[Brosemite]

I have a Polish friend who went to secondary school in Australia as his dad was transferred there for work. He seconds the expensive part as he remembers the days of when the USD was much stronger than the Australian one. Such distant memories he says..haha.

The only way I'd go is if I miraculously got a job offer there one day.

[T and A Man]

I've only been to the states once in 2000, when i went there it was $AUD 1 = $USD 0.47. Life was passable.

I could imagine it being lavish now as there has been a CPI discrepancy that favours U.S. consumption.

The example I can give was trips to Europe in 1998, and 2011.

In 98, $AUD 1 = £0.34, FFR34..... in 2011, it was £0.65 and €0.77.. which equated to FFR67.

Paris was roughly 3/4 the price of Perth in 2011.

Even in places as relatively expensive as Malaysia, the initial currency exchange seems like confetti, so after a week I have absolutely no restraint..... in India.. I paid for service for everything... laundry, shaving, washing my feet, carrying my luggage. I would imagine doing the same in Thailand.

It's a fun time, but it won't last.

[Huck Finn]

(01-29-2013 11:57 PM)babababalot Wrote:  

i like gillard. australia's economy is doing well and its foreign relations with key countries are strong. her opponent doesn't suggest anything other than sinking boats filled with refugees. has he crafted some alternative policies now?

Your comment says a lot about you. I'm just glad you are unable to vote.

[babababalot]

(02-05-2013 10:01 PM)Huck Finn Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 11:57 PM)babababalot Wrote:  

i like gillard. australia's economy is doing well and its foreign relations with key countries are strong. her opponent doesn't suggest anything other than sinking boats filled with refugees. has he crafted some alternative policies now?

Your comment says a lot about you. I'm just glad you are unable to vote.

you disagree that the economy is doing well?

australia withstood the recession, rate of inflation is low, unemployment is under 5%, treasury is about to return to surplus, economy has strong exposure to china's growth and has made inroads into a lower-carbon economy. which national economy would you swap australia's for?

do you disagree that australia has strong relations with its neighbours?

australia has a very strong US alliance, close relations with japan and indonesia (notwithstanding the exception of live-exports debacle), and has an active role in APEC and a close affiliation with ASEAN. you will have difficulties with china vs. US in coming years but i see they have released a white paper that prepares for this eventuality.

i don't see what this 'says about me'. i take your point (if you were to raise it) that gillard sounds like a bogan and sounds embarrassing but surely you're not all elitists over there and can judge someone based on policy, not image. perhaps it reflects my opinion that australia is doing remarkably well for itself relative to other western countries and it would be folly to change parties (remember the PM isn't the equivalent of a US President in influence) unless that alternative party proposes something of substance.

what does it propose?

[Wanderlust]

I just got to Melbourne today; spent the previous week and a half in Sydney. I'd agree that the guys here probably lift (and certainly go to the beach) more and seem less beta than the US average, but I haven't been to the mainland US in 3+ years, so my memory may be off. And that shouldn't really be relevant. Being a foreigner isn't a DHV at all (I've never seen so many fucking hostels and backpackers), unless maybe if you're from someplace particularly interesting (NYC, Miami, etc.) I've lived in Hawaii the last three years and I'm moving to Japan, and that hasn't hurt. More likely it'll just give you a topic of conversation.

The girls may be a bit more tan and in shape than the US average (I think gmanifesto compared Sydney to SD), but that's still pretty fucking fat. Nothing really to write home about. That said, Australia is a cool fucking place, and worth the trip regardless, especially if you're in the area. Expensive as balls, though. I'll have more of a debrief at the end of the trip.

Australia withstood the recession because the economy is largely built around natural resources, which China is still buying. Unless Gillard did something to put them in the ground in the first place, she can't really take credit. If China's growth slowed or commodity prices went down, the economy would take a hit. Inflation in Australia - like every other developed country - is handled by an independent central bank that controls the money supply. I really can't comment much on Gillard, I just want to point out how elected governments generally have minimal impact on the strength of the economy in the short term, unless they're actively fucking it up.

[babababalot]

(02-06-2013 03:37 AM)Wanderlust Wrote:  

I just got to Melbourne today; spent the previous week and a half in Sydney. I'd agree that the guys here probably lift (and certainly go to the beach) more and seem less beta than the US average, but I haven't been to the mainland US in 3+ years, so my memory may be off. And that shouldn't really be relevant. Being a foreigner isn't a DHV at all (I've never seen so many fucking hostels and backpackers), unless maybe if you're from someplace particularly interesting (NYC, Miami, etc.) I've lived in Hawaii the last three years and I'm moving to Japan, and that hasn't hurt. More likely it'll just give you a topic of conversation.

The girls may be a bit more tan and in shape than the US average (I think gmanifesto compared Sydney to SD), but that's still pretty fucking fat. Nothing really to write home about. That said, Australia is a cool fucking place, and worth the trip regardless, especially if you're in the area. Expensive as balls, though. I'll have more of a debrief at the end of the trip.

Australia withstood the recession because the economy is largely built around natural resources, which China is still buying. Unless Gillard did something to put them in the ground in the first place, she can't really take credit. If China's growth slowed or commodity prices went down, the economy would take a hit. Inflation in Australia - like every other developed country - is handled by an independent central bank that controls the money supply. I really can't comment much on Gillard, I just want to point out how elected governments generally have minimal impact on the strength of the economy in the short term, unless they're actively fucking it up.

i agree with you that gillard is just running an economy that can essentially run itself. i think a lesson to learn though is don't switch without good reason. howard was good and would have transitioned to costello who was perhaps the greatest treasurer in australian history. that's a steady ship.

people think leadership doesn't matter so the mandarin speaking policy wonk wins in 2007 and people find out he's a control-freak workaholic that demoralises key departments in the australian govt and makes policy on the fly. runs the government like an autocrat and gets knocked off without seeing an election.

leadership doesn't matter THAT MUCH as long as your leader knows how to manage the economy and national defence. i think gillard can do that hence she gets my support. gillard's opponent might do some unforseeable shit. my point is, no one has any idea what that guy might do because he hasn't proposed anything yet.

until he does, why would you change.

[Deluge]

Australia's economy is doing great at the moment, so are it's relations with it's neighbours. Nobody here is debating that.

I don't care if he was a prick to his interns, I want Kevin Rudd back. There's still a chance the ALP will dump Gillard for him when the MP's of their marginal seats realize they're going to get their heads chopped off if they stick her.

[Alexander]

(01-29-2013 03:00 PM)Asaxon Wrote:  

Due to having to make a visa run and planning on Singapore and Taiwan this time I was contemplating going to Australia for a week in March just to have another continent on my "been there" list. Looking at datasheets and general info here it seems Gillard's oz is about as feminist and pc as a place can get. Any recent on the ground experiences? Thinking of Perth or Sydney.

Spending a week in a huge country like Australia doesn't really constitute as having "been there" in my opinion

[RASER]

(02-07-2013 04:35 AM)Alexander Wrote:  

Spending a week in a huge country like Australia doesn't really constitute as having "been there" in my opinion

Depends what u want to see, if just the major cities, its enough, if you want to go outback like i do, not a hope in hell.

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

[UnW]

It's ok, gets rather placid living here after a while as it would anywhere but the isolation from the rest of the world is pretty large. Great if you want a nice stable, middle class life.

[Asaxon]

Alexander, by your definition man hasn't "been" on the moon then either?
I have no desire to devote months and years to most countries but can glean enough information and experience from 5-10 days of travel to judge whether I want to go back and invest more time or not.

[RASER]

Around 80 days till our countries federal election, and she [it] gets boned, should be charged with treason for one....

Female leader, yeah that worked well here!, 3 years down the toilet, economy is in ruins, laughing stock of the world, a PM thats a lesbian, unmarried and a union slut too boot.

Wales UK phoned, they don't want you back either:

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

[RASER]

(06-24-2013 04:07 PM)RASER Wrote:  

Around 80 days till our countries federal election, and she [it] gets boned, should be charged with treason for one....

Female leader, yeah that worked well here!, 3 years down the toilet, economy is in ruins, laughing stock of the world, a PM thats a lesbian, unmarried and a union slut too boot.

Wales UK phoned, they don't want you back either:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/Tp1_llDdmfM?rel=0

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

[big poppa]

Australia... Sydney is awesome. Gold Coast is pretty sweet too. But it is damn expensive and is probably only worth the trip if you're cashed up

If anyone is here over the next week and you're in Brisbane or Sydney, make sure you get down to a pub on Wednesday night for state of origin (New South Wales vs Queensland rugby league). Always a good time.

As for Gillard - can't wait until the dumb bitch is embarrassed in September.

[urbannomad]

I remember watching Gillard calling Abbott a misogynist on CNN.. (First time ever seeing Australian politicians)Even with all her attention gathering for dialogue. It really was a ignoble act. She seems like the Prime victim player. The PM looks more of a Misandrist in that moment than Abbott a misogynist.

[Que enspastic]

Gillard vs Rudd @ 7pm