Things that Make Australia a Little Weirder and Unique from Rest of the World
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world is mighty. We can have an idea about the mightiness of Australia by the fact that only Kimberley region in Western Australia is more than three times bigger than England and the largest property in Australia has the same size as that of Belgium. This country is so large, that different landscapes in it have a diverse nature, from the white sands of the Whitsundays Island to the red sands of the desert, and changing colours of Uluru, Australia has a bundle of things to offer. Australia is one of the strangest places on earth for sure. Some of the unique things in Australia are discussed here.
1. Thongs
The language barrier is very much present in Australia, and it is very common for tourists to get confused in this land due to the language barrier. Although Aussies speak in English, some of their slangs are quite tricky for foreign tourists. Among these things is the trickiest word in Australian slang dictionary and that is Thongs. It is the funniest and the most misunderstood word in Australia. Thongs are not that skimpy underwear in Australia, rather they are the flip-flops. Flip-flops or as Australians say thongs are a staple piece of footwear for every Australian citizen. Especially if you roam around in Sydney, you will find every other person wearing thongs. Australians love for thongs is equal to their love for vegemite. So when in Australia, you can easily wear your thongs and don’t feel odd about it.
Read More: Top 10 Discoveries In Australia Up Until 2020
2. Flat White
If you think the most famous beverage in Australia would be a perfect wine, then you are totally wrong. It actually is coffee, known as Flat White. The earliest use of Flat White in Australia has been documented to be as old as the mid-1980s. It is prepared by espresso and milk. The drink has a punchier look due to high levels of espresso and a lower ratio of milk. The velvety micro-foam on the drink makes it less heavy as compared to cappuccino. Australians always prefer Flat White over cappuccino or latte. When we compare this drink to latte, it has small volume and less micro-foam, having a high proportion of coffee to velvety milk. In this drink the dominating flavour is of espresso, which is supported by the mildness of milk.
3. Uluru
One of the weirdest things in Australia is Uluru or Ayers rock. It is actually a large sandstone rock formation and among the most recognizable landmarks of Australia. It lies in central Australia at around 335 kilometres to the southwest of Alice Springs. This amazing sandstone has a height of 348 meters which makes it rise 863 meters above the sea level. The bulk of Uluru lies underground. It has a mighty circumference of 9.4 kilometres. The Uluru has cultural significance to the aboriginal locals of Australia. The local flora and fauna of this place are exotic. This sandstone is the most spectacular at the time of sunset and sunrise because it changes colour. Usually a sandstone, Uluru glows red at dawn and dusk. The most famous thing about this stone is a thing change in colour at different times of the day and year.
4. Great Barrier Reef
Another unique thing in Australia is the Great Barrier Reef. This reef is actually not a continuous reef but is made up of more than 2900 reefs and 900 islands. The Great Barrier Reef is known to be the largest reef structure as well as the largest marine park on this planet. It is so large that it is the only living body which can be seen from the moon. It has a size of around 2500 kilometres. The reef begins near Papua New Guinea in the north and stretches to the coast of Queensland to Bundaberg. It covers an area of approximately 35 million hectares which equals to 70 million football fields. The Great Barrier Reef started developing 18 million years ago, however its growth was interrupted by geological events like ice ages and low levels of seawater. The reef which we are able to see today is actually the reef’s growth on top of older reefs in last 8000 years after the last ice age. This reef is home to the largest marine life diversity in the world. More than 450 corals, 1550 species of fish and 4000 types of molluscs from the Great Barrier Reef. The density of biodiversity in Great Barrier Reef is more than any other environment in the world including the tropical rainforests. Some parts of the reef are so dense in biodiversity that they have more variety of fish than the whole Caribbean sea. If you are in Australia, this is a must-visit place.
Read More: Top 10 Destinations for Female Solo Travellers in Australia 2020
5. Poker Machines in Pubs
While in the rest of the world, Pokies are only found in Casinos, Australia is the place where you can find them anywhere. Aussies are so fond of poker that poker machines are also found in pubs, restaurants and every festival. There are special gaming rooms at the back of the pub where these poker machines are usually found in a row. Most of the pensioners, traders and some tourists play poker here.
6. Whitsundays Islands
Another amazing and unique natural wonder in Australia is the Whitsunday Islands. They are made up of 74 beautifully wonder islands on the coast of Queensland. A visit to Whitsunday Islands is a treat, not only for our eyes but also for our soul. Besides the fact that these islands are located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, they themselves are spectacular. These islands are associated with natural landscapes on the coast, secluded beaches, and towns. There is so much to do on these islands. You can just sit back and relax and appreciate the beauty of nature or you can snorkel and swim with the waves to get a deeper look into the natural biodiversity.
7. Goon of Fortune
Among the weird things in Australia is the Goon of Fortune. It is a drinking game in Australia. The game is played between any numbers of individuals more than two. The Goon of Fortune gets its name from the Television show Wheel of Fortune. This game is considered to be the way to adulthood. In this game, a number of goon sacks are attached to the outside of Hills Hoist rotary washing line. Players use to sit under these edges. One player is supposed to spin the hoist and when it comes to rest, every player must drink a certain amount of wine agreed before the spinning of the wheel. Players are not allowed to touch the clothesline having wines. There are different penalties for breaking rules of this game.
Read More: Top 10 Eye-catching Views in Australia
8. Sausage Sizzle
It is a community event which happens in Australia every now and then. An Australian sausage sizzle is more than a slice of white bread, barbecue sausage, and tomato or barbecue sauce or mustard or even grilled onion. Sausage Sizzle is actually an occasion and is part of Australian culture. During the event, sausages are barbecued and sold and money can be earned for fundraising. This event is held by different communities and is usually a free community event or sometimes it is a fundraiser for organizations, charities, sports clubs, and schools. The fundraising sausage sizzles are getting very famous with elections in Australia.
9. Shortened words
Aussies are very fond of shortening every word they can. In the dictionary, these shortened words are known as diminutives. Aussies use diminutives in order to show flattery or in order to fit in. Although shortened words are used everywhere in the world, Australian vocabulary for these short words is so large that it is estimated that more than 4000 shortened words are used in everyday Aussies language. If you talk to any Aussie, you will find out, that we really are not exaggerating.
10. Slip, Slop, Slap
Everyone in Australia is taught from a very young age that Slip, Slop, Slap. Let us tell you the theory about this. We all know that Australia is located right below the largest hole in the ozone layer, due to which this country gets the most ultraviolet rays around the year. Due to this, there is a great risk of sunburns, sun-related problems, and even skin cancers. So when in Australia, you should not get tanned. Now from the very young age, Australian kids are told to slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat, to protect themselves from getting harmed.
Read More: Top 10 Religious Sites to Visit in Australia
Conclusion
Australia is the most unique and strangest destination on the planet. Australia not only is a little weird about laws, but it also owns weird lifestyle, wildlife, and nature. The climate of the country is also weird. Australia is surely one of its kind. So travel to Australia and experience this weirdness in the best possible ways. We are damn sure that you will enjoy every bit of your trip to Australia.
References
- https://www.stayatbase.com/australia/weird-facts-about-australia/
- https://nomadsworld.com/strange-things-australia/
- https://www.hotcoursesabroad.com/study-in-australia/destination-guides/what-makes-australia-unique/
- http://www.visaustralia.com/ndex.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=255:7-common-things-in-australia-which-is-weird-elsewhere&Itemid=69&lang=en
- https://www.hostelworld.com/blog/17-things-you-can-only-find-in-australia/
- https://www.buzzfeed.com/michellerennex/no-wukkas
- https://www.experienceoz.com.au/en/australia-facts
- http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/countries/australia.html
- https://www.stayatbase.com/australia/weird-australian-laws/
- https://greatadventures.com.au/great-barrier-reef-information/
- https://www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au/
Main Image Source : Pixabay
Also See : 10 Reasons Why Australia is Better Than Any Other Country
