The typical Aussie bogan.

When you travel people know you’re Australian. Aside from a reputation for being friendly and laid-back, we have a very unique accent that is all too well known around the world. I’ve heard many a Kiwi have to explain, albeit with a bit of a grumble, that they aren’t Australian at all. With easy recognition comes an easy application of stereotypes…so just how many Australian stereotypes hold true?

Still the most famous, typically Australian characters known to the world are the likes of Steve Irwin and Crocodile Dundee. Yes, people think we say ’struth’ and ‘crikey’ a lot more than we do, but in reality but I haven’t had anyone ask me to show them what a real knife is, or how to wrestle a crocodile just yet. However, people do seem to forget just how large Australia is, they assume that most of us have the same past time – surfing.

Now don’t get me wrong, surfing is more popular in Australia than a lot of countries in the world but, being from Melbourne – originally near Ballarat for that matter – I seem to be constantly repeating that it isn’t always sunny, we don’t all live on a beach and owning a surfboard is not actually the norm for Australians. I must also explain why I am only an average cricket player, not the strongest of swimmers and that we actually tend to put meat on BBQs (in fact, I can’t remember the last time I saw someone put a shrimp on one).

The good news is that Australians are pretty well-liked almost everywhere. We have a reputation for being outgoing, accommodating and accepting, and, if you are heading to Western Europe and South East Asia, you will not be in short supply of fellow Australians that support these positive assumptions. Every nationality has its stereotypes; when it all comes down to it, the Australian stereotype certainly seems one of the most positive. So if you do decide to travel then say it loud and proud, “I’m Australian.”

Also, did I mention there are many who find the Australian accent quite attractive?

Keep an eye out for a whole lot of articles noting all the similarities and differences while comparing Melbourne, in all its glory, with places around the world. And of course some stories of people from Melbourne eating, drinking and partying in faraway places. The world is a big place but there seems to be enough travelling Melbournites to take it on.

The busy aisles of the famous local market in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia.

Everyone loves a bargain, especially when you are travelling.  Modern cities are built around fashion districts, supermarkets, specialty stores and groups of market stalls.  And when it comes to open air markets Melbourne has one of the best – the Queen Victoria Market.  From the half-price, fresh off the bone meat to the vibrant and cheap as chips vegetables, it is hard to pass up a regular trip to the market if you want to save on your weekly shopping bills.  This is not to mention the great cheap snacks and gourmet goodies you can get for very reasonable prices in the deli and food court sections.  And the market is right on the edge of the CBD!  You can’t do much better than that can you?!

Well actually yes you can – markets are universal and there are a few things that even Melbourne is lacking when it comes to markets and supermarkets:

The likes of LIDL:

 LIDL is just one of multiple discount supermarkets that can be found in almost every country in Europe.  The majority of Australia is still stuck with the exorbitant prices posed by the dominant chain stores.  Now it may not be the best quality goods you get from these discount variety supermarkets but hey, who says no to a one dollar frozen pizza?  Especially if you can wash it down with a nice two litre bottle of miscellaneous German beer for another buck?

Night Markets:

For a few months QV Market does offer some night market, often complete with bands!  But this is nothing like markets you can find in the likes of Luang Prabang in Laos.  Here the markets barely begin until the sun goes down.  The streets become warmly lit by the soft glow of humble light globes hanging from the coverings of every stall.  The local wares take on a magic luminosity as the modest people of Laos smile from the corners.

Topped by Turkey:

Greater Istanbul has a population of over fifteen million and the Grand Bazaar in its centre certainly lives up to its name.  How can Melbourne compete with such a huge population pedalling goods left right and centre?  The Grand Bazaar, along with its smaller and even more bizarre little brother, the Spice Bazaar, seems never to end.  Even when, after walking for what seems like hours, you reach the other end of the enclosed and ancient maze that holds the bazaars themselves, the streets are crammed full with more outdoor stalls selling everything from Turkish delights to “Levi” jeans – for less than ten dollars Australian.  It’s one thing to have a market, it’s quite another to have a market district.

The tailors back in ‘Nam:

Why waste your time sorting through the cheapo goods at a market when you can have your clothes made out of the material you want, the way you want and just to fit you.  Because it’s too expensive right?!  Wrong.  Try some tailors from our friendly Asian neighbours in towns like Hoi An, Vietnam.  Here you can get a full suit made out of wool or cashmere, complete with a shirt in the colour of your choosing and a nice matching tie for well under $100 Australian…depending on how good your haggling skills are.  They will even send it back to your home town if you ask nicely enough!

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Shopping is international, and whether it is for food, clothes or another set of candles for your Mum’s next birthday different cultures and nations do it completely differently.  Even if you aren’t planning on making a purchase it is an amazing experience just to stroll through the malls, markets and shopping strips of any foreign city.  All this being said, and speaking completely honestly, after travelling to more than one hundred cities around the world I still think that the goods and especially food available in Melbourne is one of the widest and most accessible varieties I have ever seen.  God Save the Queen…Victoria Market.

Melbourne, Flinders Crt

In almost a year of travel in over one hundred cities, through sixteen countries, by far the most common person to find in a hostel in any continent is an Australian. The most common home town for these Australians is Melbourne. So why do we travel so much?

I have never met someone from Melbourne who doesn’t love the place, even just a little, and yet I have met Melbournites escaping to spots all over the world. Perhaps it is the multicultural setting of Melbourne itself, perhaps it’s because the rest of the world seems so far away, perhaps it’s the great art, music, food and culture that visits Melbourne regularly or maybe it’s simply because Melbourne’s population has such an outgoing and adventurous attitude, but the twenty and thirty-somethings of Melbourne can’t seem to resist the big trip overseas.

Being a Melbourne born and bred traveller, I am always comparing the big cities to my home town. Is there a place out there that is better than Melbourne?! If there is I have to find it. After throwing a lot of time and money into this mission I have found all sorts of strange, exciting and incredibly interesting ideas, customs and settings that Melbourne, and Australia for that matter, seems never to have heard of, let alone partaken in.

Keep an eye out for a whole lot of articles noting all the similarities and differences while comparing Melbourne, in all its glory, with places around the world. And of course some stories of people from Melbourne eating, drinking and partying in faraway places. The world is a big place but there seems to be enough travelling Melbournites to take it on.