Close encounters (by the breasts of Chinese girl)

Using immortal words of the best Czech sports commentator, I introduce you to what I have been through in past couple of days traveling around kiwiland, land of Oz and Singapore. What follows is description of noteable facts I have written down since my last post. In this column expression used in the title would be examined from all possible angles - consider yourself warned. Read on.

Naturally disastrous
As New Zealand is located exactly on a meeting point of two tectonic plates (Australian and Pacific) it is predisposed to volcanic activity, earthquakes and similar. As such it is relatively young and still developing landmass which explains unique fauna and flora (partially :) ) - more likely it is unique due to a fact that New Zealand is so remote and out of reach (Land of Oz is the closest thing and it is still solid three hours flight away). The phrase in the subtitle was used in one of many exhibitions in Te Papa museum which is highly interactive museum (as most of the museums I have visited during past three years - including Sydney and Singapore) showing and explaining New Zealand and life on it.

Positively surreal
My two days in Sydney were definitely something. I was able to; swim in Tasman sea (incredibly cold compared to New Zealand waters) on Bondi beach where I realised that sometime in the future I will have to switch to contact lenses if I want to learn to surf, also I met (or rather crashed his tour) governor of Hunan province on the tour of New South Wales parliament mere one month after I visited Hunan. Positively surreal is also the niceness and openness of Aussies who are able and willing to talk to you on the street while waiting for a green light (and they call everyone darling down under :) ) and who thank busdriver when getting off the bus. What other word than surreal would adequately describe the fact that there is 30 pianos placed all over Sydney for people to play (and they actually do) - occassion is Sydney festival - and city council and parks maintenance asks you to walk on grass in their parks and hug trees (literally)? Bottom line is that both Sydney and Perth are magnificiently liveble cities. Even more surreal was realisation that during my stay at Sydney Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard would be performing at Sydney Opera. Unfortunately this was another of my close encounters as both concerts were sold out (I did not visit the Opera for any other performance as I did not possess proper attire and would seriously harm my food budget :) ). Last but not least almost incredible happened and in Perth I almost visited one-day test match between Australia and South Africa at famous WACA oval (it was close but as the event was sold out I was relegated to watching kangaroo in nearby natural reserve - in the middle of the freaking city!!!). All the sold out events bring me to conclussion that Aussies are crazy about culture - what a surprise if you consider that de facto they are just bunch of convicts :) (joke!! :) ) - even during Friday when they are supposed to work and not watch cricket!

Brothers of Southern hemisphere
Australia (Oz) and New Zealand (Kiwiland) are somethin like Czech Republic and Slovakia of the down under. Both countries are close with very similar nations speaking some sort of similar language which they understand perfectly (it is some different kind of English which is surprisingly hard to understand when spoken in full throttle - e.g. they pronounce "pegs" as "pigs" etc.). Further more they compete between each other in anything and both thing of themselves as the better one (independently I was told by both Aussies and Kiwis that their nation and country is better and that the other one has "only sheeps and honey and nothing else" - which basically is true about both of them - this coming from Slovak whose country does not have even that :) ). In sports their competition can be also likened to Czech Republic and Slovakia substituting football and hockey with rugby and cricket (although it is more balanced competition, even though Black caps are laughing stock of international cricket just like Slovakia is laughing stock of world football). From the girls point of view the rivalry is also in favor of bigger brother - Oz is like rainforrest compared to Sahara of Kiwiland (this finding was acknowledged by my Kiwi friend but still I appologize for bluntness :) ).

Gradual therapy
Singapore is something in between Asia (namely China) and Oz and Kiwiland. It is hands down beautiful city with plenty of historical buildings and very modern skyscrapers. It has unique feel of melting pot of various cultures and religions. If I said about any city that people there leave next to each other regardless of their beliefs, Singapore thrashes it by landslide. Althoug it is little over-religious with church, temple of mosque on every corner (although different freom Maccau which is I would say over-catholic) there are no conflicts - everything is even written in "stone" (rather paper I would say). On the other hand it is little bit more polluted (I can feel it in my lungs after weeks spend in NZ) and dirty as each community keeps itself separated from the others and their influence. Unlike in Hong Kong where British way of life was prevalent and impossed more or less on all newcomers, in Singapore Indians (generally all who came from India even though there are many nationalities there e.g. Sikhs etc.), Chinese and Malay people positioned themselfes in certain neighbourhoods which prevail until today (it makes it interesting from touristic point of view). What I want to say is that there are certain customs which are same as in Mainland China such as; spitting on the street (although it was bus driver of Chinese group), honking (less than Shanghai though), hawking (although Indian stall owners are nowhere near the level of their Shanghai counterparts and might be even considered polite - they approach you with greeting and shake of hand instead of grabing you and pushing or fighting over you) etc. Also you can see some strictly-Chinese-way-of-thinking facts from the past. For example there is a street in city center where in the past were located "dead houses" where sick and old went to die, because to die at someone house might bring bad luck to the house - awesome (similarly to Aussie legislation regarding Abo's as animals who should be protected from overhunting, this houses were aborted and prohibited in 1960's - probably hippies have something to do with all this happiness and humanity around :) ). Anyway to sumarise, I have in fact started my gradual adaptation therapy to what awaits me in one week - return to Shanghai (further stage is Malaysia) :)

Other
Other remarks include; Air New Zealand became my favourite flag carrier with best service and most comfortable planes (it beats SAS due to younger stewardess), my realization that if I would want to know Australia I would need at least four weeks to explore it and still by far it might be not enough. In Singapore I stay at Sentosa island which is something like gigantic Disneyland - Asian style - with plenty of attractions for incoming tourists. Although twice as expensive as dorms on the main island it is needed relaxation break after two nights spending on travel and transfer (from Sydney to Perth and then to Singapore). At least I have an opportunity for morning swim in Indian ocean, morning run to prepare myself for Hong Kong and most importantly to drink evening cocktail in Bikini bar (actual name of the local beach bar) watching *INSERT WHATEVER YOU WANT (OPTIONS: a-sunset, b-bikini clad waitresses, c-fellow customers in beach wear)*.

Next stop is Kuala Lumpur and Kina Balu where I will transfer my sorry bottom in next two days. Next post will be probably from Hong Kong - maybe :) Enjoy!

PS: Of course I went for the oBvious answer - it is easier if you imagine that shortly I will return to the country where D-cups have the same meaning as Dinosaurs - extinct :)