The Things You'd Be Celebrating When You Travel Australia

It's not a secret anymore that Australia is a hodgepodge of countries and culture. Blame it on the inviting and alluring appeal of the Land Down Under, or blame it even on the very democratic Australian visa system. Whatever it is, Australia enjoys a rich tapestry of culture and breathtaking kaleidoscope of people from all walks of life. Australia is indeed a sweet melting pot, and this is especially evident during festivals and holidays. In fact, even if you travel Australia entirely, you'd be surprised that a year isn't enough for you to participate in everything. In Australia, the whole year round is peppered with colorful festivals and frenzied celebrations that each country has brought along with them.

The Chinese New Year, for one, is a fiery explosion of bursting dragons and dancing fireworks, whereas Laotian Buddhists celebrate amidst a shower of flowers and restless gongs. Even the Greeks and the Brits have their own awesome festivals to share, and for that matter, every other nation that travel Australia and settle there makes Australia one bit more colorful than it already is with their smörgåsbord festivities.

Of course, Australia too has its own distinct gamut of festivals, from the artistic (like the Adelaide Festival of Arts or the Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures), to something as petty as brick-throwing contests, which just goes to show that Aussies are the most fun-loving, outdoorsy people there ever was. For the Australian flavor of the Mardi Gras, there's even Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras every February, flocked by tourist from all over the world.

Even when the calendar isn't busy and bustling with festivals and parties, you'll find out soon enough that to travel Australia is to lose track of time and to plunge into the world.

The Top Eight Must-Buys When You Travel Australia

When you travel Australia, you will definitely want to take a piece of it with you. Not just by way of photographs or video footage, but by buying some of the best souvenirs that will remind you of the Land Down Under back home. It's time we deviated though from the usual kangaroo-printed T-shirts, and bought something more rooted to the great Aussie spirit and culture.

Then you can say you didn't just travel Australia, but really embedded yourself in it.

Wines. Blame it on the great climate, the rich generous soil, the amazing grape varieties, and the discriminating and relentless expertise of Aussie winemakers. Indeed, Australia is now considered the New World in producing wines. Olive Grove Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir; the list goes on, each one of them exquisitely flavored for every unique situation. Australia may be largely a beer-drinking nation, but its wondrous wines are taking centerstage too.

Didgeridoos. The didgeridoo is a musical instrument of the Aboriginal peoples, consisting of a long hollow branch or stick that makes a deep drone when blown. The stick is made out of a log hollowed out by termites, cleaned, and then covered with beeswax or resin for the mouthpiece. The Aborigines used didgeridoos both for recreational and ceremonial purposes, often accompanied by a pair of clapsticks that establish a precise beat for the songs. The didgeridoo is indeed sound of the earth.

Moleskins. Your Outback safari apparel wouldn't be complete without a moleskin clothing. Moleskins are densely-woven 100% cotton cloth with a soft, velvety feel like that of a mole. Whereas before, moleskins were mostly worn by stockmen, shearers, and graziers, now suburban people have also embraced the warm cozy garments.

Merino wool. Australia's 101 million merino sheep yields the longest wool fibres in the world. The lusciousness of Merino wool is transformed into the most gorgeous of clothings including hand-knitted sweaters and jackets as well as beautiful soft blankets and bedding. When buying, always look for the Pure New Wool label to guarantee quality.

Akubra hats. When you're in sunnny Australia, it makes sense to arm yourself with sunscreen and one of these wide-brimmed rabbit fur felt hats called the Akubra. Akubra hats have been around since 1870's, and have become an inseparable apparel for the Outback. In fact, in Aussie culture, when you mean “hat”, it's almost always an akubra. Ask Indiana Jones.

Boomerangs. Another great legacy of the Aborigines dating some 10,000 years ago, the boomerang is a wooden implement used a weapon, for hunting, digging, music-making and ceremonial purposes. The most popular boomerang is the returning kind which if thrown properly, travels a curved path and returns to its point of origin. Great care is taken to select the branch or tree root to achieve the correct angle and grain for boomerangs. They are often finely engraved or painted with artwork.

RM Williams. When it comes to durability married with classic style, nothing beats RM Williams. Indeed, Reginald Murray Williams is the bush outfitter, with his premium range of leather boots and shoes, workclothes, moleskin clothing, belts, saddles, and many others. Every RM Williams product is invested with sense and strength, two essential virtues needed in the Outback, which inevitably have become fashionable among city-dwellers as well.

The Driza-Bone. Just like the Akubra hat, the Driza-Bone is inseparable in Australian history. The driza-bone is a raincoat made of waterproof oilskins, natural oil and cotton fibres that keeps its wearer “dry as a bone”. The Driza-Bone is usually knee or ankle length, and designed to keep a rider and saddle dry during long cattle musters in the bush. Driza-Bones are your best mates during the toughest of rainfalls in Australia.

Don't just travel Australia. Rather, explore, plunge, get involved. Then take its whole down-underness with you back home.

Travel Australia Now!

Now, more than ever, is the perfect time to travel Australia and plunge into the the loveliest melting pot of all. Australia is home to most vibrant cities in the world, promising equal opportunities to everyone.