas who was planning her emigration to Australia. She had just spent time with her son and daughter in the Central Coast and Port Stephens areas of NSW but had been trying to sell her house back in England for many months and was continuing to reduce the asking price. She was still hopeful of having enough money to be able to buy a property here.
There was an American guy who I chatted to who was in the wine business and had spent his time in the Barossa Valley. It was also fascinating to hear that he had been to Cuba. Officially US citizens still cannot travel there but he had done it via Mexico and didn't get any stamp in his passport. Cuba is one of those places that would be great to see and experience before it eventually and inevitably changes and modernizes.
I came across an English guy on his way home who wasn't terribly happy. I then discovered why. He had come to Sydney to marry his fiance but it seems they broke up instead and he spent the last part of his stay alone in the city.
A happier traveller was an English backpacker on his 3rd trip here and had spent 5 months travelling through WA, NT, NSW and QLD. He raved in particular about the great Whitsunday Islands cruise he had done.
What a mixed bunch of visitors that was!!
Peter
Souvenirs Australia Warehouse
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