Category Archives: Australia

TimTams & The Lot

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TimTams, the shadow currency of Australia

TimTams, the shadow currency of Australia

Aussies are very close cousins to Americans in many ways, in fact had it not been for the American Revolution many of them (the convict labor) would have ended up in Georgia, not half-way around the world. Here are two culinary examples of why that separation should be praised or panned.

  • Pro – It saved us from “The Lot”. Say what you will about America, but without it where would the Hamburger and Pizza be? America popularized both, Australia has ruined them. First strike – rather than tomato Aussies put slices of beets on their burgers. Yes, beets disgusting beets. As if that wasn’t bad enough, they go further and have “The Lot”. You can order a burger with the Lot, or a Pizza with the Lot. What’s the Lot? Start with everything we in the states put on them – then add beets, bacon, and a whole fried egg. Ever tried a burger with an egg on it? How about a Pizza? Still hungry?
  • Con – It keeps Tim-Tams on the other side of the world. After your typical Aussie downs a burger or pizza with the lot on it. They may care for a tasty treat. Tim-Tams are the number one snack food in Aus, hands down, and rightfully so. They’re kind of like gourmet Twix, but smaller and better all around. It’s hard to describe just how delicious these things are. They serve as a parallel currency in some corners of the country. And some say you can track the standard of living across the country by their availability and price. Please someone, hear me. Bring Tim-Tams to the States!

Newtown – One Hell of a Town

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Newton - One Hell of a Town

Newton - One Hell of a Town

We’re back in Sydney for one night to return our rental car and jump on a plane to Darwin. Luckily this gives us a chance to visit one of our favorite neighborhoods in Sydney: Newtown. Unlike the tourist ghetto where all of the hostels are, or the CBD where all the hotels are Newtown feels like a place where real live actual Sydneysiders live.

It’s kind of a cross between Adams Morgan and 17th St in Washington. There are a lot of restaurants and bars of all ilk and quite a few locally owned bookstores. For a taste of what life is like for real people in Sydney this is a good place to visit.

Two highlights for us were Gomez & Guzman – a real life Mexican restaurant staffed by real Mexicans – how they got here I have no idea. But it’s authentic and delicious. The other is Goulds Bookstore, a mostly used books store that is a librarians worst nightmare. The ground floor bears some semblance of order, but the upstairs looks like a bomb hit it …literally shelves so overflowing that the books have fallen off and cover the floor in places. Great prices – but you have to kind of be willing to put some effort into separating the wheat from the chafe.

The True Blue Mountains

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Descending the Giant Steps

Descending the Giant Steps

We spent the final days of our Oz road trip in the Blue Mountains just an hour and a half outside of Sydney. It was quite amazing to watch the dry, dusty land gradually turn into rolling green as we made our approach. I have to admit. I am a green person. As much as I enjoyed and appreciated the Outback, I felt comforted looking out over the green valleys of the Blue Mountains.

In case you are wondering, these mountains aren’t really like the blue mountains of southwestern Virginia. They are a bit more dramatic with their many rock formations and cliffs. They are called the blue mountains, so I am told, because the eucalyptus oil from the trees in the air causes a blue haze.

One of the big attractions in the Blue Mountains is the Three Sisters – three very large rock formations visible from the Echo Point Lookout. Rather than me plagiarizing, you should read the aboriginal dream-time legend of the Three Sisters. We took an extra day to hike for a few hours around the Three Sisters, along the cliff walk and through the Jamison Valley. It was great, but our legs were surprisingly tired after descending the 870 very steep Giant Steps and then later ascending the not as many, but still steep Furber Steps. This is what too many days sitting in a car will get you!

And for you Darkness fans, you can catch some of the Blue Mountains scenery in their video for Love Is Only A Feeling.