By Roadjunky, Posted Dec 15, 2006
Sections: Intro The Amazon The Himalayas The Kalahari Desert US National Parks Alaska Australia The Sahara Patagonia Pacific Islands Outer Mongolia More Travel Ideas
Australia is basically a huge desert island with a tropical forest on the north and cities grouped near the eastern and western shores. In the middle it’s only of any value to plutonium prospectors, aboriginals and kangaroos.
Australia is enormous but its population is closely glued around the cities along the coasts, hence if you head inland to check out aboriginal holy sites like Ayer’s Rock then you’ll be able to get out on your own in no time. The interior is largely very dry and hot so be sure to carry plenty of water and sunscreen with you, especially considering the dent in the ozone layer above Australia.
If you’ve ever wanted a beach to yourself then you can take your pick on the extensive north coast where you can camp and beach comb to your heart’s content. You can live on the fish you catch, a bag of rice and get used to the taste of warm Fosters that you filled your backpack with.
Just keep an eye out for the saltwater crocodiles (which also lurk in fresh water) who have a strong taste for human flesh and also for such fun companions as the death adder (the clue is in the name) and other poisonous snakes. Oh, and there are box jellyfish and sharks too.
But the most dangerous and aggressive animal is the beer-drinking Ozzie and you’ll be able to leave most of those behind when you get into the bush and go walkabout.
Some people like to travel light. And the idea of taking a musical instrument with them on the road just seems like too much hassle. Guitar strings break, harmonicas ...
There was a feel-good article in the Guardian the other day about laughter classes in Tehran.
God knows there’s lots to laugh about. Here’s a comic speech given by the ...
