1. Street signage.
Sporadic, uniformative and difficult to see. It's possible to come to an intersection, see four or five signs notifying you of the name of one street, but the cross street will remain mysteriously unidentified. Of course, the cross street is probably the street you're trying to find. At other times, there's a lack of signage. Or the sign is posted to a building. Sometimes the sign is forest green, when it's on a building. But not always. (However, this could just be a Sydney problem. I hear Melbourne's built on a grid system, and I have a feeling they have better signs there too. When I make it over next month, I will file a report.)
2. Tomato Sauce.
Ketchup is called to-mah-to sauce here. If you want some on your fries, you usually have to ask for it. It is not a given. And what of the tomato sauce we North Americans put on pizzas and pastas? That's called tomato puree, even if there's more than pureed tomatoes in the sauce.
3. The Aussie Burger.
Beetroot, pineapple, bacon, barbecue sauce and a fried egg. I am told this one comes from Metzis Tasty Takeaway, Mackenzie Street (off Reddall Parade), Mount Warrigal NSW 2528 Australia. I borrowed this picture from flickr.
4. Beetroot. Why is it called beetroot? We don't call carrots "carrotroot" or potatoes "potatoroot". I think it falls under the British habit of being pedanticly explicit. For example, calling tape "sticky tape."
5. The popularity of the Ute.
The Ute, short for utility vehicle, is a cultural icon in Australia. The one above is from Holden, an Aussie car company. According to AutoWeb, who've published a retrospective of the Ute, the vehicle "remains an enduring symbol of hard work and a laidback lifestyle; a definition of the essential Australia." You can read the rest of the article here. I've heard rumours there is a song about performing sexual acts in the back of said vehicle, but I think my leg is getting pulled on that one.
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