One Crazy Aussie Adventure

Introduction:

What do you get when you exile a bunch of prisoners convicted of long-term prison sentences, or to death? Australia, of course!  With its summer-like weather, unique wildlife, beautiful nature, and sprawling, modern cities, I was excited to visit this wonderful country over Thanksgiving, where I have both relatives and friends. On the agenda was Cairns (beautiful beaches, and wildlife), Melbourne (amazing nature, modern sprawling city), Ayers Rock in Uluru (the home of Australia’s indigenous people), Canberra (the capital and Australia’s Washington DC), and of course Sydney, (city living and stunning beaches). The only obstacle in my way—the 30+, six-stop flight: Boston to Montreal to Toronto to Vancouver to Brisbane to Cairns. Although I can’t fall asleep on planes, I spent the time reading novels, watching some good movies, and getting addicted to “The Big Bang Theory”, so found a way to be productive!

Cairns:

Cairns is the tropical area of Australia, known for beautiful beaches and spectacular nature. Once formed as a route for miners, the city’s population declined when an easier route was discovered (at Port Author), but it is still the 5^th largest city in Australia.

First, I visited the Great Coral Reef, which is an island with nice beaches. I was not that impressed. The beaches were OK, but I can find plenty like them, even in other parts of Australia. I did not see too many fish, and nothing very unique. Most scarily of all, November is the beginning of Box Jellyfish stingers season. If bitten by one, the stings can cause cardiovascular failure and instant death within 2-5 minutes! The box jellyfish are also blue and transparent, making them difficult to spot. The answer by the Great Coral Reef beaches is to hand out specialized wet suits, which they recommend people wear. But this defeats the entire point of swimming, of enjoying the water on your skin, while treating your body to natural salts, so I never wore one while swimming. On average, Only one person a year is hospitalized on the Great barrier Reef beaches, although 5 were last year, so I liked my chances. Sometimes, you need to take a risk to enjoy life, you know? Fortunately, I was never stung.

The next day, I went to the Kurunda National Park. This park has beautiful cliffs and lovely walking trails. Unfortunately, it also has saltwater crocodiles, tree-climbing kangaroos, and 2 of the 5 most poisonous snakes in the world. So taking a scenic train ride is a lot safer. That said, I did get to check out some of the less dangerous wildlife, unique to only part of Australia, and fed kangaroos and cuddled with koalas. A very unique and cool experience, indeed!

Melbourne Area

The first three days in Melbourne was spent on the Great Ocean Road. This 200km road is a scenic drive, and this was the first time in Australia where I rented a car. Driving in Australia is a little scary at first. They drive on the right side of the road (as in England, whose queen is also the queen of Australia, as well as Canada). It was a little difficult to focus at first, and I almost ended up taking a couple of incorrect turns the wrong way! To make matters even more complicated, the turn signals are on the right, while the windshield wipers are on the left. So several times, when I tried using my turn signals, I turned on the wipers by mistake!

Anyways, back to Great Ocean Road. With its rolling cliffs, high cliffs, and stunning mountain and beachside views, as well as the challenge of driving through the winding, curvy roads, it reminds me a little of Amalfi Coast in Italy. There are 2 things that the Great Ocean Road has, that the Amalfi coast does not, however. I saw wild kangaroos frolicking and mating , right on one of the beaches, which was pretty sweet. The coolest site was the “Twelve Apostles”, which is a formation of 12 rocks abutting from the beaches. These were formed by extreme weather conditions, as the Southern Pacific Ocean gradually eroded the limestone, forming caves in the cliffs, which then became arches, eventually collapsing and leaving tall rock formations near the shorelines. It looks very cool, like natural monuments abutting right out of the sea!

I only spent one full day in Melbourne, Australia’s 2^nd most populous city, with a population of 4.7 million. Originally, 3 native aboriginal tribes, totaling about 2,000 people were the first inhabitants. But when white settlers arrived, they basically provided these poor natives with the American Native American treatment. The Natives were dispossessed from their lands via rescinded treaties that were annulled by white Melbourne leadership. Today, the city has a sistership with Boston; we share a passion for sports and a hub of well-educated people. It is a lovely, modern city. The walk by the Yarra River is a must-do, as each next bridge has its own unique design. The high scrapers have unique architectural builds, such as turning the bricks in various directions and angles. The streets are wide and full of nightlife. I had the opportunity to see the entire city from the top, including its cricket stadiums. Unfortunately, I did not have time to go to any of the museums, including studying the rich stories of immigrants at the  Immigration Museum or checking out the diverse marine life at Melbourne’s world-renowned Aquarium.

Uluru (Ayers Rock)

The next stop on the agenda was Uluru, also known as Ayers’ Rock. Much like Melbourne, Ayers rock was the home of an aboriginal tribe, the Anangu, who have lived there for over 10,000 years. During the late 19^th century, however, as white people moved in and established police patrols, many Anangu fled out of fear. However, in 1920, part of the Uluṟu–Kata Tjuṯa National Park was declared an Aboriginal Reserve (a sanctuary for the aboriginals). Then, in 1985, the Australian government returned ownership of Uluru to the Anangu, under the stipulation that the land would be leased out to the National Parks and Wildlife agency for a period of 99 years and that it be jointly managed by both the National Parks and Wildlife Agency, and by the Anangu. This has led to most of the current Ananga moving back to their ancestral home.

The Ananga prefer to enjoy nature, rather than photograph it. There are many “holy areas” were they ask tourists not to take photographs. When a tribal member of the Ananga dies, photographs at the park of them are covered up. Also, the Ananga ask for tourists to refrain from climbing onto the Red Rock (this has recently become illegal, though climbing was allowed until just a couple of years ago).

The Ananga have many stories on how nature and physical landmarks have come to be. A couple of my favorites: “Uluru was built up during the creation period by two boys who played in the mud after rain. When they had finished their game, they travelled south to Wiputa ... Fighting together, the two boys made their way to the table topped Mount Conner, on top of which their bodies are preserved as boulders.” Another good one: “Kuniya, the female python, lived in the rocks at Uluru where she fought the Liru, the male poisonous snake (there is a snake-like line on the Kuniya mountaintop). It is said that taking a rock from Ayers Rock home as a souvenir brings bad luck, so don’t do it!

As Uluru itself, it is VERY hot there, like over 90 degrees. It is fun to walk around in the heat though, observing the sites. The sunrise and sunset gleam off the Red rock, making it look purple, a beautiful site to behold. Also, the Ananga have a nightly lights display, where tourists can walk around and enjoy various changing light patterns of lights (bulbs are planted all over a field). Just one word of caution though: watch out for the wildlife, especially the “Kalaya” (Emu), “Liru” (poisonous snake), “Lungkata” (blue-tongued lizard), “Luunpa” (kingfisher) and “Tjintir-tjintirpa” (willie wagtail).

Canberra

Canberra, up in the mountains, is Australia’s version of the Poor Man’s Washington DC. There are a bunch of agencies and the Parliamentary building, which is so much smaller than Congress. The funniest, and probably insulting building is the “Aboriginal Embassy”. Google image it (or look at my Facebook photos). It looks more like a restroom than an embassy; an oversized porter pottie! Running through downtown Canberra is the artificially-made lagoon. Most of the sites can be accessed by simply walking around the lagoon (couple of hours). Trophy wives park their cars near downtown and walk their dogs or exercise in their yoga pants around the lagoon, while their husbands play politics during their day jobs. The coolest monuments there are the tributes to the military, especially the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is both a series of outdoor monuments and a museum inside of a beautiful building. However, other than that, there is not much to do or see in Canberra, few museums, and the city itself is underwhelming.

Sydney

I spent the most days at Sydney, 5 days, because I have relatives living there. First discovered by the English in the late 1700s, convicts were exiled here. Violent confrontations occurred between the new settlers and the aboriginals at first, until half of the population was killed by smallpox, and their rebellion put down. With more peaceful times established, Governor Lachlan Macquarie initiated various infrastructure projects, having convicts build roads, bridges, roads, etc. Later, gold was discovered in Sydney, bringing more explorers into the city. Today, Sydney is Australia’s most populous city, with a population of just over 5 million. It’s always interesting to know how much of Sydney’s current population is descendant from British convicts!

Sydney has turned out to be one of my favorite cities. The city sites are just lovely. Everyone knows about the Sydney Opera House, which has an attractive and unique exterior architectural design (the inside of it is not as interesting). I participated in the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb, where I got to climb on the the arches of the bridge, and even have lunch at the very top. It certainly counts as my “do one thing a year that scares you” activity!  What I liked the most about Sydney though, was the waterfront. So many boats, and unique birds, on beautiful warm days. Darling Harbour and the Fish Market are relaxing to hang out at and to walk around the city. The Barracks Museum and the Australian Museum do a fantastic job of explaining Sydney’s history, which, after aboriginals, began with exiled English prisoners moving onto a new life in Sydney. The coolest story was of Mary Smith, a convict’s girlfriend, who after her hubby committed a crime and was sentenced to death, later had his punishment commuted to life in Australia….so she committed the SAME crime, to get the same punishment, and be sent to Sydney, to be with her man (this commitment to love should be added into all marriage vows).

An hour outside of Sydney is the Blue Mountains National Park. When you look at the mountains from the right angle, they literally look as if they have turned blue. The trails showcase natural tree limbs that are as powerful as ropes; once such branch, which can be touched, can even support the weight of a car. There are lifts and trains that take passengers throughout the hills, providing stunning view, including form the bottom, via glass floors. It iss a very unique park, with features (i.e. natural branch ropes, blue-looking mountains), that I do not believe can be found in the United States!

Of course, Sydney could never be complete without its stunning beaches. My favorite was Bondi Beach. Its beachside resorts are all colorful, like the houses in South American countries (such as Puerto Rico and Columbia). Outside the beaches, there are various clubs, including surfing clubs, 2 KM ocean swim training, and VIP exclusive clubs with dinners for $500+. The water itself is rough, but still suitable for swimming, if you like waves, know what you are doing, and understand how to get out of a strong current. Across form the beach, there is a spot that is made into skating rink in July only. Every July, one can literally ice skate, and then go swimming (or vice-versa); how cool is that?

Conclusion:

My trip to Sydney was exactly what I needed. It was the perfect combination of exploring natural wonders, interacting with unique wildlife, lounging on beaches, enjoying fast driving, and exploring city life. I had the opportunity to hang out with friends, while making new ones, and catch up with relatives, while of course, cheating the Boston winter for 2 weeks. It was exciting to explore the many sites and sounds of this a newish modern country with varied wildlife and diverse people, yet whose first aboriginal inhabitants have lived there even longer than native Americans in the United states. I’ll be back, for sure, during another one of Boston’s winters, of course! 

The Latest Attack on our Immigrants is a “RAISE” to the Bottom

To make my point on how the RAISE Act hurts every American, let me first tell you a personal anecdote.

On a warm summer morning in early June, 22 years ago, my parents and my father’s parents packed their suitcases, kissed their family, friends, and neighbors goodbye, and hopped aboard a plane leaving from Kiev, Ukraine, for a new life in the United States. They wanted the chance to be judged for their character and their skills, rather than for their religion. Most of all, they wanted the opportunity to provide their child, me, with a better life. We were able to immigrate to this nation due to a relative living in New York City, as refugees. For over 2 decades, I have watched as my parents made a new, modestly successful life for themselves.

When my parents arrived to this country, they did not know a word of English, nor had money. We relied on the generosity and kindness of the local Jewish community, as well as the American and MA government, to survive. Meanwhile, both my father and my mother began attending community college, to learn English and to improve their skills for landing the right job. My mom, who was already a computer programmer, found a job with State Street, where she is still employed to this day. My dad, a nurse, began caring for those who most need support and care, our elderly. Before my parents could become successful in their careers, they first had to spend money to acquire the required skills and pass the necessary exams, not to mention invest a significant amount of time, before investing even more time in their jobs.

While my parents worked their butts off to climb up the social ladder, my grandparents took care of me. My father’s parents immigrated at the same time as us, and my mother’s grandparents joined us a year later. While my parents worked long hours, proving themselves as capable employees and overcoming corporate abuses meted out to newly hired immigrants, with few cards to play, it was my grandparents, who cared for me after school, and during summer and other vacations. They helped me with homework, took me to clubs and for playdates, and vacationed with me at the Cape. Along with my parents, my grandparents taught me morals and respect for all people, regardless of background or economic status, and to always help those in need, as they themselves were helped. They educated me on history, on current events, and on our fortune of living in the United States.

But who cared for my grandparents? The United States, by allowing them to immigrate here and setting them up with Medicare and Social Security payments. Massachusetts, which provided subsidized housing, and helped fund a care center for the elderly, free of charge. The city of Boston, which under the leadership of the late Tom Menino, checked in on the elderly, including my grandparents, ensuring adequate heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer, with Mayor Menino meeting with my grandparents personally to hear out their concerns.

In return for helping my parents get the tools required to become successful, and continuing to take care of my grandparents, the United States got a hardworking family, who has achieved much of the American dream. My parents owe 2 houses and a car. They travel, both domestically, and abroad. They donate money to causes. They have paid hundreds of thousands in taxes over these past 20+ years. Spending money from their pockets is invested into local businesses, supporting thousands of local and national businesses and millions of jobs.

Allowing my grandparents to move to the United States, and being cared for by the American government, has allowed me to become the man I am today. Rather than becoming bankrupt on paying for 4 elderly peoples’ housing conditions and medical needs, my parents instead invested in my education, purchasing first an apartment, and then a condo, in a city with one of the best public educational systems in Brookline. I was privileged go to a private math school, hire an English tutor for the SATS, and attend chess, soccer, basketball, dance, journalism, and numerous clubs. My parents were able to save up enough money for me to attend Boston University, one of the best, but also most expensive, universities in the nation. Investment in my education has allowed me to get an awesome job, making almost 6 figures, but more importantly ,helping people and businesses access the tools required to operate. Now, I, like my parents, pay thousands in taxes, have a car, and donate money to causes.

This personal tale is not to brag about my family’s successes. It is to illustrate that under current American leadership, our story could have never happened. Not if the RAISE Act, the latest vicious attack on immigrants by the heartless and cruel penmanship of Senators Tom Cotton, of Oklahoma, and David Perdue, of Georgia, and endorsed by the imposter masquerading as President of the United States, becomes law.

The RAISE Act would stop immigrants from sponsoring their “parents, adult children or siblings” from immigrating, depriving these people of the opportunity to spend time with their own families. It would eliminate the lottery system necessary to produce a diverse population, instead preferring those with “language skills, for holding advanced degrees” Unsurprisingly, the RAISE Act would halve annual immigration, from 1 million, to 500,000.

This act represents everything that the United States stands against. This is a country where immigrants, from all over the world, come to seek a better life, without forfeiting never seeing their parents and siblings, nor the opportunity for children to bond with their cousins and grandparents. This nation is famous for “pulling yourself up by the bootstraps through hard work, determination, and risk-taking, possession of English and advanced degrees, or not. Every immigrant dreams of building a better life for his or her kid, a wish that requires adequate resources, investments, and help from extended family. The RAISE Act splits up families, punishes children from knowing their own families and deprives immigrants of time, money, and resources to properly invest in the well-being of their offspring.

Under the RAISE Act, my family would never be in the United States today. My relative in New York would not be able to bring us along. Even if my parents and I somehow made it here, without my grandparents in the United States, my parents would have to sacrifice their own skills, education, and career growth, to care for me properly. And if somehow, magically, my grandparents did make it to the United States, without the availability of government-sponsored programs, my parents would have been bankrupted by enormous housing and healthcare expenses, as well as time to care for my elderly grandparents. I would have never received the necessary education, and been deprived of the diverse the teachers, professors, and friends who have been so instrumental in preparing me for success in my career.

Now, take me, and multiply me by the 500,000 new immigrants. That’s 500,000 people, each year, who do not become successful like my parents and me. Billions in tax revenue lost. Billions in spending taken away from businesses, removing the demand for millions of jobs. Is this how we want to treat our newest immigrants? Cut off the opportunity to invest in themselves, before they even had a chance? Tear them away from their families? Deprive their offspring of the education required in creating the next great innovation, of becoming the next Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, or Sergei Brynn?

The United States of America has taken good care of my family, and in return, is awarded with productive and patriotic citizens. Now, it is time for me to speak out, so the next family of immigrants is not deprived of the very same opportunities I enjoyed, and continue to take advantage of, today. I ask my fellow Americans to write to their Congressmen to do the right thing and vote against the RAISE Act. The United States of America is built on the backs of immigrants, and family is the glue that keeps us competent, productive, and happy. Let’s all tell our leadership, especially the hypocrite who owes his fortune from his parents’ investments in him, lives with foreign wives, and spends plentiful time with his own numerous children, HELL NO! Let’s’ all raise our voices to put down the RAISE ACT, an attack on the potential and successes of immigrants, and by extension, the future of very country, once and for all!