Australia - New Zealand - Australian's

Last year the wife and me spent 3 months driving around Australia. I have been there before but my wife had never been. (we are both 52) What always pleasantly surprised me was how damn friendly the local young people were no matter where we were. I did a lot of surfing and never had a bad time with any of the local young surfers. Maybe it was because we were oldish tourists and something different but I tend to think the kids were just good people. It was the same everywhere.

Maybe I should not bring this subject up but before leaving for Austrialia I had many persons tell me that Asian persons were not welcome there and that my Japanese wife might be made to feel uncomfortable. Nothing could have been further from the truth. At all times and in all places we received gracious treatment. I don't know where or how that ugly rumor started but I can tell you it is not true. The Australians are every bit at fun-loving and nuts (in a good way) as my Navy father found them in WW2. He met many Australian jungle fighters during the war and thought the world of their grit and spirit. I think he saw the same real people I ran into.

Thanks for the kind words and Its good to see your having a good time.

On an individual, person to person level I think that the vast majority of Australians are a very tolerant and open people but in some circumstances there is an ugly mob mentality that can come to the surface. We aren't alone in that. I think its just human nature but there are times when I'm ashamed of the actions of my fellow Australians. Its mostly oveblown but people like Pauline Hanson really DID stir up some anti Asian sentiment.

Anthony

[QUOTE=AnthonyG;9865246....On an individual, person to person level I think that the vast majority of Australians are a very tolerant and open people but in some circumstances there is an ugly mob mentality that can come to the surface. We aren't alone in that. I think its just human nature but there are times when I'm ashamed of the actions of my fellow Australians. Its mostly oveblown but people like Pauline Hanson really DID stir up some anti Asian sentiment.

Anthony[/QUOTE]

Ditto. I still regale friends at work when I tell of the woman passenger who rolled down the window somewhere on the Savannah Way between Normantown and Domadgee and then gave me a powerbar and energy drink and stated "Here! You need these more than we do!" Then drove off. I also got beers (cold ones just pulled out of the eskey) from folks in the same way on that trip between Cairns and Darwin - BUT at least they stopped and we shared several before we drove off on the dirt :-) No, I am not condoning drinking and driving...

Great folks while driving in the outback - same as those in town. People are people everywhere and MOST believe/understand that idea....