大洋路

　　今天是2009年4月9日，星期四。來澳洲第573天。人已在Port Augusta(奧古斯塔港)，一個通往紅色內陸的大鎮，在此休息一晚。奧古斯塔港天氣晴。南澳天氣似乎一直也都很棒。

　　離開阿德雷德時採買了許多的餅乾、乾糧、水和速食麵。心裡已有渡過極端氣候地帶的準備。駕著我的Toyota Corolla小車繼續這漫長的旅程。但我在這文章裡想先把回憶往回調到八天前的大洋路之旅。

　　八天前我人還在美食之都墨爾本，我早上起床，跳上了我的小車後就往普林斯公路上駛去，這條可是可以環澳大利亞的一號公路！但我今天走上它只是為了要去著名的標誌。。。十二使徒岩。

　　我中午出發，本以前我下午二、三點就可以看到這段路的招牌：十二使徒岩，結果不是這樣，因為不斷蜿延、峰迴路轉與限速的關係，我足足到下午五點才看到十二使徒岩。大大出乎我的意料之外，不過這一日遊還算圓滿，這地方也有不少背包客在此一遊，也有少數比較富有的客人可以搭上直升機導覽這地方。坦白說，這樣美麗又壯觀的景色很難讓我這司機好好地、專心地開。我的眼睛在開車時還不時向左手邊瞟去，比上空美女還能吸引我的目光。

　　我一直在想這地方是怎麼形成的，看看介紹後明顯是因為強烈海浪不斷地侵蝕侵蝕再侵蝕造成的。十二使徒岩已經被海水侵蝕沖走數個，也許幾十年、幾百年後，這些佇立在海岸前的巨大岩石們就不復見了，所以我在此先拍照留個念再說，把回憶留下來。

　　我並沒有在此過一夜，而是選擇開夜車再回墨爾本休息。結束這段美麗的大洋路一日遊，帶著好夢入睡。

Adelaide - the capital of SA state

Today is 8th/April/2009, Wednesday, Day 572 in Australia. The weather is sunny in Adelaide. Adelaide is the capital of SA state.

Melbourne, the biggest city of Victoria, the second biggest city of Australia. The first destination of my trip in Australia. I have to say goodbye to it eventually. 6th April, The day before yesterday. I drove nearly 800Km from Melbourne to Adelaide. My car is still well as beginning. Actually I was a little bit sad. Melbourne might be my favorite city in Australia. I stayed here for a long time.

I drove on Western Hwy(A8). There are nothing special on the way. But we found out a giant thing......The monster koala. This huge stuff makes us laugh and astonished. We took picture for it. To be a part of our memory.

The giant koala

When I arrived Adelaide, the time passed 8:00PM. I drove this long way by myself. After I and my friend Grey arrived the hostel we have already booked before, I was almost exhausted and started dragging my suitcase and exhausted body into our dorm room. The roommate are A Japanese guy Taka and a French guy.

7th April. We visited Adelaide by feet. According to the travelling Bible lonely planet, the first thing I have to see is central market. In Adelaide, many people prefer to enjoy Asian food. Why? This city attracts lots of local students and oversea students. Adelaide University and SA University are the main schools in this beautiful city. Everbody knows students can not afford expensive food. So you can get cheap food easily here. It's not as cheap as Taiwan, but it may be the cheapest one in all main cities of Australia.

Grey called his Italian friend David to enjoy the meal with us. We tried the food in central market and had a good meal convivially. Then we started to walk around central Adelaide. I found out many statues erected in city centre. These statues make this city more majestical. Ironically I can't recognize any one of them. I took some photos at the fountain of the Victoria square.

The statue at Victoria Square

The central station in Adelaide

Inside of the central market

The sunny day lit up Adelaide brilliantly at 3:00pm. Time to go to museum. In this big museum, I discovered many themes here. Aboriginal culture and ocean creatures are the most significant things here. I also had an Egyptology lesson in this museum. hmm...yep. That's a real mummy lying in a compartment of this museum. Due to the reason of worrying about curses, I didn't photo it. The body size of the mummy is not big. Maybe it was a famale.

The bones of a giant whale and Grey

When the sunset was coming, we knew it's time to go back our lovely hostel. We plan the trip in Adelaide only 3 days. It's just the chapter of our outback trip. Port Augusta will be our next station.

北歐人

　　今天是2009年3月24日，星期二，來澳洲第557天，墨爾本天氣陰涼帶小雨。

　　前幾周我住背包客棧，我總算深入接觸到北歐人，北歐人就是所謂的瑞典、丹麥、芬蘭、挪威與冰島人。因為他們是我的室友，我可以深入了解北歐人的特性。

　　北歐人與一般的歐洲人沒什麼太多的不同，但他們的頭髮比較金，皮膚比較白，因為北歐地理位置上接近極地，冬季有時有好幾周的夜晚，夏季有時有好幾周的白晝，這種極端的氣候造成他們有著稍微不同的外貌。

　　北歐人的英語教育是世界上最成功的，他們的官方語言與母語並非英語，但他們可以講得跟英語為母語的人一樣好，溝通完全不會是問題，口音也不會太明顯或難懂，可說是令人羨慕。還有，他們看英語小說不太需要字典，看美國電影也不需要字幕，嚇不嚇人？但恐怕北歐國家不只是英語教育成功，其它方面的教育也都不會太差。

　　芬蘭人會講瑞典話，在芬蘭，瑞典話也是官方語言，瑞典曾統治芬蘭不算太長，大概五、六百年而已。一提到芬蘭，稍有地理概念的人一想到的大概是芬蘭浴和千湖國吧？不過我的瑞典室友告訴我怎麼分辨芬蘭人，現在基本上我也會看了，芬蘭的的髮色恐怕全世界絕無僅有，這種髮色介於黃色與白色之間，看上去很像染的。看下圖吧－－

　　這樣有線索了嗎？知道怎麼看了嗎？除了淡黃色以外，他們基本上也是直髮，許多老外是又黃又卷的頭髮，但芬蘭人有些不是。這是氣候造成這種特色嗎？或許吧！

　　我的北歐室友很喜歡買醉加party，歐洲人與西方人特別愛喝酒，台灣人的飲酒文化在西方人面前根本小巫見大巫，他們可以不要吃好的，但酒不能不喝，雖然我不能說每個西方人都非常愛喝酒，但周末去酒吧買醉(也許，外加尋歡)只是他們日常生活的一部分罷了，即使在澳大利亞這個多種族的國家，周末夜也很少看到亞洲人出沒在酒吧。

　　北歐氣候方面，在冬天的北歐，零下二三四十度的氣溫是很常見的，真是嚇人。夏天氣溫大概也差不多二十度左右而已。至於地震這種東西，我的瑞典室友告訴我，她們還沒體驗過。。。。

Tassie

　　今天是2009年2月22日，星期日，來澳洲第527天，墨爾本天氣晴。

　　結束了約二十天的塔斯馬尼亞行後，在此向大家介紹一下去塔斯馬尼亞的相關事項。

　　一、地理與氣候上的資訊：
　　塔斯位處澳洲大陸的東南隅，與紐西蘭的南島緯度相同，夏季溫暖，冬季寒冷，在塔斯馬尼亞北部的氣候明顯比南部溫暖一些，南部有最大城Hobart，這地方到了夜晚會變冷，即使夏季也不例外，要注意保暖。

　　塔斯馬尼亞的西南部是原始森林，汽車與四輪傳動車無法進入，只能用步行探索，或是飛機從上空俯瞰。

　　塔斯馬尼亞的北部最大城Devonport是有車的人進來塔斯的唯一門戶。這邊的氣候相當溫和宜人，常常是清晨下小雨，但過早上十點後就逐漸放晴。北部的氣候大抵上來說都相當溫暖。第二大城Launceston離Devonport只約一百公里，所以大抵上氣候也差不多。

　　西部的氣候比較狂野且常下雨，這地方被西南原始森林阻隔，氣候上較不宜人居，唯一像樣的二個小鎮是Strahan與Queenstown。

　　二、不能錯過的東西：
　　看塔斯馬尼亞惡魔、去Hobart參加Salamanca市集(只在周六上午與下午三點前)、去Wellington Mountain俯視整個Hobart與拍照、去Launceston看奔流峽谷、參觀鐘乳石洞、森林健行、東部海灘巡禮、亞瑟港、Stanley的巨石(有點像Urulu)、開車環島遊、塔斯馬尼亞的特產啤酒Cascade與Boag、吃新鮮美味的生蠔(有時去海邊也撿得到)。

　　三、找工作：
　　大部分的背包客只能做採水果的機會比較多，很多人選擇working hostel，也就是仲介背包客去農場打工的背包客棧，產季在三月開始，有蘋果、草莓、藍莓、葡萄、櫻桃、洋梨可以摘採。如果可能的話，魚工廠也可以試試。餐廳或服務業在Hobart比較多。

　　四、租車資訊：
　　租車只適合只想做短期遊的人，一周租金約200至350左右，很多人是一下飛機後到Hostel就開始找伴同行分攤油資與車資。租車在大城市Hobart與Launceston都有很多資訊可提供。

　　五、住宿：
　　在塔斯馬尼亞的大城市如Hobart與Launceston找住並非難事，但仍建議事先預訂。因為夏季旺季時常會住滿。塔斯馬尼亞的住宿明顯比雪梨和墨爾本便宜一些，多半是20/一晚左右的價位。

　　另外在塔斯馬尼亞開車時要特別注意，夜晚開車時，許多野生動物會到處亂晃或跑出來給你撞，入夜後盡可能不要開快車，甚至不要上路。在塔斯的公路上最常見的景觀就是路旁被撞死的野生動物，而且比例明顯比大陸上的公路還要多。

Tasmania

Today is 12/02/2009. Thursday. Day 517 in Tasmania. The weather in Tasmania is cloudy and a bit rainy.

I've been staying in this small and beautiful island Tasmania for 9 days. In the past 9 days, I've travelled from north Tasmania to south until Hobart.

3rd/Feb, I boarded on the big ferry "Spirit of Tasmania" with my car. I paid 235AUD for this ferry. This giant ferry is really a big monster. Why? This giant contains lots of rooms / travel service offices / car parkings / kitchens......everything you need. You can definitely say it's the Goddess of Bass Strait.

4th/Feb, Early morning at 6, I opened my eyes. The scene showed in my sight...hills and rural town. When I saw this view, I knew I had already prepared to experience this island which everybody praises.

The first station is Devonport. The third biggest city in Tas. I was interested this place. I determined to stay here 1 day. The hostel for this night is Tasman backpackers. When I checked in it, I'd suddenly realized this is working hostel. Everybody knows Asian always like to work. So I found out most people who lived in this hostel are Asians...

5th/Feb, I checked out Tasman Backpackers to go to the next destination. The Second biggest city in Tas...Launceston. I checked in Launceston backpackers. This backpacker has very good environment and good kitchen (and beautiful receptionist). I stayed here 3 days and travelled around Launceston.

In Launceston, the most famous spot is cataract gorge. This place contains 1 river between two steep cliffs. I climbed cliff and walked around this place. The views made me amaze due to the spectacular views. But this place is not very wide. After travelling cataract gorge, I went back to the central Launceston and tasted fish and chips.

I also went to Mole Creek National Park to see the stalactite. The cave of stalactite is very cold only Celsius roughly 9 degrees. You need jackets to come in. I found out I ran out of the battery of my digital camera. Thanks to my travel partner German girl Linda. She still has digital camera and took some photos inside...lucky. The guide of this cave introduced the statement of the history of this stalactitic cave. God has been sculpting this stalactitic cave millions of years to show his artistic gift for all the people. But I also discovered some clues of human vandalic ruin roughly few decades ago.

8th/Feb, I left Launceston and started to go to Hobart, which is the biggest city in Tas. From Launceston to Hobart is only 200Km. When I and Linda arrived in Hobart, we checked in the city central backpacker and stayed here one night. She had already joined a tour before we arrived Hobart. So we separate in Hobart. I'm still trying to get a job in Hobart while I typed this article.

10th/Feb, I drove my car with a Hong Kong guy Ringo and a Hong Kong girl Winnie to travel around Hobart and Tasman peninsula. The temperature on this 1300m high mountain is always under 10. It's summer now, but I never felt any summer atmosphere on the top of this mountain. The pictures of the top of this mountain show me the scene in winter. Apparently this place will be veiled by mass snow in winter. The view on the top appeals uncountable tourists each year. I can almost see all the southeast Tasmania...Tasman Peninsula...Eaglehawk Neck...all the views of Hobart. Ringo and me never stop surprising when we standed on the top. But it's too cold on the top. I asked for return soon.

We returned to Hobart afterwards. We didn't spend too much time for Willington Mt. We still had a lot of time to go to Tasman peninsula and departed at 3:30pm. Ringo asked for tasting oyster, so I drove my car to reach the famous oyster farm. I think he extremely likes oysters and ate them very quick. He said these oysters is the reason he came here. I think I fulfilled his will apparently.

Then we went to the last place we want to go...Port Arthur. Port Arthur has notorious history. 100-odd years ago. This place was for prisoners. Especially for those prisoners who committed murder and to be sentenced death penalty. So we joined ghost tour of 9:15pm. It was really spooky and impressive experience. Antique church and hospital made everybody terrified even screamed. But there were too many people in this tour, I didn't be terrified obviously. After this tour, we went back to Hobart. This time I had to drive carefully. Because I saw many wild animals beside of this road. Some of them were road killed. Finally, we went back to Hobart and hostel safely and had a good sleep. I'm lucky enough that I'm not followed by ghosts in my return.

墨爾本，我又回來囉!!

　　今天，1月12日，星期一，來澳洲第486天，墨爾本天氣晴。

　　我的手提電腦與數位相機於雪梨遭竊，我的心裡相當難過，難過到想飆車，不過放心我並沒有真的飆車，而且我難過的不是手提電腦被偷，而是我裡頭在澳大利亞的回憶被偷了，而手提電腦本身是壞掉的(螢幕而已)，所以很遺撼的，那個天殺的賊他偷走的是一台沒什麼用處的筆電，而他(她)偷走的相機的確是好的，但也遺撼的是充電器還在我這…。那個賊把我的副駕駛座的抽屜打開，數位相機就在裡頭。但是這賊最沒品的莫過於把我的未繳罰單也偷走，讓我無法繳交它，希望他良心未泯地幫我繳了(雖然不太可能)，但總之這讓我現在陷入未能交罰鍰的窘境。

　　從去年十二月二十三日至今年一月九日，這段在雪梨的日子可沒什麼好，壞事與倒楣事倒不少，於是我決定要盡快離開。

　　一直以為房租是十日才到期，原來是我會錯意，是九日就到期了，於是我被迫提早離開此地。而且還來不及找到伴跟我分攤車油資，這會是一條漫長且孤單的行程，從雪梨至墨爾本，兩個澳洲的最大城市之間，有一些路可以選擇，我選擇最短行程的休姆公路(Hume Hwy)，這條不是沿海的，而是直接穿梭新南威爾斯州與維多利亞州內陸的高速公路。可以想見的是，沿途的景色就是澳洲的鄉村原野風情。

　　單調的原野令人昏昏欲睡，當然我知道這旅程是九百公里，怎麼可以無精打采呢？於是我就先把車停去休息站好好地給它睡了快一小時再上路，接下來就是開夜車囉！

　　在經歷漫漫長路後，我終於克服了疲勞，抵達了重逢的城市－－墨爾本市。我這時帶著自傲的感覺與口氣對自己說：我自己，一個人，一天，一輛小車，安全穿越了漫長的休姆公路至墨爾本。

　　我好久沒見到我的北京室友王瑩小姐，我實在是太驚喜了，很想給她又抱又親，但我實在是太累了，那種累的感覺無法形容，反正就是只想馬上躺下去睡死，其它什麼都給它拋在腦後。我想這晚我一定打鼾打得十分厲害。

　　隔天早上我睡至幾乎中午，然後就去找Kate小姐，她也是台灣人，跟她在北昆士蘭的Ayr工作一陣子，她即將離開墨爾本，於是我就趕緊在她上機前送她，與她一起去吃有名的越南河粉，在里奇蒙(Richmond)的勇記越南河粉十分有名，時常客滿，我吃完後就想下次還要再來這裡吃。
　　星期日中午，跟久未見面的老鄉Corona小姐約去看沙雕展，之前在Plunkett遇見她，她還是跟以前一個樣子(ps:年齡多了一歲)，但我沒預料到Amanda竟然也現身了，她們很沒道德地說我比以前還要"操老"。我在想如果這時是在我的愛車上，我可能要強制請她們下車了。總之我們就是跟以前一樣不忘要損一損對方。

　　沙雕展主題是恐龍，但我好像比較喜歡Frankston的海灘，長長的海灘，不算洶湧的波浪，和煦的陽光，許多當地居民穿泳衣戲水曬太陽，使得海灘景色要比沙雕展更搶眼一些。但是沙雕的製程也令我好奇，雖然我的英語不算太好，但看一看說明，大概是說沙雕是由上往下雕的，基本的形狀也是用木樁固定好，然後也用一些塑膠管線(tube)，把粗的管線用得像是吸管一樣地雕塑恐龍的型。我認為最後應該是有上膠把沙固定起來，不然沙雕肯定會被海灘的強風給搞亂形狀。

　　結束了沙雕展後，我們回到市中心去，唐人街裡的天府川菜是我們今晚晚餐地點，誰都知道川菜就是辣得可以，但我們都十分享受這種感覺，許久未回到墨爾本，就是要好好地被辣一次才過癮。

　　雖然回到墨爾本讓我有像回家的感覺，這裡朋友多，但我仍明白，我真正的家是在台灣台北。那個六、七千公里外的小島。

在雪梨的日子

今天，2009年1月6日，星期二，來澳洲第480天，雪梨市天氣晴朗。

自我於去年12月23日抵達雪梨市後，我留在這兒也好一段日子了，但是一直處於失業狀態(明明就是自己沒認真找工作做...)，我一直覺得這個城市十分的商業化，她的確是，無可否認。張藝謀的"滿城盡戴黃金甲"這一詞來形容Sydney，我想就是"滿城盡是外國人"了。為什麼? 因為這是標準的國際化都市，一堆外來居民、海外留學生、外國背包客，如果是遊覽勝地邦代海灘(Bondi beach)和藍山國家公園(Blue mountains)，這情形更加明顯。至於中國城則會讓你感覺像是在中國或台灣、香港。整個市中心，即使是白人，也不一定是Aussie。

12月23日我抵達雪梨，由於我突然臨時被拒入住房屋分租(因為這多半需住至少三個月)，我無法確定我能否留在這三個月，所以我們就拉倒了，我的英國旅伴Alix笑著說:跟我住同間背包客棧吧!當然我沒得選擇了，否則就得睡我的愛車上，這一點都不有趣，之前試過了。我想我的愛車也不會同意我睡在它裡頭。

當我進入Glebe(離市中心不遠的區)的背包客棧後，我得付35澳元/一天的昂貴價格，沒辦法。因為這時候算是旺季，35元已經算是客氣了!這時候的雪梨，所有的背包客棧都很有默契的一塊兒漲價。

後來我遇到了一些朋友，有台灣的也有大陸的，所以我跟他們一塊出遊，從24日到今天，我已經遊覽了一些有名景點:邦代海灘(超有名，必來)、藍山國家公園、雪梨塔(Sydney Tower)、國王十字區(Kings Cross)、海港大橋(Harbour Bridge)、庫吉海灘(Coogee Beach)、中國城、岩石區市場、搭船遊雪梨港。坦白說，這些都是很棒的體驗與回憶。

12月31日晚上，我本想跟台灣朋友Jack一同殺去歌劇院倒數，結果我出發得太晚，Jack在傍晚六、七點的時候打給我，說人太多已經管制了，我變成無法進入，我十分後悔，但也無可奈何。

但好在我住的背包客棧也是一堆人，都是老外。他們也跟我一樣被管制而無法進入，但沒關係，我們住的背包客棧夠高(有七層樓)，而我很幸運地住六樓，且是最前方，於是我很幸運的光坐在床上就可以直接看到煙火...爽。而當煙火在放的時候，樓上的一些人一直叫個不停，真是有點吵，但沒關係，新年新氣象嘛!

我不知道為什麼這時候亞洲人統統都不見了，日本、韓國人明明就多，怎麼都不見得了呢?於是我只好繼續跟老外聊天。

這些老外，我不知道要怎麼說，他們真的是熱愛一夜情，常常是黃湯下肚後就開始又親又摸，這就是為什麼他們週末都要去pub的原因，因為裡頭有太多曠男怨女，在互相找尋刺激囉!當然，我不能因此責怪他們，因為這就是他們的習性。亞洲人是不這麼做的，有也不多。

我很喜歡跟歐洲人聊天，因為他們的英語能力夠，聊起來沒什麼問題，而且還可以文化交流，跟他們聊多次以後，我可以列出亞洲背包客和歐洲背包客的不同習性給大家了解。

一、歐洲人去pub，亞洲人不去。

因為pub是西方文化的一環，我們台灣有，但發展還不夠多。而且在星期五和星期六的半夜，他們更要去，因為這時候男女都想尋歡作樂，西方女孩可是一點都不會扭捏，要的話都表現得很明顯，而且更強的是還不會放感情下去，我想這就是所謂的"玩男人"。外國男孩很會喝，因為他們全都習慣了，而且有能力玩到天亮(這點我做不到)，外國男孩也是很開放，熱愛一夜情。簡單來說就是互相找尋刺激。喝完回去就當然是直接帶剛勾搭上的"玩伴"回房去囉!而守規矩的亞洲人實在是對pub適應不良，我去過幾次，但不管是酒力還是耐力全都不如他們。

二、亞洲人熱愛工作，歐洲人熱愛旅遊。

這個不是絕對，但也是事實，亞洲人賺錢能力我一定要推韓國人，小的我以前在Townsville的肉工廠工作時，白人最多的是澳洲人，這很正常。但亞洲勞工裡，韓國人佔盡八成以上，當我開始實習時，直接用韓文跟我講話也不先問我打哪來的。而且一幹就是數個月，令人咋舌。但在雪梨反而全部看不到韓國人了，也是令人咋舌。日本、台灣與香港人也是熱愛賺錢，但工作實在是沒怎麼勤勞。歐洲人酷愛旅遊，他們觀念裡，沒有玩遍澳洲全部景點，這個旅程是不完美的，而且他們都統一用facebook這個網路相簿去紀錄他們在澳大利亞的一切。結束澳大利亞行後，他們還要再去東南亞玩一玩再回國，尤其是泰國，更是必去之地。我承認泰國是便宜國家，但歐洲男生去泰國也是去尋歡的(令人搖頭)。

三、亞洲背包客平均年齡明顯高於歐洲背包客。

歐洲人來澳洲打工渡假多半還是大學生，年齡多介於18-23歲之間，他們很多都是大學休學一年，然後到海外去體驗不同的生活，順便學學獨立自主，也許有些是想讓英語講得更好一些。而且，他們的文化更是鼓勵這麼做，當做是一種人生體驗。而亞洲背包客多半是大學畢業後才出來的，這情形日本比較沒有，日本也似乎是鼓勵大學生出遊，但整體來說亞洲的背包客多半是超過23歲的，也許我們的教育機制也該這麼做比較好。

四、亞洲的英語教育水準落後歐洲。

亞洲人的英語說最好的我首推香港人，不過我見過一些香港人，發現他們的英語並不是說非常好，廣東話還是他們的第一語言。我也遇過新加坡人，他們有成功的英語教育，但我接觸後反而覺得也還好，並沒有說十分完美。歐洲人裡頭，英國與愛爾蘭不提，北歐算非常成功，德國和荷蘭算成功，法國、比利時和義大利不十分成功，但也都還ok。不過值得慶幸的是，在我的觀點裡，台灣的英語教育好過韓國和日本(為自己拍拍手吧!)。

五、歐洲男孩可以輕鬆把到亞洲妹，亞洲男孩無法輕鬆把到歐洲妹。

我想這點我不用多說，眾所周知。(人家說愛用國貨，但真能做到的有幾個呢?)

The Biggest City Of Australia

27th / Dec / 2008, Saturday. The 470th Day in Oz, the weather in Sydney is sunny in the morning, cloudy in the afternoon, rainy in the evening.

I worked in Townsville for 3 months. The weather of this tropical city made many backpackers go mad. Everybody said it's too hot...more than 30 degrees every day. I also thought it was time to leave this city.

Many backpackers have a common habit in Australia. It's "Avoiding the overheated and cold weather". Townsville is typically too hot from November to April of next year. Many backpackers want to go down to Sydney or Melbourne or Gold coast to celebrate new year and Christmas. I'm also the one who want to do it.

In the middle of December. I put on the ad for looking for a partner to travel and go down to Sydney together. I was lucky. An English guy enrolled my itinerary. His name is Alix. He is very young only 20. We started the travel from 20th December 2008. It's pity thing that Alix is not an English girl. I gotta go say English girls always have graceful character. They're more like the princess who usually drinks black tea or milk tea in a mansion. And I very like English accent.

20th Dec 2008, It is Saturday. We started our travel. We drove in north Queensland. From Townsville to Mackay. 400Km long way makes us experience the wild weather of Queensland. We experienced wild and heavy rain. This rain was just like the God dumped water from the sky. The car was lucky enough that it went through a natural shower. After this crazy shower, the weather became sunny again.

21st Dec 2008, It is Sunday. We spent more than 12 hours for driving. In this day, We drive almost 1000km. From Mackay to Brisbane. Our previous plan was from Mackay to Bundaberg. But we've already changed the plan and slept in his friends' house without paying. We even drove in the evening. I always worried we'll hit roos. But I think I just ran over a cane toad only. I also got an unforgetable experience in his friends' house. That was I've been bitten by bees. I almost screamed....absolutely unforgettable.

22nd Dec 2008, Monday. From Brisbane to Coffs harbour. Only 400km. We had driven for a long way while we started the travel in this day. It's why we didn't want to drive too much in this day. When I passed the border of Queensland and New South Wales. I suddenly lost one our coz the changing time zone.

23rd Dec 2008, Tuesday. From Coffs harbour to Sydney. We arrived safely in this city. Alix and me were very excited. During this period, no cheap hostel is found out. I gotta to pay 35 AUD per night. I intended to sleep in my car, but I changed my mind that I tried this feeling of sleeping in the car in Queensland. This was not funny and comfortable experience. We almost burned the engine in central Sydney. Sydney is more like multi-races city. I can always see different races in this city...except Aussie= =.

You can't find out the real Australian culture in Sydney. I deem Sydney is similar as Big Apple. This sin and notorious city has been commercialized seriously. It makes me get an uncomfortable feeling to Sydney. I can always face traffic jam here. The weather is much cooler than north Queensland. Maybe I need more time to get use to it.

26th Dec 2008, I went to the notorious district of Sydney...Kings Cross. I could usually see whores and visitors talked the price in this place. Sexy whores / strippers / hot tempetation / backpackers from Europe and Asia / businessmen......I and my partner Chinese oversea student Zen Wang was invited to get in the topless club to see something hot. In my opinion, I regreted I got in this club. The girls are not hot enough. Although she rubbed me with her boobs (This is the bonus of sitting on the first row...perhaps), I was still a little bit disppointed with it.

It's really difficult to find out a free parking lot in Sydney. It's why I don't want to drive my car frequently. I don't like this biggest sin city. Maybe I will leave this city after the New Year. If you want to experience the real Australian. Sydney is probably the worst place to do it. Although I always get something really cheap except the dorm fee. I don't like it either.

到目前為止的經驗談

11月17日，星期一，來澳洲第430天，湯斯維爾市天氣晴。

自從我來到昆士蘭州工作以後，我已來到澳洲超過一年，我認知到許多事，在此我也想提供一些情報給想來澳洲的台灣朋友們供參考。

工作方面－－

在澳洲若真要工作就好，其實非常容易，像是去到working hostel，這種hostel跟農場是合作關係，經理會自動安排工作給您，您每星期付約一百澳元給經理供住宿錢。但不保證賺錢，因為您分配到的工作變化性大，有的會讓您賺大錢，有的則只能讓您勉強供得起食宿。而有的hostel經理有些種族歧視(當然他是不可能會跟您說的)的話，也可能把較好的工作分配給某些特定國家的人。在澳洲一年四季都有農場工可以做。但是有季節性的，比方說塔斯馬尼亞的櫻桃季就只在夏季而已。

肉工廠也是一個賺錢的好地方，但取決於你的運氣，因為你會分配到的工作太多樣化，也有可能分配到需要強健的胃的工作，不適應於肉工廠的工作的人也是相當多的。肉工廠在全澳洲很多地方都有。

建築也是一種嘗試，建築的工作需要一些英語溝通，所以亞洲的背包客英語說得較差，比較無法勝任這些工作，若你具備建築的專業技能與工作經驗，時薪超過二十澳元的工作一大堆。

餐廳的工作不建議找亞洲老闆，盡量去找白人老闆，他們會提供好的待遇。若在麥當勞、肯德基打工或連鎖超市打工，一小時都是超過十五澳元的。

種族方面－－

台灣人：台灣人工作還算勤奮且也愛玩，所以多半的台灣人來此賺到一些錢的也不少，看您遇到的是誰，台灣女孩來澳洲多喜愛到處遊玩，台灣男孩有些像是來賺錢的。台灣背包客的英語水平不算好，但也不算很差，英語溝通基本上不是太大問題。

香港人：亞洲人英文講得最好的族群，就我看來是港女遠多過港男，賺到一定的錢後通常會再跑去玩一玩，他們基本上也會說中文，他們來澳洲有一年六百人的限額，所以亞洲人最小族群也是香港人。

韓國人：非常特別的背包客族群，來澳洲的數量難以評估，可能的話，他們就佔了亞洲背包族的一半以上，韓國政府應是鼓勵青年來到澳洲，所以在說英文的程度上完全沒有管制，十之八九英文水平是令人發汗，喜歡跟自己人講話，但他們還算友善，亞洲人喝啤酒喝的最多的就屬韓國人了。他們幹活非常努力，可以在同一個地方待上很長一段時間且賺一大筆錢。他們很喜歡去加入語文學校，所以您如果加入語言學校很容易看見韓國人。

日本人：日本人在幹活精神上令人敬佩，但日本人多半像歐洲人一樣是來這當觀光客的，在Ｃａｉｒｎｓ，日本人滿街都是，他們英文講得並不好，但他們在國民教育上做得成功，若您有個日本室友，就代表有個乾淨的房間，日本女孩在澳洲並不喜歡跟日本男孩戀愛，喜歡找歐洲男生戀愛。

德國人：歐洲人最多的一票，德國人的英文不錯，溝通都不是問題，德國人長得相當高大，男生一百八十幾女孩一百七十幾，德國人在農場幹活經常是最勤奮的歐洲人，不過缺點就是，他們也喜歡跟自己人聊，講的盡是德文讓其它外國人聽不懂。

英國人：英國人不是很喜歡幹農場或不需講話的活，在大城市遇到他們的機會較大，英國人在澳洲有一個特別的稱號叫POM，中文譯為來自母國英格蘭的監獄犯，這是一種侮辱千萬不要亂用。英國人男帥女美，在談吐間容易感受到英國人道貌岸然的一面，有點帶有英國的優雅高貴氣息，而且對足球有一定的熱衷。

法國人：來澳大利亞享受玩樂的族群，法國男人在蓄鬍有一定的美感，至於法國女人．．．全世界的男人誰不喜歡法國女人？法國人對所有的外國人都有一定的吸引力，所有的外國人都想要跟他們在夜店跳舞、喝酒作樂。儘管法國人的英文不是非常好，但我覺得他們非常可愛和有點懶惰，他們對性與愛的態度十分開放，喜歡逢場作戲並不喜歡長遠的關係。

北歐人：這包含了挪威、瑞典、芬蘭與丹麥人，說真的我遇過的不是很多，但不可否定的是，他們的英語講得太好了，這群來自全世界最富裕的地區的人享受著完美的教育與環境，相當高貴，這群人多半是金髮藍眼且高大，您可以說他們是維京海盜，但他們沒掠奪澳大利亞海岸，他們來這享受澳大利亞的陽光。

愛爾蘭人：愛爾蘭的男孩喝酒喝得相當兇，當他們喝醉後，到處遛鳥都有可能(不是玩笑，親眼目擊)，愛爾蘭的口音連英國人都不見得能理解，他們不說愛爾蘭語，他們只說英語，愛爾蘭人有些並非持打工度假簽來澳洲，他們只需申請工作簽証即可。

義大利人:遇到的不是很多，多半來澳洲是在義大利餐廳工作(這就是他們英語講得不是很好的原因)，義大利在50年代有一波移民澳洲的移民潮，所以要遇到義大利的農場場主並不是難事。

比利時與荷蘭人:比利時人是講法語的，並沒有比利時語這東西，但他們有著完美的巧克力工廠與法語能力，有些甚至是講荷語，在比利時官方需會講法語和荷語才行。荷蘭人在英語教育上也極為成功，但我遇過的荷蘭人數量上不多。

交通方面－－

若您要來澳洲待一年，若錢足夠的話，買車是一個好的選擇，在澳大利亞有車的方便性很高，而且澳洲的油價比台灣便宜一點點，二手車若從背包客買比較划算，但要注意車子的問題，在付錢之前，一定得詳細檢查，若認為自己外行，就送去車廠，付個五十澳元做全車檢驗。至於國內航線在澳大利亞可以說是到處都是，廉價且省時。

文化方面－－

歐洲人通常與亞洲人交集較少。此外因為亞洲人的英語水平趕不上歐洲人，所以常見的是歐洲人就常與歐洲人聚成一桌聊天，亞洲人就自己跟亞洲人聊。此外歐洲背包客不太愛加入語言學校（他們是來這享受與玩的），所以當您加入語文學校後，同學多半會是亞洲人（日本與韓國是大宗）。亞洲人不會在週末夜去酒吧喝幾杯。

歐洲人在離開澳大利亞前，多半會先去東南亞的便宜國家玩個夠再回國，像是泰國、印尼。此外，歐洲人自覺他們長得比亞洲人好看，帶著有點自傲的感覺看亞洲人。通常歐洲人若交到亞洲女友，多半不會認真這點要請亞洲女孩自覺。

The Halloween (31/10)

31st/Oct/2008, Friday, Day 413 in Australia, The weather in Townsville is a bit rainy day.

I've to apologize for lazy to update my blog for almost 5 months. When I was in Melbourne and Bundaberg. I used free and very cheap internet. After I left Bundaberg. I never used free and super cheap internet anymore.

From 5th/May/2008 to 21st/Sept/2008 is the period that I stayed in Ayr. The small town in North Queensland. I made much money and got my visa extension in this rural and small town. My previous plan was going back Taiwan in Mid-Sept. Due to the expensive flight ticket, I've decided to change the plan.

I worked more than 130 days for harvest jobs. It's absolutely enough to apply for the 2nd time working holiday visa.

After the working in Ayr, I intend to move to the city. The closest one in Townsville. The second largest city in Queensland.

The first step for my staying in Townsville is trying to get a job in Townsville Meat Work. I also applied a job for pizza delivery with my lovely small car. I've to say I love my tiny and old car. Although I spend lots of money on it.

The hostel I live in is Adventurous Resorts. It sounds like high-level hotel. I also hope it is, but it's still a normal hostel only.

The life in Townsville is not bad. Gorgeous beach, Magnetic island, tropical sunshine, exuberant night bar. It makes me difficult to oppose the lure.

One of the views in the CBD of Townsville

The Strand in Townsville, the island is Magnetic Island

31st/10/2008, The Western festival, Halloween. I know it's not our Asian's festival. But I also know an axiom - When you are in Rome, do as Roman's do. So when I started the work in the pizza delivery from 6PM to 9PM, I saw one of my colleague that made up like a vampire worked in the reception. That was just a beginning.

Everybody knows the Western culture means party up in the weekend. 31/10 Halloween was on Friday. The hostel owner informed all the people who live in this hostel that we'll have a party at night. I had finished my work at 9:30 and back at quarter to 10:00PM. When I was back the hostel, I know I have to join the spree. The first thing I had to do is to buy some beers. The Russian guy Alex met me first and had a talk to me. He works in the meat factory. But it's ridiculous that he possesses the working visa to Australia in the name of radio engineer. He's the first Russian I meet.
Alex, right, he's clever. He hugs the Finnish superbabe every guy in this hostel secretly fancies, Linda. (Maybe I was a bit jealous when I took this picture)

The right one is a French guy. I confess I squeezed his "boobs" without his permission. Is this sexual harassment??

In fact, when I took this picture, I was slightly pissed. Verena(German) said she needed some blood.

This guy I don't know his name. But he looked so handsome.

Halloween is the ghost festival in Western culture. But they don't prepare foods for the ghost or ancestors. It seems be more like the competition of dress up and make-up. All the people in the pub dressed up like ghost or vampire. It was really funny that you see ghost and vampire and fairies dancing on the floor.

I'll remember this special festival in my mind. It's absolutely a unforgettable experience in Australia. Now I really expect the other Christmas.