Tales from Brisbane – I

Welcome to Brisbane. The first thing you'll notice as you leave the airport is the heat. An intense, sexy heat; the kind that makes you sweat without even realizing it. The kind that will burn you quickly during peak hours. Having said that, you'll probably find the temperatures a welcome change from the temperate climate you've come from. Perhaps as a result of the temperatures, Brisbane moves a bit more slowly than other cities. Then again, maybe it's just me.

Coupled with the the sporadic rain that comes down hard from time to time, there is a verdant lushness that you can see and hear everywhere. From the bamboo, palms and ferns in just the backyard, to the incredible numbers of ants, birds and bats, this is a place teeming with life. It reminds me of Central America.

Outside of the climate, there's a few other things that will strike you pretty immediately. Despite the weaker dollar, Australia is expensive. It's the same kind of expensive that you feel when you visit Great Britain. There, you price doubling thing to get a handle on what things cost in CDN. Here, though, you don't have to. Our dollar is slightly stronger, so you can take a bit off the AUS price. But even so, coffee at $3.50? Fast food meal for $10? Try this one: a video game that would retail for $60 new in Canada, goes for $100 in Australia. No currency exchange is going to fix that.

The other thing you'll notice is the dedication to all things Australian. Back home, there is a small push to eat local, buy local. Here, though, you almost cannot help it: most of the food in the grocery store is made in Australia, and many other things as well, like cleaning products, etc. It is really nice to pick up something and see in big letters: Made In Australia. It just seems right. (PS, their Coke is made with cane sugar, not HFCS).

One of the best things about Brisbane City, for me, is the river. Because they use it. From where I am, in St. Lucia, you can catch the city catamaran (aka the City Cat), which just like a bus, will take you about the city. It's fast, easy, and just darn practical.

Oh, and you should see the libraries!