Australia 2025: Discovering the 5th Continent (page 2 of 5)

When I see your surfers, no wonder sharks have a healthy appetite! 😛

Wow Bruno! You’re putting together a travel journal Speedy Gonzales style 😄

Yep, they're really there!!

I’d love to photograph the kangaroos :$

And since it looks like I’m the only one reading this travel journal, I’m gonna start a little Street Art series that I love!













More to come live: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=10711005;a=10711005

Wow Bruno! You're putting together a travel journal Speedy Gonzales style 😄

Hey, everyone! Hi there! I’ve got one week to sum up a whole month—no more time!

When I see your surfers, no wonder sharks have a good appetite! 😛

I knew that photo would get a reaction … 😉

And since it seems I’m the only one reading this travel journal,

No, but you just posted almost 15 days of road trip in less than half a day... and just a reminder, some of us still have to work 😅

I’m gonna make myself a little street art series—I love that!













I love it too... hey, that’d be a great theme! !

Wow Bruno! You’re giving us a travel journal Speedy Gonzales style 😄

Hey there, world! Hi, you! I’ve got a week to sum up a month—no more time!

No stress! You didn’t say your injury lasted longer than expected ;)

I knew that photo would get a reaction ... 😉

It also reminded me that this nation is one of the (if not *the*) most athletic on the planet. By the way, I wonder if there’s a direct link to how empty the streets get by midnight, just like you noticed.

This travel journal might just be the fastest one I’ve ever written! 😄

While I love the mountain and desert vibes, I think I’ll skip the urban/beach city scene if I ever make it there.

When you say food is expensive, what do you mean exactly? Like 50 € for a dish in a proper restaurant and 25 € for junk food?

And since it seems I’m the only one reading this travel journal,

No, but you just posted almost 15 days of road trip in less than half a day... and just a reminder, some of us still work 😄

Well, I work too—on writing my travel journal!

I think I’ll do a little Street Art series—I love it!

I love it too... hey, that’d be a great theme!

I think the idea’s probably already been done...

What’s interesting about some streets in Melbourne is that the Street Art isn’t static. Some pieces can get covered up, which keeps the art scene dynamic. Though, maybe it’s like that everywhere—I’m no expert 😅

Wow Bruno! You’re putting together a travel journal Speedy Gonzales style! 😄

Hey, world! Hi there! I’ve got a week to sum up a month—no more time!

No stress! You didn’t say your injury lasted longer than expected ;)

I don’t plan on going any further than next Monday, or things are gonna get messy! …

I knew that photo would get a reaction... 😉

It also reminded me that this nation is one of the (if not *the*) most athletic on the planet. By the way, I wonder if there’s a direct link to the empty streets after midnight, like you noticed.

Okay, Joël, I’m gonna have to drop some truths that’ll shatter the myth, but we definitely saw it there:

According to the National Health Survey, a government agency, in 2022: 66% of Australian adults (13 million people) are overweight or obese. 34% overweight and 47% obese. That jumps to 71% for men over 18! Back in 2017, the OECD ranked Australia among the top 10 countries with the highest obesity rates...

And that’s not even factoring in that junk food reigns supreme there. Fruits and veggies are crazy expensive, and Aussies love their food greasy, salty, and sweet (sometimes all three at once...).

Well, you might say, 66% overweight means 34% of hot surfers and surfer girls! 😉

As for the hours, I asked locals multiple times—usually expats who speak French because their English is indescribably untranslatable—why the cities are quiet in the morning and empty at night, and why shops close at 5 PM and restaurants at 9 PM (we’ll come back to that). Their answer: Because Aussies don’t like working, so either they delegate or they close up shop. 😄.

This travel journal might be the fastest one I’ve ever written! 😄

While I really love the mountain and desert vibes, I think I’d skip the urban/beach city scene if I ever go there.

You’re wrong about that—the Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and especially Adelaide (my favorite!) are true reflections of the Australian way of life. From what I’ve seen, they’re pretty pleasant, laid-back, and clean, with a really cool, zen atmosphere. No one honks, people respect traffic lights (but don’t dawdle when crossing, and *definitely* not on the red man!!), and I think it’s a great place to live.

When you say food is expensive, what do you mean exactly? Like 50 € for a dish in a proper restaurant and 25 € for junk food?

We didn’t try any proper restaurants. But even a basic pizzeria—if you add a glass of white wine (and we *love* Australian wine!)—will easily cost over 100 € for two, without dessert. A pasta dish can be 35 or 40 € without batting an eye. Over a month, imagine the budget!

The worst part? They *advertise* it at the entrance of their establishments—during "Christmas Holidays," they add a 15% surcharge to all their prices, justified by "increased workload!"

Honestly, it wasn’t just the prices that got to us—it was the hours too. Sitting down for dinner at 6 PM isn’t my idea of a vacation vibe... So, since we had accommodations with kitchens, we’d stop by Woolworths or Coles (supermarket chains sometimes open until 10 PM) after the evening to grab prepared meals, fruit, salads...

Ugh, I had so much to say but didn’t get the time with Bruno the Rapido 😩. I’ll admit this destination isn’t on my "must-see before I die" list because I’m not a fan of modernity when traveling—but apparently, that works out since I can’t afford it anyway 😅 (I knew it was expensive, but not *that* expensive!). Still, I always enjoy your funny and realistic travel journals, so I’ll be following along! 👀

You're not alone, Bruno... but you're going way too fast!!! Plus, I'm in the Cyclades right now, and I'd rather look at your amazing photos on a computer screen than on a phone. But the photos are tempting, even if, like Christelle, I'm not a huge fan of modernity (when traveling), and it's far (and expensive). Traveling through images (and a pleasant story 😉), is already pretty great! 😎

Ugh, I had so much to say but didn’t get the time with Bruno the Rapido 😩.

Don’t worry, take five minutes and just let it out. ;) Funny, Bruno the Rapido—that’s what they called me during my stay in Marrakech! I love the pace, the movement—it’s not my fault!

I’ll admit this destination isn’t on my “must-see before I die” list because I don’t like modernity when traveling, but apparently, that works out since I can’t afford it anyway 😅 (I knew it was expensive, but not *that* expensive!). Still, I always enjoy your funny and realistic travel journals, so I’ll be following along 👀

We’ll do a little financial recap at the end, but I’ll admit the gap between Laos/Cambodia last winter and Australia is just insane!

You're not alone, Bruno... but you're going way too fast!!! Plus, I'm in the Cyclades right now, and I'd rather look at your amazing photos on a computer screen than on a phone. But the photos are tempting, even if, like Christelle, I'm not a huge fan of modernity (when traveling), and it's also far (and expensive). Traveling through images (and a pleasant story ;)) is already pretty great! 😎

Alright, the Cyclades aren’t bad—apology accepted

Okay, Joël, I’m gonna have to drop some truths here that might shatter the myth, but we definitely noticed this over there:

According to the National Health Survey, a government agency, in 2022: 66% of Australian adults (13 million people) are overweight or obese. 34% overweight and 47% obese. That rises to 71% among men over 18! The OECD ranked Australia among the top 10 countries with the highest obesity rates back in 2017...

And that’s not even counting the fact that junk food reigns supreme there. Fruits and vegetables are ridiculously expensive, and Australians love eating fatty, salty, and sweet foods (sometimes all three at once...).

But hey, you might say, 66% overweight means 34% of hot surfers and surfer girls! 😉

About the schedules—I asked locals multiple times, usually expats who speak French because their English is indescribably untranslatable, why the cities are so quiet in the morning and empty at night, and why shops close at 5 PM and restaurants at 9 PM (we’ll come back to that). Their answer: Because Australians don’t like working, so either they delegate or they just close up shop .

So I’m guessing all the non-obese Australians are super athletic. Just look at their Olympic medal count relative to their population. Obviously, they’re strong swimmers. An African friend told me they run fast because they’re always being chased by lions on savanna paths—same with Australians swimming fast because of sharks. I should’ve figured that out myself ages ago.

Anyway, don’t you have any more photos of beaches or surfer girls?

But honestly, even the smallest pizzeria—if you add a glass of white wine (and we love Australian wine!)—will easily set you back 100 € for two, without dessert... A pasta dish will run you 35 or 40 € without batting an eye.

I declare Australia the most expensive country in the world!

Even the US and Iceland seem almost cheap in comparison...