The Best New Travel App?

Unless you live under a rock or didn't grow up in the 90's, you likely heard about/downloaded the Pokemon Go app this past week, officially fulfilling all of your childhood dreams.

As a massive Pokemon fan, I was quite excited when the game was released in Australia.  If you don't know, the app has you walk around in the real world collecting virtual items at certain locations and catching Pokemon that randomly appear, all via your smartphone.

The actual Pokemon part of the game is fun but one of the real highlights is collecting the items.  All items are in locations of interest around the city, many of which I wasn't even aware of existed until now.  I've seen so many new murals, sculptures, and historic buildings this week purely because of the app.  At some of the bigger locations, brief info is given about the landmark as well. 

This has also been great for me since the winter weather makes it very easy to stick around the house all day. I now have great motivation to walk around and discover more of the city and seeing how this game is strangely addicting, it's been happening a lot lately.  If you want to become a Pokemon master, you have to make sacrifices and trudge through the cold/rain.

Found this mural a few nights ago about 2 minutes from my house.  Had no idea it was there until now.

Entrance to the Himeji Gardens, also right by my house.

Himeji Gardens

Himeji Gardens

Himeji Gardens

Himeji Gardens

Granted I've only used Pokemon Go in Adelaide but once it's released worldwide, this will be a fantastic way to find hidden spots in cities around the world and a great way to satisfy those annoying travel hipsters who want to "avoid the tourist spots" and "do what the locals do."  The only potential issue would be if you don't have a wireless or data connection but in big cities, that shouldn't be too big of a problem.  That and the app drains phone battery like none other.

That's all for now.  Bye.

Sausage Sizzle

So I learned something new this week that has made me love this country even more than I already do.

Saturday marked election day here in Australia.  Yeah sure, new members of the Senate and the House of Representatives were elected which is important and all but that pales in comparison to the real star of the day: the sausage sizzle.

Apparently it's a thing here that after you vote, you eat a barbecued, or "sizzled," sausage because, you know, why wouldn't you?  There are hundreds if not thousands of sausage sizzle booths that pop up near voting sites for an after polling snack.

According to Wikipedia:

A typical Sausage Sizzle takes place in a covered area. Often underneath a collapsible gazebo, volunteers prepare the barbecued sausages or 'snags'. These are served on a single slice of (typically) white bread, with optional grilled onions and the customer's choice of sauces, generally tomato, mustard, or barbecue. Chilled soft drink cans and bottled water are often also available at the counter. All ingredients are usually purchased as cheaply as possible, or donated from local sponsors such as butchers, bakers or supermarkets.

Not sure where your nearest sausage sizzle is?  Not to worry.  Google made a map that shows where you can go to tuck in.

Thanks Google, Snagvotes, and Democracy Sausage

My favorite headline this week was "While political parties fight voter apathy, internet companies are targeting what Australians really want: election day sausage sizzles."

Australia may have just clinched my "greatest country in the world" award with this one.

Oh yeah and this will be posted on the 4th of July here so happy birthday 'Murica!  Friday was my official one year anniversary of arriving in Australia for the first time.  I can't believe that was a year ago.  Time really does fly. 

That's all for now.  Bye.