Back in Civilization (it’s really just a place to spend $$)-Rant

20090416SW6275
Originally uploaded by s webster

Well I’m back in Melbourne for a couple of days. The last few days in Halls Gap were great! I met some people from New Zealand who just happened to Geo-cache. I hadn’t thought of doing that while I was there and glad I met them. They got me hooked again. If you don’t know what Geo-caching is, the simplest answer is using multi-billion dollar satellites to find Tupperware hidden in the woods.

You download coordinates onto your gps then treck around looking for the “cache” There was even one hidden by another Manitobian. He did make me work for that one – Thru the bush, no trails except for the paths the kangaroos made and with some rock climbing to boot. It was a great way to end my stay there.

Now that I’m back in town I’ve got internet and lots of food close at hand. I’ve traded my 4 books in for 2 new ones and wandered the shops some more. Oh I found Wall-Mart it’s called “the Big W” here.

$3.00 Slurpee - Prices for new books as well as electronics and video games are insane. A book that would cost me $10.00cad at home is $20.00aud here. Video games are even worse. One that would cost $50-60cad is anywhere from $99-110. DVD’s are in the same boat as well $20.00cad they are $30aud $40.00aud for blue-ray. Did I mention that it’s $15.00 to see a movie in the theater?

So even though we as Canadians complain about the prices we pay when we see the US prices. It’s even worse off for the Aussies. My $3.00 Slurpee just doesn’t taste the same!