We are both looking forward to Melbourne VERY much. Lizanne is fighting off a bad cold and the back of one of my ankles is rubbed raw, but we are soldiering on.

It’s also delightful to see so many beautiful state library buildings. Too many of the SLs in the states look and feel like reeducation centers in juvenile correctional facilities. The SLs here are beautiful… and well-appreciated, based on the foot traffic!

George, I think that koala has a better day job than most of us.

Mind you, it is hard to work out if Karen and Lizanne are more passionate about libraries or food. I suspect the two might be on par. Sydney does indeed do great Asian fusion food, so it was great to try out Arun Thai. This is a restaurant that is less likely to appear in the guide books but it is great food. Unlike so many other great Sydney Asian restaurants, Arun Thai is not full of hard surfaces so it is less noisy and you can actually hear yourself think.

I am looking forward to showing Karen and Lizanne food from Melbourne. I grew up in New South Wales but live in Victoria, so I don’t want to get into the Sydney / Melbourne rivalry thing (which makes the LA versus San Francisco face off look like a picnic). Sydney has some great places (and the world’s most beautiful harbour) but Melbourne is the food, culture, fashion, and sporting capital of Australia. Maybe it has something to do with the cooler climate. For example, fashion: consider the way women in Melbourne verus Sydney dress and wear make up – sorry there is no competition; Sport – look at the attendance figures at sporting events between the two cities; and then there is the food! Granted Sydney does Asian fusion much better and yes they have Testsuya, but Melbourne rules when it comes to Eastern and Western Mediterranean and European food in general. Think Pearl, Cumulus, Press Club, Mecca, and Mamaganush, the list goes on. And of course then there are places like France Soir and Vue de Monde and the Victoria, South Melbourne, Victoria, and Footscay markets. If in doubt try Googling “Melbourne and Food” or check the food blogs for “Vue de Monde”. Go on I dare you .

My strongest memory of Australia, and a link to Powder, is Anzac Day in Brisbane. Shops closed until noon, the streets lined, veterans in full dress, American jeeps marked “Warning Left Hand Drive”, and “Waltzing Matilda” on bagpipes. Anzac Day commemorates the Gallipoli landing, the first action for Australian and New Zealand troops. I’m still nearly speechless about it, the courage and sacrifice of Gallipoli and the pride of a new nation all mixed together.