THINGS I WAS SURPRISED BY IN AUSTRALIA

THINGS I WAS SURPRISED BY IN AUSTRALIA.
I spent a few days in Australia touring around before and after my cruise. While I did know a few things there were some huge ones that I had know idea would be like that in Australia.
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[@kevinquinn7645]

Ferries are the real secret of Sydney. Catching one to work is like a little cruise everyday.

[@EarlJohn61]

I do wish that people would spell "Fairies" correctly! 🤠🤠🤠

[@jennymitchelson9356]

@@EarlJohn61 lol

[@johnsmith-fz5pz]

yeah I love going on them. circular quay to manly. give you a good veiw (and photo op) for the opera house and harbour bridge.

[@jemborg]

It's a bit hard to be depressed on the Manly ferry.

[@anniemac7545]

I grew up in Mosman, worked at the Quay and caught a ferry to work every day.....I realise how spoilt I was, it was a relaxing way to travel to work.

[@matthewcullen1298]

Our beaches are patrolled in certain spots because of the heavy duty rip currents as you said. The lifesavers are trained in how to pick the safest places to swim on any individual day and will place the red and yellow swimming flags accordingly. Most are volunteering their time money and efforts to save lives in our sometimes treacherous waterways. They are an amazing group of people and often don't receive the respect and gratitude they deserve. Thanks for a great review. I'm a Brisbane bloke but appreciate it when people enjoy anywhere in our wonderful country. Hope you make it back soon mate

[@yandenuts]

Also Matthew, it needs tio be stated that the huigh death toll from drownings is in part due to our high immigrant population who were not bought up goiing to the beach every weekend, or afternoon for the lucky ones. Most Australian kids especially those living on the coast learn to swim around the same time as learning to walk, if not befiore.

[@matta2738]

Also because the Asian tourists

[@paulgerrard9227]

Sadly many aussies cant spot where to swim and drown. 5 since 1 January A rip is the flat water that looks safe

[@matthewcullen1298]

@@yandenuts yeah exactly mate. I grew up on the gold coast in the 70s and 80s and we used to go to the beach up at Bundaberg for holidays. We would swim most of the day

[@matthewcullen1298]

@@paulgerrard9227 yeah sadly what looks like the safest place is the most dangerous and those that don't know gravitate to it

[@susanmizen9493]

I have lived in Western Australia for a long time now and you should visit this side too. It’s so beautiful and the people are very laid back. If you come here don’t leave out the Kimberly region.

[@dichallis4135]

I've never been to Western Australia, and I'm from Sydney. It's on my list, but my family all live on the north coast of NSW so holidays tend to be up there. I've heard it is stunning.

[@elainejoyce2395]

You are allowed to swim wherever you want but the flags are maned by life savers to keep you safe . We are not stopped from swimming anywhere we just want people to be safe . So glad you enjoyed Sydney, you would love Melbourne my city come visit .

[@avrilf4252]

on a busy day though I've seen lifesavers with their loudspeakers rounding up those not between the flags, and also go out in the zodiacs.

[@soapsoilandsunshine3241]

Yes, you can swim anywhere on the beach - some beaches have watercraft areas as well. I've been told by the life-guards (at Maroochydore beach) to go back between the flags.

[@dichallis4135]

Surf Lifesaving is a non-profit that is not a regulatory body, but saves 10k people annually, and tries to prevent people from drowning. With 52,000 km of coastline, those flags make it easier. A lot of tourists don't understand how dangerous our beaches can get because they see so many people in the water. Having lived near Manly most of my life I've seen tourists who have drowned and it is really sad because it is preventable. Yes, you can swim anywhere, but is it fair to put lifesavers' lives in danger if they have to rescue you, outside these safer areas?

[@windybeach2184]

@@avrilf4252, I’ve seen lifeguards instruct people to swim between the flags but it’s usually because they see rough conditions and inexperienced swimmers, who they will probably end up having to rescue later.

[@electrictroy2010]

YOU HAVE topless beaches? The thumbnail in the video seems to show it .

[@MyOwnUTube1]

I work on the ferries and hearing someone from out of the area understand how our ticket system works so easily is so refreshing. People struggle to understand it when you explain it to them, it's so simple.

[@ronhonig]

Every year we sadly have stories in Australia where tourists and locals have drowned because they did not swim between the flags. The areas with flags are patrolled. Swimming outside them is just asking for trouble because the chances are there will not be anyone to help you if you get in trouble.

[@jennifermcdonald5432]

I’m an Aussie and glad you liked our country. We try very hard to “ do the right thing “ in every way we can. Careful with water, solar power as much as possible, keeping the streets and beaches litter free, ect ect. We are lazy with our words, but careful with our country. The flags are put up by lifeguards, and means that area is patrolled. You can swim anywhere but you take the risks.

[@leglessinoz]

Well he liked Sydney which is not Australia.

[@carokat1111]

As someone who grew up in Sydney, I think that was a very accurate assessment of the place. Glad you had a good time. There’s so much more to Australia though, so hopefully you get another opportunity to go further afield.

[@mitchmorrow1548]

Don, I was in Australia in 1989. I fell in love with the people, the flowers, the food, the beauty, the transportation etc. I thought if I ever left the USA, I would move to the Land Down Under.

[@mrmadunit3923]

hold those memorys close Australia is a very different place now NOT for the better 🚾

[@chippyjohn1]

@@mrmadunit3923 Yeah, Australia has been ruined by the USA!

[@johnsmith-fz5pz]

in 89. damn if it was sydney that place has changed so much.

[@chrissomerville2625]

@@mrmadunit3923 Nope, still an amazing place to live. Certainly better than most large cities worldwide. Travel a lot and you soon appreciate this fantastic place.

[@koganinja100]

Thanks Mitch You’re always welcome mate , I have brother in law in USA - little place called Carterville. Hope to visit US one day been to Hawaii and found it great and people friendly. All the best from down under Lewis Sydney 🇦🇺

[@mattraschke2889]

Thanks for your insight Don. Being born and raised on the east coast of Australia (2 hrs north of Sydney), I take most of what you discussed for granted, which is sad. Your video helps me take time out to appreciate all of these things. Gotta run. Just had brekky, now off to work, hoping to finish early this arvo so I can go for a swim at Newy beach (Newcastle). Love your work!

[@keithkearns93]

My mother taught me a great lesson when we lived at Wangi . I walked to her place for coffee and she asked me what colour the lake was and I couldn’t answer her. Son you have a million dollar view and you don’t look at it. She never caught me again , take time to appreciate what’s around you .

[@stevehurt1055]

LOL

[@keithkearns93]

@@dynevor6327 That was a while ago. From memory I think the Oriana was decommissioned in the 1980’s .

[@markeden767]

What about the free bbqs everywhere Also welcome to the gong Also Train rides are half price for students and pensioners

[@amaryllislady8795]

@@markeden767 And clean toilets everywhere!

[@meghanvidler9147]

As an Australian I found this amazing - I think our transportation system stinks, I swim between the flags because that’s where the lifeguards are, I have solar panels because cost of electricity is so high but I have always considered myself blessed with the beauty of my country although Sydney is far too much city for me and I prefer to live slightly north and quieter.

[@_wallnutz_]

Plenty of high hydro bills in Adelaide. Supplying green is expensive.

[@davidhoward4715]

@@_wallnutz_ This makes no sense. Hydro power is not "green". In fact the first Green movement in the world (in Tasmania) was formed in opposition to hydro.

[@_wallnutz_]

@@johnbarry8283 hehe

[@triarb5790]

Having come here originally from London ALL Australian Cities have sht public transport!

[@freeman10000]

@@triarb5790 Perhaps! But I do know that the weather in London is "sht" and so is the British economy.

[@rossweaver8638]

Gee, Don. What a positive and glowing account of your recent trip to Sydney, however, I can assure you that there are quite a few locals who only see the down side of situations and services and frequently let everyone know it. I am pleased that you enjoyed you visit here and that when you next get down this way you have a chance to see other parts of this country. Cheers.

[@kaz1578]

Everything always appears differently when you are on vacation regardless of where you are in the world, even in your own home town where, because I am retired, I can enjoy the city as a tourist.

[@Bellas1717]

Some people view their world through the lens of their sadness or even anger. Others -through the positivity of 'rose-coloured glasses.' I like to do the latter, but then I am lucky to be in a place in my life where that is possible.

[@see_horse]

Also for the escalator point - if you're RIDING the escalator (as in letting it take you up), stay on the left of the stair. Many people will still 'walk' up an escalator to get up faster, and use the right side for this.

[@jennymitchelson9356]

This was a great video. As an Aussie I appreciate your great review and your enjoyment of our home. You’re 100% the type of tourist we love to share our country with 🙂x

[@patriciacassidy7677]

I couldnt agree with you more! Australia is an amazing place! I was also in far north Queensland and it was the same, friendly people, beautiful nature. Cant beat it!

[@johnsmith-fz5pz]

nah its muggy there. also you lot watch nrl backwards or on your head or something. so bias etc.

[@CombatMosquitoTrainer]

@@johnsmith-fz5pz No muggers in fnq mate.

[@johnsmith-fz5pz]

@@CombatMosquitoTrainer right. syre there isn't. ;)

[@xDRAGONSTARx]

It is so lovely to hear another person's opinion of my home town, and of course, my country! Thanks for the upload, I enjoyed this so much!

[@heatherjay8802]

An interesting and well balanced video, Don. When visiting Canada in ‘93 one of the things I enjoyed was looking around your shopping malls, not so much to buy anything, but just to see the “everyday” differences in items available and the way people worked and shopped. I also visited again in December 2000 and while Christmas lights looked wonderful in the snow, you are welcome to your -15C, (and colder!), temperatures thank you! When you visit our shores again, may I suggest a trip to Kangaroo Island? Just off the coast of South Australia, it offers wildlife, wineries, world renowned beaches and clean air, wondrous scenery, delicious locally grown food and not a traffic light in its over 4,000 square kilometres! Safe travels!

[@khardy1801]

It’s great to hear you talk about our transportation system. There’s always talk about how bad it is compared to overseas systems such as the London tube, Paris Metro etc. So it’s nice to hear that it’s actually good to an outsider

[@Bellas1717]

Yes, I find the people who say that to me are comparing what used to be, rather than what is now after so much upgrading of the systems.

[@peterbreis5407]

North America does not set a very high bar. But definitely Sydney's public transport is well organised, clean and amazingly cheap. Locals have no excuse if they use anything else.

[@nix123ism]

I lived in Melbourne for 1.5 years and then Sydney for 8 years, originally from NZ , yes, the transport system is great, I worked in construction all over these cities and assumed I would need a car, no, I ended up using the train system in Melbourne and my workmate would pick me up in the morning from the train station closest to the site we were working on, worked a treat, in the weekends I would use it to go everywhere, it's honestly a great system and it works , compared to Auckland , it's wonderful....

[@Bellas1717]

@@peterbreis5407 Yes, especially me, since I live next door to a Metro station, and the three places I visit most are at the most a minute's walk from other Metro stations.

[@smurfylee]

@@nix123ism Melbourne has THE BEST transport system in Australia hands down!

[@diggeroldmate8122]

Glad you liked Sydney. Next time you visit, and I hope you do, try anywhere else. Australia is an amazing place and has a lot of diverse ecosystems to see and explore.

[@Dallas-Nyberg]

I'm glad you loved your visit to Australia, Don.. I was born here and I never get bored with traveling around our vast country. There is so much diversity to experience here... from the tropics in the North, highland snow regions in the south and the vast red inland to the West. Cheers 🦘

[@karenmcneill2602]

Sydney is my favourite city! It has my heart. The other city I love is Venice. I only got to spend a couple of hours there, but what an impression it left on me. The beaches in Australia are breathtaking. I'm originally from NZ but moved to Australia with my Aussie Mum in the 80s. Those were great years! I remember her telling me how beautiful Aussie beaches were...so true. I had the same issue in NYC with regard to walking on the wrong side LOL! So glad you loved your time here!

[@BP-kg7ti]

Sydney is a fun place to walk. We walked all over the downtown area visiting the parks and museums. Nice and clean.

[@carolphillips8802]

Two good reasons for high number of solar panels: 1. Australia has so much sunshine (the "sunburnt country"). 2. The government subsidises the panels.

[@hanb2173]

So instilled into us from a young age, swim between the flags! Travellers come to the beach thinking they can just go in normally as they would at home but it can be very dangerous.

[@electrictroy2010]

YOU HAVE topless beaches? The thumbnail in the video seems to show it .

[@sandrarose3165]

Pleased you loved your holiday here; we've loved following you and Tony! We've already had a lot of drownings this summer, up and down the East coast, because of people not swimming between the flags. There are many dangerous rips in the surf. In north Qld there are dangerous jellyfish, so not much swimming there either.

[@eirabish7980]

Yes that is an important comment, might look weird but we expect swimmers to swim between flags, many tourists get into trouble by swimming outside the flagged areas and when beach not patrolled.

[@laureljaneg]

Glad I read this! I’ve experienced riptides in Huntington Beach

[@stephaniecole4609]

Yes, very sad. There's a young Swedish tourist who fell off North Head whose body they're trying to find.

[@glenthorne5936]

I wouldn't say there's not much swimming in FNQ. We swim all year but often in waterholes & wherever there's a waterfall (& there r so many, all equally beautiful)We r very spoiled up this way esp when it comes 2 nature but there's also a lot 2 do here. 4 example It's the only place in Oz 2 go bungy jumping & I'm addicted 😁

[@cynthiagilchristaussie_tru8891]

I'm so pleased you enjoyed our beautiful country 😀 ❤ 😊

[@julienichols2608]

You can swim wherever you like along the beach, the flags just designate the safest stretch, and the section patrolled by lifesavers. Glad you enjoyed your stay ☺

[@phteven9752]

Australians with a seniors card (over 60) can travel on the Sydney transport system for a maximum of $2:50 per day. Catch as many Buses, trains, trams or Ferries in one day and all you pay is $2:50 per day

[@Boozoobajou1]

In the west, anyone with a seniors card can travel free anywhere until 3 PM and then it's pensioner charges.

[@teresamiller5412]

We had been on the Ovation for 29 days, day 9-29 1/3 of passengers were Australian, so had to walk the halls in ship on left side 😂! we took a private tour van, always headed to wrong side! Hopefully you enjoyed some gelato, it was incredible. Other countries need to duplicate their mass transit!

[@rachellefebres4183]

Americans walk wherever they want lol 😂 I am American before someone comes for me lol 😂

[@memelissa2]

I was on the same cruise and yeah, the walking on the "wrong" side got us too. It was a great cruise!

[@gordonrebello6288]

We were on the same cruise and now have friends in Australia that we meet on the ship. We stood in downtown Sydney for a week after the cruise and felt right at home. Loved going to their zoo's and out to the Blue mountain's.

[@chrisbenn8691]

as an Aussie, I went to visit Moscow and all the Russians stand on the right on the escalators. Like you I had to adapt and not automatically head to the left!. Oh, and Canada is also a beautiful country. One day I would love to visit there too.

[@electrictroy2010]

Russians stand on the right, because that’s the side they drive on (ditto Europe, both Americas, and most of the world) .

[@ianmontgomery7534]

The weather is the main reason for the green actually being green. In the last twelve months they have had so much rain but also they went over 300 days without hitting 30C which is very rare. You will also find a lot of domestic tourists in Sydney too.

[@dingo8302]

Remember, 70% of the Australian mainland is classified as semi-arid, arid or desert; making it the driest inhabited continent on Earth. Only Antarctica is drier. So not a lot of green 😀

[@rogerkerbrat1768]

We did 28 days on the Noordam in 2018 Sydney to Auckland and back. We flew standby back to Canada from Sydney but had to wait 2 days for seats. Gosh darn it 2 more days in Sydney Marriott where you stayed. First time delighted to not be able to fly. Loved Sydney and can't wait to go back to Oz and NZ. HAL was fantastic as usual.

[@glenbarker7515]

Don we have the flagged areas for swimming as our coastline is about 34,000 kilometres and you can’t patrol everywhere. Most of the lifeguards are volunteers so we limit surfing/ swimming to the safer areas. Most lifeguards will acknowledge that tourists who haven’t grown up going to the beach are the most likely to need help.

[@grahammercer6630]

So glad that you enjoyed your visit, and happy to watch your glowing report on your stay. Next time you will have to come to Melbourne and experience our lovely city. :)

[@lindalaliberte8704]

Hi Don, loved learning all these things about Australia. Looking forward to more. 👍🙂

[@kenlawton1531]

I'm glad you enjoyed Sydney, we are very proud of Sydney, and Australia in general😁

[@johnhaller7017]

One thing worth mentioning as a safety precaution is.This may apply to Canada, but most certainly to visitors from the USA. As a pedestrian in the USA, when you go to cross the road, you will automatically check for oncoming traffic from your left. It's a reflex. In Australia, your first pedestrian check for traffic will be to your right. This could save your life! As for Aussie abbreviations an ex Texan resident now living in Australia once told me that Christmas(in Australia) was shortened to Chrissy and that presents(gifts) had been abbreviated to prezzies. So the giving or receiving of a Christmas present in Australia could legitimately be reduced to Chrissy Prezzie which in her case reduced her to howls of laughter.

[@lizmacleod8903]

Australians drive on the left like the British, magnificent country part of the Commonwealth.

[@glenthorne5936]

Also heard it abbreviated 2 "X ie pressie" in some places-FNQ. Legend says we shorten our words 2 try avoid getting flies in the mouth.

[@johnhaller7017]

@@glenthorne5936 The flies may be repelled by wearing all those swinging corks on your hat a really (un) authentic Aussie bush tradition. Additionally Australians have managed to make one vowel sound represent the other vowel sounds, therefore avoiding opening your mouth to enunciate, thus avoiding the inhalation of flies. Along with Great White Sharks, Taipans, Irukanji jellyfish, Funnel Web spiders and accidental inhalation of flies, all potentially fatal here in the land of "The long weekend" Come on down.

[@rickneill6924]

This is good advice. I know of an Australian couple whose son was tragically killed by a car in Canada on a family holiday because he looked in the wrong direction before crossing a road. A very, very sad ending to their holiday 😕😢

[@johnhaller7017]

@@rickneill6924 Words are not able to express the sadness of that. Just a reflex. Here is something from the other end of the spectrum. I was visiting the USA from Australia about a decade past. One day I went for a late morning walk in Minneapolis, Eden Prairie the suburb. I remember how thoughtful and very caring the drivers were certainly in this city and particularly this suburb. It seemed as if I even intended to cross the road, any motorist would be aware of my intentions almost immediately and would be slowing in anticipation. To be fair, in any part of Australia I never saw any sort of thoughtful motorist behavior at this level and it's not to damn Australian drivers as being impatient or thoughtless, but this was above and beyond what I was used to in Australia. I still shake my head with admiration at this memory. Here's another one. I hired a car in LA and jumped onto the Long Beach Freeway The Maximum speed was 60MPH, clearly signposted. But In Australia, it's rare to see more than the occasional driver exceeding the speed limit on a freeway, it does happen but it's not like LA. On the Long Beach Freeway, everyone was doing about 80MPH (no one slower) I was sticking to 60MPH which had me cowering over in the outside lane and I didn't see any other stragglers like me either. It was my first moments of driving in the USA so I was jet lagged, but I was very timid about joining the regular drivers doing that sort of speed. I don't think I ever got used to it around LA freeways at least. It was a breathtakingly casual approach to 60mph actually means 80MPH. Never seen it in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth like that.

[@kevinswain4441]

Hi Don, Great news you had a good time downunder. Having lived UK, NZ & Aus and travelled much of Europe, visited both USA and Canada several times, so you could say I am well-travelled. I plan on re-visiting as many counties as I can. All counties have good and bad points; however I have settled in NZ and Aus I find these counties offer the best balance of life. One comment: Remember Aus is very big and changes for example I live not far from the barrier reef so our weather is tropical. Don come back and visit longer Love your shows keep up the good work.

[@helloitsme1158]

nothing better than a drink and dinner by the water on a warm sunny day or evening . Us locals love our harbour

[@Malenasib]

I am blessed to live in Australia, I love this Country, the Pubs, the beers😊 Brisbane, you should visit the mountains!!!

[@RealPaulKearney]

Glad you loved it here in beautiful Sydney. The reason we have so many solar panels in Sydney is because we have a lot of clear sky sunny days, and countries in the southern hemisphere like Australia actually get closer to the sun than northern hemisphere countries due to the earth’s rotation. With that in mind, I hope you were wearing sunscreen 😅😅

[@electrictroy2010]

LOL southern countries are not “closer” to the sun. At 93,000,000 million miles all of the globe is essentially the same distance from our star

[@RealPaulKearney]

@@electrictroy2010 Lol when it’s night time for you, and daytime for me, guess who’s closer to the sun at that moment…

[@CruiseCrazedFam]

As an Aussie this is interesting to hear. I lived in the states for 6 years so have seen both sides. We have government subsidies for solar panels to help with the environment but also helps us heaps with our bills. Mine cost about $2k to install 20 panels and a year and a half later they have almost paid themselves off. They are very effective in summer, my lowest bill last summer was $7, highest in winter was about $130/month but we use the heater a lot more in winter and we live in Melbourne. So yes solar panels are very popular here.

[@jacoblas1371]

Hi. I assume you also use a gas water heater.?

[@johnfisher7143]

Middle class welfare, no wonder electricity prices are out of control, but then again I suppose someone down the line has to pay for those “subsidized” panels.

[@lamsmiley1944]

I never understood why solar is so expensive in the USA. A 6.6kW system costs $10KUSD or more where here you’d can get it for less than half that amount. Both countries provide subsidies yet the USA is so much more.

[@peterbreis5407]

@@johnfisher7143 Don't be a stick in the mud. The electricity prices are high because of the fossil fuel power stations and over spending on powerlines. The companies who run them gamed government money to keep on polluting. The solar panel subsidies make sense because the subsidies (which are not forever) kickstarted the movement and have lead to a load being taken off the public utilities. The same as people were given efficient light bulbs, because the cost of the bulbs was a lot cheaper than building and fueling the extra power stations to run the wasteful and polluting older technology. We were also encouraged to have efficient toilets and shower heads to save water. Another bad idea?

[@johnfisher7143]

@@peterbreis5407 sounds like you’re regurgitating labor/green talking points. You may have drunk the big corporate Kool-Aid but don’t expect the rest of us to subsidize your feel good pointless virtue signaling. Let me know how you get on in a few years when your worn out Chinese made panels have been buried in the local landfill. I’m sure that’ll be good for the environment you’re so concerned about.

[@angmut43]

The reason for swimming between the flags is that is safest area on the beach to swim. We get taught from a very young age to swim between the flags also slip slop slap. Glad you enjoyed your time in Sydney and either Newcastle or Wollongong. There is so much to see in this country.

[@kimbraithwaite3711]

Thanks for all your positive feedback on Australia , glad you had a good time

[@chuckarock2001]

So glad you had a great time Don. You're always welcomed to come back. 🤓🇦🇺🇨🇦👍

[@arokh72]

Glad to hear your perspective Don. I lived most of my adult life in Sydney, before moving bush, well the suburbs, and had become quite cynical and jaded about the place. It's always nice to hear the perspective of a visitor to our fine shores. Glad you enjoyed yourself, and I hope you have the opportunity to come and visit again.

[@avrilf4252]

me too. Jaded is the word. After covid no-one seems to give two hoots about anything. So very different to the Sydney I grew up in the 60s-70s.

[@natalieschumacher4729]

There is alot more to Australia than just Sydney. It is a very big and diverse place

[@clairem730]

I love our ocean pools. They are great for doing laps as well as for when you are with little kids etc and want calmer waters. Also great for days when the beach conditions might be too dangerous.

[@lamkaz810]

Great video Don. We had hydro electricity coming from the Snowy Mountains...but Oz is just toooo big for it. Now, did ya notice the sun? Yep we got lots of it mostly all year round. Chalk that up to a no-brainer on that lol. Thanks for being so kind with your review of Aussie Land 👏🙂👏

[@gregevans2361]

What a fantastic video Don, you are welcome here anytime, your interpretation and observations of life in Australia are spot on , and with your audience spreading the word to the world , thank you, loved watching you and Tony navigating your way around Sydney, next time you need to check out Blue Mountains, Gooday Mate.

[@demmimorelle4654]

We're a friendly and innovative bunch! Next time you visit, you should stop in to Melbourne, Victoria is a beautiful State.....it's not called "the garden state" for nothing. Western Australia is pretty spectacular as well.

[@tomraw4893]

Thanks Don. You are an honorary Aussie.

[@geograph-ology4343]

Don, you hit it on the button. We went to Australia and visited Sydney, Brisbane, Herron Island, Uluru, and other spots. The people were incredibly warm and friendly, and the sights were breathtaking. There were a lot of North American reminders like Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and even the cars were similar (except for the steering wheel on the other side). There would be big cities but miles of nothing between cities, just roadway (reminiscent of MAD MAX but without shootouts or mutants). One day we will be back, but we still have a few other continents left to see first.

[@kerrydoutch5104]

You know Mad Max was filmed here? In the outback muning town of Broken Hill in centeal west NSW. That would be why.

[@markleggett5913]

There are mutants believe me. I live here lol

[@artistjoh]

In North America you have the steering wheel on the right side, but down here we have in on the correct side :) Actually both are the correct side. In the days of horse carriages, horses were always driven from the left side in most of the world and so the British countries naturally gravitated to driving cars from the left side, just like with the horse. The US, however, drove horses from the right side, don't know why, but naturally American cars were driven from the right side. However, the French, who like most of the world drove horses from the left side, but didn't like the idea of doing anything the British did, perversely decided they would drive cars the American way, and most of the rest of Europe, also not liking the British, followed the French lead despite them also driving horses from the left side. As a result about a quarter of the world's population drives on the left, and the rest of you get it wrong :)

[@Patracat]

@@markleggett5913 ha ha ha, love that comment😁

[@matthewsheeran]

I think Auckland is more touristy than Sydney and just as if not more expensive. He picked the one positive about Sydney around Circular Quay: the green Botanical Gardens and it's free as well. Manly is a much nicer place to visit than Bondi and worth the ferry trip across the harbour via Circular Quay of course if you are coming!

[@EmmaDaisy]

The flags on the beach are to tell you that that area is safe to swim and is being patrolled by lifeguards. You can swim outside the flags, but if you’re down the other end of the beach and you’re caught in a rip or otherwise and need help, no one is going to see you. Or if someone did see you, it would take too long for them to get help.

[@stephanieyee9784]

We swim between the flags, on patrolled beaches, because that is the safest spot of water on the beach. The flags move when necessary and when rips form. Lifeguards have a very hard job and if we can make their lives a little easier that's a win/win.

[@lindameyer6397]

I noticed how immaculate the cities you traveled were. Love traveling with you and Tony

[@Ginmegsy]

Several years back there was some massive subsidies on new solar systems and some generous feed in tariffs hence the big up take in solar in Australia.

[@JohnnyBGood544]

You should experience Melbourne, You 'lle know why the coffee is world class, 4 seasons in One day, Warm weather from December to April, The Collaseaum{MCG} Afl footy, I follow Collingwood, Teams are Named after Melbourne suburbs, Now an International Sport. Melbourne Beaches are Awesome.

[@rissyj8587]

Glad you liked our country, you’re welcome back anytime! Hope there’s a part 2 to this because we also want to hear about the cruise you took while you were here.

[@k.vn.k]

hi Don, so happy to have you in Sydney, please come back whenever you have time. There are many great cities in Australia besides Sydney: Melbourne, Cairns, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, etc. I visited Canada before and I was amazed with the cities there too. ❤️ 🇦🇺 🇨🇦 ❤️

[@heidithesausage]

Shout out to Radelaide 👍

[@denisbryce8746]

Speaking of Hungry Jacks & Burger King. Hungry Jacks ended up buying out Burger King in Australia. There is now only 1 Burger King left in Australia. Also, McDonalds is known as Maccas in Australia.

[@myke49]

We shorten words to keep the flies out. Thanks for the kind comments. Mike in Oz.

[@carolinehughes132]

And we cannot wait to have you back Don, im glad you enjoyed our beautiful city and stunning harbour. See you again soon 😉👍

[@beardymcbeardface69]

Fun *_fact_* about the history of Burger King and Hungry Jacks in Australia, is that there was about 1 year in the 90's where they actually *_both_* coexisted with essentially the same look, feel and menu but with their different branding.

[@ross4970]

That fact wasn't much fun for me.

[@electrictroy2010]

@ross4970 USA sometimes has west & east coast restaurants. They look identical but have different names (like Hardees and Carls Jr). Ditto some brands like Dreyers and Edys ice cream .

[@queenslanddiva]

Lovely video Don. I must admit sometimes I watch vids like this one and get a bit cross when the poster expects Australia to be just like where they come from and they make it sound like we are somehow backwards because we don't do things just like they do. Yours was so positive. Just on the shortening of our words, we call McDonalds Maccas, and in my family, I don't know about others, we call Hungry Jacks, Jaccas. If you can shorten it, you do! Come back any time, I'm sure there are many people, me included, who would love to show you some more of our fab country.

[@kathyoliva6966]

Thank you Don! Love this and your helpfulness and positive attitude!

[@cariadalexandrite]

My parents immigrated to Australia in 1966. They were in Brisbane and were told to 'get a good possy at the Ekka this arvo' and it took them a while to work out what was being said. They also mixed up Woolongabba and Woolgoolga. They're practically native now.

[@recommendationsfromrach]

I’m so glad you got to visit our beautiful shores and had such a great time! Don’t be a stranger!

[@bobmetcalfe9640]

When I was in the US years ago, I was completely taken aback by the fact that when you're approaching someone walking you tend to move to the right. I kept getting flustered because we moved to the left, leading to a lot of near collisions.

[@ultimobile]

people tend to walk on the side that they drive - US on the right, Australia on the left

[@tracy_in_primary]

I visited the US 10 years ago. I kept wondering why I was getting funny looks in the supermarket, and finally realised how we naturally move to the left of the aisle, and I kept getting people's way, because they move to the right. I never realised how much the side of the road we drive on impacts how we walk as well.

[@trybunt]

I learnt a good trick, can't remember where from, but when approaching someone to walk past if you aren't sure which way they'll go, just look at the direction you are going and they'll go the other way. This works 99%of the time, no matter what country you are in. Collisions usually happen when people are looking at each other and doing that weird adjusting direction dance we sometimes do. 🕺 🕺

[@sarahhayse-gregson689]

When we arrived in Sydney in 1958 and lived on the lower north shore, I loved the working harbour. We used to sit on the foreshores and watch tankers, navel vessels glide in and hear the horns at night. Our swimming pool was a tidal pool and we became experts reading the tidal charts daily. Came home from school, stripped off our uniforms, into our cozzies and headed down to the pool. King tides was Christmas. Sadly the “working harbour” is no more. We get cruise ships, the size of monstrous buildings taking place of the tankers which steered themselves under the Bridge to Walsh Bay to unload their goods. Still, it’s a beautiful harbour.

[@BTimmer]

Great video. I totally agree with your observations having been there multiple times.

[@yogerke]

The landscape, trees, succulents all over Australia look like Southern California

[@mattraschke2889]

Maybe because California planted millions of Aussie eucalypts? Lol.

[@brontewcat]

I think you mean Southern California looks like Australia since those trees are Australian native trees.

[@lisamorice4701]

G'day Don. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to Oz. You're correct, the visitors blend in with the locals rather than having segregated tourist areas. Much better I think so we can all get to know each other. I hope you'll come back some time and see some more places. We are a big country and Sydney is different to Melbourne is different to Perth etc. Little Tassie (Tasmania) where I am is another place worth checking out sometime.

[@julesmarwell8023]

hey; mate, when you get sick of being snowed under. We have the sun glowing ready to greet you when you return. Good health to you my friend

[@johnhamilton8650]

Awesome video mate, glad you enjoyed your visit, hope you get a chance to see a bit more of Australia sometime 😁👍

[@citizensallianceofaustrali697]

Not sure if this would be interesting to you Don, but I live in Goulburn which is about 3 hours south by train on the main Sydney to Melbourne rail line, and we are surrounded by bushranger history. Bushrangers are our version of highwaymen and your own outlaws. We have sites and buildings still standing from those days and it would be my great pleasure to show you around if you were to make your way down this way whenever you get back to Sydney! Very good, video and enjoyed a visitors take on Sydney!

[@gladysgrand7633]

Sometimes it is the little things that we discover on our trips that surprise us that make them so memorable.

[@lawjones2177]

GREAT SHOW , Thank You Don 😊

[@marcwaldron1686]

Great video Don. All positive information. Sounds like a great place

[@Teagirl009]

Glad you enjoyed your time in Sydney. I had the opposite issue when travelling outside of Australia. I kept walking in the wrong side of the footpath or escalator lol. If you get back to Sydney, take a trip to the Blue Mountains. It's stunning. Only an hour and half from Sydney. The train goes there and coach tours. One of the thing I do like about our cities is for the most part they are fairly clean compared to a lot of other western cities. It's not unusual to see people out and about enjoying the fresh air, parks and harbour around the city even during work hours, people will often go out for their lunch break. And with all the water surrounding Sydney it generally has more of a fresh sea air smell than stinky city vibe. The major beaches are patrolled, yes for safety. Some beaches have shark nets, not all. Helicopters and also the life gaurds in the towers keep an eye out for sharks too and will sound the shark alarm and get everyone out of the water fast if there's sharks too close. Swimming between the flags is the safest areas away from the rips and where the life gaurds are most present. The ocean pools are heavily present accross the NSW coastline. Again a nice safe area for people especially families to swim. You won't see these ocean pools as much in other states. Queensland tends to have these man made lagoon things instead, away from the beaches. Brisbane itself has a fake beach lol. There's over 10, 000 beaches in Australia though, so once you travel away from Capital cities you will find unpatrolled areas. The northern parts of Australia you have to be really careful, as that's where the crocodiles are. And also stingers. Some beaches up there while very beautiful with white sand, are just not swimmable for much of the year. They have a netted areas there and some where u just can't swim at all. But they do have the world's oldest rainforest, The Daintree and of course the Great Barrier Reef. Both UNESCO World Heritage listed. Southern Queensland has some beautiful beaches along the gold and sunshine coasts. Western Australia has some gorgeous beaches too. And the outback red desert areas are a stark contrast but also beautiful and unique. And full of some incredible history and culture connected to Indigenous Australians 65,000+ years ago.

[@OldFellaDave]

Queensland has more lagoons because it gets dangerous to swim on beaches as you go further north due to marine stingers, crocs etc In Brisbane - well, its on a rive that goes to a sheltered Rocky/Muddy Bay with two great big islands protecting it from the ocean. So no real beaches. SE Qld has some great beaches but as a proud Brisbanite it pains me to say - those beaches all up and down WA are absolutely breathtaking. I'd move there in a heartbeat ;)

[@robertarohwer3861]

When we were in Sydney ... and then a week in Cairns... you could only swim in an area marked and netted because the jelly fish (jellies) were everywhere! So add THAT to your list. Also... we'd been on a cruise line for 3 weeks, so when we docked in Sydney we were hungry for a hamburger. We went to McDonalds... it's NOT like our McD's... they serve you your meals at your seat.... AND the burgers were actual BEEF! Yummy.

[@WisteriaDream]

And McDonalds are called Maccas in Australia. 😂

[@johngilson3500]

Totally awesome!!! Thanks, Don!!! ❤🚂🚃🚃🚃🚢❤

[@acfsambo4996]

Aussie slang can be summed up as we make things 2 syllables. Service Station - Servo Bottle Shop - Bottlo McDonalds - Maccas Wagga Wagga - Wagga. (But you can't call Woy Woy just Woy)

[@JohnAnderson-km1fb]

Great video! I now am looking forward to visiting Australia! Given the deep freeze here in Colorado, Sydney really looks inviting.

[@yvonnelake3296]

Just keep in mind--Aus's seasons are the opposite of USA!

[@terrysmitherman584]

its been on my bucket list to visit Australia/New Zealand. looks beautiful. One Day! :)

[@blackletter2591]

Your country is beautiful too. I remember it as one place I really would like to see again and the Canadians were very friendly.

[@leonwilson1089]

Sound like someone had a great time downunder glad you enjoy your experience

[@Aust-NZ-SPandtheworld]

Don...next time you're in Aus, wander around the Rocks area, just near the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal or Circular Quay. There are some really great old buildings including 'The Lord Nelson' pub (Hotel). As usual, a great video.

[@FionaEm]

Glad you enjoyed your time here. We abbreviate words because we're pretty casual people, not because we're trying to save time 😊 Hopefully you can go further afield next time you're here. Australia is a big country with an amazing variety of landscapes and things to do.

[@Boozoobajou1]

Abbreviating words appears to be a lot more common on the east coast than on the west.

[@TonyBurke100]

Thanks for your kind words I love my country and I'm proud of it. Keep to the left when walking if you don't want to piss me off, I'm 70 years old and remember when we used to have a yellow unbroken line on our footpaths in the city and God help you if you didn't stay on the left. I haven't noticed the abbreviation so much but I don't get around much nowadays. The beaches can be dangerous if you don't know about the rips stay between the flags or you'll have a cranky life saver on your case. Sharks can be a worry too.

[@roberthamilton1301]

Cheers Mate you nailed it. Pretty good snapshot of our Lucky Country. Welcome back anytime soon... Thanks

[@OldFellaDave]

I've always thought that Canda and Australia had a weird relationship, we're like absolute total opposites ... but bound by a similar shared heritage and history. Where we are a huge underpopulated land that lives on the coast because its so hot and dry in the middle, you guys are a huge underpopulated land that lives on the edges because you have too much water (snow, ice etc) and it's cold as hell in many parts! We have trips to the 'Bush' to visit the inhospitable red center, you guys have awesome adventures in your remote pristine forests and lakes. Would love to visit there one day ... if only to have a big feed of genuine Poutine and try this Tim Hortons you seem so fond of to see if its any good ;)

[@deathandcats]

As an Australian who has sampled tim Hortons, the food is amazing but the coffee is terrible. All of the coffee I drank when I was in Canada was *terrible* and I swear they have no idea.

[@OldFellaDave]

@@deathandcats Cheers fo the tip ... I was kinda hoping it wasn't a Canadian Starbucks :( But I'm still having the Poutine ;)

[@deathandcats]

@@OldFellaDave Poutine is good. Definitely try it. Also try the Nanaimo bars (or slice), somewhat in the neighbourhood of sweet slices like caramel slice and hedgehog slice, but SO MUCH better imo. It's a big place, there is a lot to see and do, regardless of which coast you're exploring. Have fun, be adventurous, go with a mostly empty suitcase so you can shop at Canadian only stores (I miss the stuff I used to get at HBC, it was great- lasted for *years*), and it sounds weird, but stock up on the silly touristy kitsch - some you can give away to friends and family, but when you're back in Australia and drinking out of your maple leaf mug years after, or wearing a 'canadian fast food' t-shirt, it no longer looks kitsch - it's a memory of your Canadian adventures. Damn, I miss Canada.

[@electrictroy2010]

As an American visiting Canada feels like USA part 2. It’s pretty 99% the same culture. In fact the far north of USA (Minnesota, Michigan, Maine) feels like Canada because of cross-culture sharing (including Tim Hortons & poutine) .

[@eirabish7980]

Loved all of your comments about Sydney. So glad you enjoyed all of your time here, but loved especially the comments about our shortening of words! As a Pom, I was totally confused by this when I came to Australia. So I happily knew what you were saying! Now you can enjoy vegies, as well as googie eggs and brekky!!

[@mattraschke2889]

Our English friends were confused by 'arvo'. They thought it was some kind of restraining order!!

[@eirabish7980]

@@mattraschke2889 I was confused by being invited for 'tea', assumed as an English person it meant afternoon tea, but it was dinner!!!

[@Squashed8Ball]

What are googie eggs? 🤔

[@eirabish7980]

@@Squashed8Ball Runny eggs!

[@marieravening927]

@@Squashed8Ball Just eggs in general.

[@dichallis4135]

Totally agree with your points about Sydney being so beautiful. There are always lovely places to eat, visit and meet with friends. Solar is popular because we get financial incentives for solar panels. Regarding the beaches, they are very dangerous, and the lifeguards can only patrol short sections for rips and sharks. ANd yes, the ocean pools are gorgeous. I have one near my place which is opposite the opera house. Stunning.

[@erose1710]

Nice aerial view of Bronte pool. I grew up there and at the age of 2 was put into swim class (free classes provided by the surf club for kids) every Saturday morning. It's also great in summer as they've got electric BBQs, so on nights it was hot would have dinner at the beach, a swim and then go home.

[@robertmurray8763]

It surprised me as a Australian. Americans committed how good our City parks and gardens are and how many we have.

[@peterbreis5407]

He's Canadian, don't insult him.

[@robertmurray8763]

@@peterbreis5407 I know he's Canadian. A lot of America have commented about Australian parks and gardens. The comment was more aimed at American not Canadian. I've been to both countries and have relatives live in both countries.

[@timbrown8581]

Don another great vid. I had the same problem when in New York. Took me a while to realise Americans walk on the opposite side to us in Australia. Also when using escalators, in the US people keep walking along the escalators as it moves. Here we just stop and enjoy the ride. Sounds like you had a great time here Don. Come back anytime and stay longer mate! 🇭🇲

[@mattraschke2889]

Haha except at train stations! On those eacalators keep left or those in a hurry will get cranky!!

[@timbrown8581]

@@mattraschke2889 or they'll walk right over you.

[@EarlJohn61]

When I visited the UK in 2017, I noticed that, if you wanted to stop & enjoy the ride, you were asked to stand on the right side of the escalator, while those who wanted to keep walking, kept to the left. (Except during peak hour traffic, if you stopped then you got trampled)

[@BassMatt1972]

Circular Quay (said "Key") is where the ferries dock, next to the Opera House, these take you across to the North Side of the Harbour, without going over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.. So its also a "transport hub"..

[@nancyrobey58]

Very interesting video today. Thank you!