Lourens was the perfect
travel partner. He is endlessly polite. He got along with everyone we
met. He did not get upset when I made
mistakes, like on our thwarted museum hunt in Melbourne, or when I misjudged
where the Melbourne Museum might be. I
make such mistakes every time I travel.
I did in the Baltics when I couldn't find museums in Vilnius. I did in South Africa when I misjudged
distances and had to rush. Lourens
remained easy-going and patient all the way.
I was exceedingly
cheerless at the end of the trip. I had had a marvelous time, soul-suffusing. Seeing all my cohorts who mean so much....
Getting revitalised.... Being mesmerised by new places and customs... Eating
well... And, of course, all the lovely theatrical
activities. I did not want it to end!
In Melbourne, as in Sydney, the male fashion
of wearing long socks with short pants seemed to be back. Whatsocks are still very much the name of the
game among expats in Taiwan. The shorts
they wore were indeed short, cut high above the knee at the thigh. This was both revealing and appealing. Less arousing, the full beard had also made a
comeback. I like goatees and
beards that are kept short, but a Grizzly Adams style afro-of-the-chin leaves
me cold.
In both Sydney and Melbourne, there were times
when it seemed I wasn't outside
Asia. The nation's population has
exploded with immigrants out of Asia.
Additionally, tourism attracts many Orientals. I heard so much Chinese
spoken every single day. Chinese New
Year celebrations were held in Melbourne upon my return from the Pacific. Much of the signage was in both English and
Chinese, within the city and also at the airport. It was very much like
being in Taiwan. Asian restaurants
abounded and they were filled to the brim with Asian diners. At Queen Victoria Market, some of the stalls
would be equally at home in Taichung.
What made me sure I was in another country were the broad roads, the blue skies and
the existence of way too many rules.
Australia's is a fairly punitive society. While there is much to be said for well-organised cities with systems that work reliably (and cost substantially),
there is also a point where it can get too much. On some pavements, I spotted this intriguing plaque in the paving, limiting the area of
sidewalk that may be used for restaurant tables.
(A glaring contradiction, however, presented itself on the streets of Melbourne after one of our performances. The pavements were strewn with discarded wrappings and other jettisoned trash. This was in stark contrast to the pristine waters of Sydney Harbour.)
Lourens called it a granny society, though to
him this was attractive. I understand that a whole percentage of humanity cannot be
trusted to make good choices or to be considerate to those around them. However, taking away a person's right to
choose cannot a healthy nation build.
Examples of what I mean are these:
Paula's towering punishment for driving under the influence; the cost of
cigarettes (!!!!); getting fined for jay walking; paying a forfeiture for not
voting in a general election. I realise
that others may have a differing opinion on the issue; fortunately the world
offers many choices of domicile.
Moreover, I've heard it said that
the citizenry has become rather litigious.
Companies are frightened of getting sued, so they overcompensate with
epistles of warnings about the dangers of (mis)using their
products. After my last supper, I asked the waiter to wrap up Onkel Hans' uneaten fish. I was told that it is
illegal. Why?! Somewhere in the state, a patron had taken
home a doggy bag, which he then failed to store properly or eat soon. He got sick when he did eat it (a week later,
I was told) and proceeded to sue the hotel whence the food had
come. Thanks to that nonsense, wrapping
up leftovers was said to be unlawful!
What insanity is that? As it
happens, I have been unable to verify the truth of this
statement. I found some internet sites where the matter was hotly debated,
but the best I could find is that many restaurants have
chosen to disallow the removal of leftovers in an effort to protect themselves. The madness also seems to have affected only
Victoria and specifically, Melbourne.
At the opposite end of that scale lies my own
country, where lawlessness is standard and consequences few. Even the government is largely criminal and
should be put in dungeons. I find a happy medium in Taiwan.
Certainly a lot that should not happen does happen. However, the population is generally
self-restraining. When transgressions
are severe, like when building standards aren't met and people die in
collapsing buildings ( - this happened while
I was in Australia, due to an earthquake in southern Taiwan - ) the guilty do get
their comeuppance.
For these reasons, I couldn't see myself ever wanting to call Australia home. Visiting there, on the other hand, though not
inexpensive, is wonderful. Hold thumbs I'll make it back in November!
