A Passing Thought About This Town
I’ve been in Sydney for about three weeks
at this point and let me tell you it has already been the experience of a
lifetime. There is so much to learn and appreciate in this culture and day-to-day
life that is so much different from the United States. One such appreciation
I’ve come to have about Australia is for the cuisine. Because of the proximity
to the water and Asia most of the food that I have tried has been either
seafood or of Asian decent. That
said the food has been wonderful. You can tell how the fish came from the ocean
only days if not hours earlier. In
New South Wales, where I am staying, there are many restaurants and a generally
lively population. One such area is the nearby King Street, which resembles a
never-ending strip mall. It’s full of every type of food and bar establishment
that you can imagine.
Many of these establishments sell my new
beloved late night foods; kebabs. And before you think of anything on a stick
hold your horses. Kebabs resemble a wrap, with cooked chicken, beef, or lamb
and Australians favourite condiment…garlic sauce. In an area with every type of
food its rather shocking how the entire population accepts that kebabs are the
only late night option. I was a little sceptical, as my late night fancy
generally strays towards grease and cheese (oh Taco Bell how I miss you)
instead of veggies, humus, and pita bread, however, like any respectable human
being, I can admit when I am wrong. These joyous creations have taken the cake
as the most shockingly pleasurable discovery of my trip thus far.
With the good comes the bad, sadly, and
while I have loved the grub in Sydney, I have come to hate a particular
element; that element being the birds that roam the streets of the city,
especially the harbor. They reflect poorly on Australia’s strict gun protection
laws, as they have taken full advantage of peoples lack of defence (sorry, my
computers set on Australian spelling) against their swarms when they catch a
glimpse of anything that might be food. Just the other day while walking out of
a McDonalds by the harbor, one of my group was literally hit in the head by the pestering
swarm of seagulls that attempts to steal her last fries. Between the gulls and
the hideous Australian Ibis’ that roam every street as if they owned them, I
have come to think that geese are nearly domesticated (sorry dad but it’s
true).
