If you’re heading to Australia, you may want to learn a few phrases.  While they certainly speak English, they do have a unique vocabulary that makes Aussie’s all the more endearing.  Personally, I’m aiming to avoid the root rats, but ratbag might be my new favorite word!

Examples of why you need the vocab – both could be seriously misconstrued!:
– Need some good oil for Oz in April? You need your jumpers and sunnies, but not your thongs.  
– For tea or brekkie, take the footpath and hold on to your ankle biter, pass the servo and go half a click.  The banana benders are heading that way so just follow them. 

The lists are long, but here were some of my favs….

Ankle biter : small child
Apples, she’ll be : It’ll be all right
Arvo : afternoon
Back of Bourke : a very long way away
Banana bender : a person from Queensland
Bathers : swim suit
Bikkie : biscuit (also “it cost big bikkies” – it was expensive)
Billy : teapot. Container for boiling water.
Bloke : man, guy
Bog in : commence eating, to attack food with enthusiasm
Boozer : a pub
Bottle shop : liquor shop
Brekkie : breakfast
Brown-eyed mullet : a turd in the sea (where you’re swimming!)
Budgie smugglers : men’s bathing costume
Butcher : small glass of beer in South Australia – From the theory that a butcher could take a quick break from his job, have a drink and be back at work
BYO : unlicensed restaurant where you have to Bring Your Own grog, also similar party or barbecue
Chokkie : chocolate
Click : kilometre – “it’s 10 clicks away”
Clucky : feeling broody or maternal
Coathanger : Sydney Harbour bridge
Cobber : friend
Coldie : a beer
Come a gutser : make a bad mistake, have an accident
Cook (noun) : One’s wife
Crack a fat : get an erection
Dag : a funny person, nerd, goof
Daks : trousers
Doovalacky : used whenever you can’t remember what something is called. Thingummyjig, whatsit.
Footy : Australian Rules football
Franger : condom
G’Day : hello!
Give it a burl : try it, have a go
Gobful, give a : to abuse, usually justifiably (“The neighbours were having a noisy party so I went and gave them a gobful”)
Going off : used of a night spot or party that is a lot of fun – “the place was really going off”
Good oil : useful information, a good idea, the truth
Good onya : good for you, well done
Goog, as full as a : drunk. “Goog” is a variation of the northern English slangword “goggie” meaning an egg.
Grog : liquor, beer (“bring your own grog, you bludger”)
Hooroo : goodbye
Kangaroos loose in the top paddock : Intellectually inadequate (“he’s got kangaroos loose in the top paddock”)
Mate : buddy, friend
No worries! : Expression of forgiveness or reassurance (No problem; forget about it; I can do it; Yes, I’ll do it)
Oldies : parents – “I’ll have to ask my oldies”
Oz : Australia!
Plate, bring a : Instruction on party or BBQ invitation to bring your own food. It doesn’t mean they’re short of crockery!
Plonk : cheap wine
Porky : Lie, untruth (pork pie = lie)
Quid, make a : earn a living – “are you making a quid?”
Ratbag : mild insult
Ripper : great, fantastic – “it was a ripper party”
Roo bar : stout bar fixed to the front of a vehicle to protect it against hitting kangaroos (also bull bar)
Root (verb and noun) : synonym for f*ck in nearly all its senses: “I feel rooted”; “this washing machine is rooted”; “(s)he’s a good root”. A very useful word in fairly polite company.
Root rat : somebody who is constantly looking for sex.
Rotten : drunk – “I went out last night and got rotten”
Seppo : an American
Servo : petrol station
Sheepshagger : A New Zealander
Sheila : a woman
Squizz (noun) : look – “take a squizz at this”
Stickybeak : nosy person
Sunnies : sunglasses
Tall poppies : successful people
Tallie : 750ml bottle of beer
Tea : supper
Thongs : flip flops
Tucker : food
Tucker-bag : food bag

While I’ve been to 27 different countries, I’ve never had the pleasure of learning to drive on the left hand side of the road.  I usually use public transport or employ a driver.  But here I am in Australia, where there is no shortage of land.  I needed to get to Phillip Island, about two hours outside of Melbourne, where I planned to spend a weekend on the rural coast.

I started driving when I was 12, am adept at using manual transmissions, so I didn’t even think twice about it…Hmmmm, mistake number one.  To start, I went to the wrong side of the car to open the door.  However, the funniest bit was my attempt to get out of the Avis car park (Aussie speak for parking garage). 

After I finally got in the right door, I settled a few minutes, checked my mirrors, moved the seat, all the normal things you do when you get into a rental car.  I was sorted out and ready to go but I hiccupped a few times trying to remember to stay on the left hand side of the tightly parked garage.  I was doing okay, though.  That is, until I met another car.  I tried to turn on my blinker and hit the windshield wipers.  Then I couldn’t get the wipers off and instead they started going faster.  About that same time I realized I was too much in the middle of the path so the other car couldn’t get around me. 

I decided I should be courteous, forget about the wipers and just get out of the way.  Unfortunately, I looked up and realized the other driver was an impossibly hot guy in an Audi laughing at me.  Completely flustered, I managed to get over enough to give way to him.  With my wipers still running on full speed, he pulled up beside me and rolled his window down.  Mortified, I rolled mine down as well.  Mr. Hot Audi said, “Hey, no worries, you’re doing great, just go slow!”  Oof – utter embarrassment.

Some other Mr. Hot Audi

All in all it turned out okay.  I made it to Phillip Island without incident and only two hours of white knuckled granny driving as proof of my challenge.

If you’re driving on the wrong side of the road for the first time, I recommend the following:

-Try to always go to the right side of the car to get in because it’s rather embarrassing if you don’t. Several times I had to pretend I meant to go to the passenger side and put my purse on the seat.
– Anytime you turn right or left, pause for another second. Make sure you’re going into the correct lane and not just following your instinct.
– While your wipers will surely get a work out since they’re on the side you’re used to using for blinkers, just try to think about it every time you need to signal.
– When unsure, I just told myself, “stay to the left, stay to the left”
– Remember the fast lanes are opposite from what you’re used to.
– Look in your mirrors, all of them.
– Do get GPS.
– Finally, and most importantly, don’t make eye contact with hot guys in Audis – especially if you’re in a Camry.

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Heading to Budapest?  Here are some helpful hints!

General  It is important to know the difference between Buda and Pest (pronounced ‘Pescht’). Until a few hundred years ago, they were separate cities. Buda is on the west side of the river, is a hilly, residential area that also is home to the Castle district. Pest is on the east side and contains the business district, the Jewish Quarter, and more affordable accommodations and fare.

Arriving
1.  In the airport, there is an ATM in baggage claim, which is an easy way to get forint (Hungarian currency or HUF).  200 HUF roughly equals $1.
2.  From the airport, the best way to get to your hotel is to take the minibuses, which are very reasonable (look to your right when exiting customs).  One way the cost is 2,990 HUF or about $14.50.  www.airportshuttle.hu

Getting Around
1.  Only take a taxi from your hotel, never hail one from the street.  Taxis are not as safe in Budapest as they are in cities elsewhere.  If you do need a taxi and you’re somewhere other than your hotel, go into a restaurant or pub and ask one of the staff to call one for you.  They’ll call one from a reputable company and you’ll be less likely to be ripped off.  Fortunately the transit system in Budapest is very good so you shouldn’t need them too often.
2.  Do take the buses, trains, and trams whenever possible.  They’re everywhere, frequent, and cheap.  When you get on the bus/train/tram, no one will take your ticket.  You have to use the orange boxes to validate your ticket each time.  To do so, simply stick the ticket in the slot.  If a ticket checker audits the car and your fare isn’t validated the fine is 6,000 HUF.  Also, tickets aren’t for sale on the street, so you’ll need to get them from a hotel or train station.  I found a weeklong pass was the best.
3.  Do not buy the Budapest card, a transportation and museum pass all in one. Unless you plan a museum marathon for 72 hours (the longest length available), it is less expensive to pay for transport and museum fees separately as needed.

What to do when you’re there
1.  As I mentioned in previous posts, do join a free walking tour.  From this overview you can decide which are the most important highlights that will best match your interests.
2.  The best place to buy food and souvenirs is the Grand Market Hall. It’s a two-story building with all sorts of delights.  A traditional market is on the ground floor with vegetables, meats, grocery goods, bakery items aplenty.  On the second floor are local textiles, souvenirs, restaurants and food stalls.
3.  When booking a hotel room, make sure it has air conditioning if you’re planning on a summer visit.  I found this one out the hard way!
4.  Do go at night to the little bars in the Jewish Quarter called ruin bars or ‘romkocsma’ in Hungarian.  They’re fun and a part of the culture.
5.  The language is hard, there’s no way around it.  Do at least know a few basic words, thank you in particular…you don’t want to be a rude American after all!

Hello or Bye = Szia (sounds like “See Ya”)
Goodbye = Viszlát (sounds like “veeslat”)
Yes / No  = Igen / Nem  
How are you? = Hogy vagy?  
Thank you = Köszönöm (sounds like “kozonom”)
Thank you very much = Köszönöm szépen
Good morning = Jó reggelt
Good afternoon = Jó napot  
Good evening = Jó estét
Cheers! = Egészségédre!
You’re welcome = Szívesen  
Sorry! / Excuse me!  = (to apologize = Bocsánat!) (to gain attention = Elnézést!)

Food Tips
1.  More often than not, salad refers to pickled vegetables as opposed to the green leafy variety.
2.  Noodles are really small but dense dumplings.
3.  Hungarian wines are surprising good – an undiscovered secret in my opinion.  Explore beyond the usual hype of Bulls Blood (not really blood, but it is a red) and Tokaj (white) – there are many very good varieties to choose from.  My favorite wines came from the Villany region.
4.  Try anything that is made with cottage cheese – sounds weird but trust me!  Also, a must – bread with fat….I’m still dreaming of it!
5.  If you’re in a restaurant and don’t know what to order and can’t communicate, when all else fails, order paprikash.
6.  Most Hungarians eat a heavy lunch and a lighter dinner.  As a result, many local restaurants close at 3 or 4 (tourist areas excepting).

Above all, just relax and have fun – Hungary is a country with so much to offer, you can’t go wrong!

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Last year I had the opportunity to go to Palm Springs, CA twice.  Both times were a bit out of season, in September and October, so it was rather hot and sticky – it is a desert after all.  Fortunately I was joined by great company and indulged in refreshing swims every day.

The first trip was to the La Quinta Resort (a Waldorf Astoria property), which was simply beautiful.  Situated against the backdrop of stunning red mountains, the scenery was breaktaking.  The resort is comprised of casitas (small villas), restaurants, a spa, and conference facilities.

The casitas were lovely complete with fireplaces and a true sense of seclusion.  They are arranged in groups so they form little communities around pools.  Each pool had roughly four to six casitas surrounding it, making it feel like your own private oasis.

The resort itself has a number of restaurants and the food was quite good.  The best thing I had there was the margarita at Adobe Grill.  Honestly, the best margarita I’ve ever had with the perfect blend of tart and sweet, citrus and salt.  Just writing about it makes me crave for one!

My second visit was for work to the Hyatt in downtown Palm Springs – a completely different experience.  It was a very good hotel, convenient to all the attractions and restaurants downtown but lacked the relaxed romance and charming warmth of the LaQuinta.

All in all, I’d recommend going closer to the season (ie winter – November to April).  The rest of the year some of the local attractions are not open and it can be oppressively hot.  Not matter the time of the year, though, I hope I get to return sometime soon, there’s a margarita with my name on it!

Check out LaQuinta, its well worth a visit: http://www.laquintaresort.com/

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Craving a smear of Vegemite? Thinking of heading Down Under? Don’t forget to apply for your visa!  I’ll be heading there for a quick turn work trip in a couple of weeks and am getting ready.

To visit, Australia requires an Electronic Travel Authority (aka ETA).  You can apply for an ETA online, but you cannot be in Australia when you do so.  According to their website, “The ETA allows people to visit Australia for short-term tourism or business purposes of up to three months. There is an AUD20 service fee only for an online application for each ETA applicant. An ETA is available to passport holders from over 30 countries, regions and locations.” 

To learn more about Australian Electronic Travel Authority, click here: http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/visitors.htm

Applying was easy and they sent me the approval very quickly with instructions.  In addition, a day or so later I got another email from the Authority outlining a few more benefits…..A few months ago I applied and was accepted into the US Trusted Traveler program.  It basically means Uncle Sam did a background check and interviewed me so I can reenter the US from trips without going through the long customs/immigration lines.  According to the Aussie email, “Late last year, Australian Customs and Border Protection opened up access to its automated border processing system, SmartGate, to U.S. Trusted Travelers. Now when you arrive in Australia, you can bypass the passport processing queues and self-process using an ePassport.”

US Trusted Travelers can use SmartGate when flying into Australia without any additional due diligence.  FANTASTIC!  It will take me more than 25 hours of travel to get there and I’m flying coach (since my company is paying and there are no upgrades available!) so I imagine I’ll look a bit like these jet lagged people once I arrive!

Needless to say, the thought of not having to deal with long passport lines when I arrive is a welcome relief. 

To learn more about the US Trusted Traveler Program, click here: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/trusted_traveler/

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Newport, Rhode Island is widely considered the sailing capital of the world, with a rich history in all things nautical.  A beautiful place to visit, it has more surviving colonial buildings than any other city, brick streets, and that intangible crisp quaintness of a New England town.

There are so many things to see and do here, including The Breakers, Cliff Walk, and Castle Hill.  There are multitudes of articles on all of those places, each worth spending time visiting.  I won’t focus on them here, though.  If you follow my blog, you know I’m a water girl and elect to spend my time on the water as often as possible.  With that spirit, last fall I had the opportunity to take a group of business colleagues on a sunset sail that was more enjoyable than any round of golf.

I used 12 Meter Charters and booked a trip aboard The Heritage.  Twelve of us boarded on a perfect day, with calm waters and just enough wind. I’ve been sailing for years and am a certified sailing captain, but even I was in complete awe of the beauty of this boat and the deft capabilities of its crew.  In addition to showing us the splendors of the area, they served us a catered dinner as we toured the coast.  The gentle rocking of the boat, lobster roll in hand, and the stunning mansions of Newport framed with hues of an orange and pink sunset created one of those perfect moments that somehow make everything worthwhile.

While my favorite, water is not the only playground there.  I also got to spend an evening on an impromptu bar crawl, which I highly recommend!  Having stayed at the perfectly positioned Hyatt on Goat Island, we strolled downtown, hopping from restaurants to pubs to bars, sampling local brews and seafood along the way.  Some of the local breweries include Newport Storm, Coddington, and Coastal Extreme.  We tried them all (perhaps more than once!) and then stumbled back to the Hyatt without ever having to take a cab.  If you’re in town with friends, its the perfect way to spend the evening.

I’ve been in the area for work several times over the last year and found the fall to be my favorite.   The weather was still moderate and it wasn’t overly crowded.  During this time, the Hyatt, which also has a lovely spa, offers really good rates during the off season.  On the other hand, the regattas that are such fun to watch happen during the summer (see the schedule below).  Ultimately, Newport is a place you can’t go wrong visiting, no matter what the season.