THE HAIRY GIRAFFE… IN AUSTRALIA
After a month in Australia, it’s time to reflect. How did we experience this journey? What were our joys, disappointments, questions, doubts, and discoveries? This is not merely an assessment of a country but rather of a trip—how we perceived it individually and subjectively.
 We are François and Benjamin, Canadian and French giraffe hairstylists and travel enthusiasts. On this blog, discover our travels, tips, moods, and everything you need to become a giraffe hairstylist and embark on travelling the world. An honest blog with photos guaranteed 100% unfiltered and untouched. |
François’ Travel Reflections
This trip to Australia had been a long time coming. Four years, to be exact. We were supposed to visit the land of kangaroos in 2020, but a pandemic changed our plans. Since Australia isn’t exactly next door, it takes money and time to vacation there. A weekend trip (even a long one with public holidays) is out of the question. Even for a short stay, it’s complicated, not least because of the time difference. But that’s not the only reason.
As large as fourteen times France, the sixth-largest country in the world has a multitude of things to offer its tourists. Varied landscapes, wild and diverse wildlife, crystal-clear waters teeming with small (and large) cute (and less cute) creatures—there’s no boredom in Australia. But you need time to enjoy all of it.
We are fortunate to be on a world tour. We’re not far (we’re leaving from Bali, right next door). Time, we have. Money, we have. Admittedly, less and less, but still enough to spend a month in Australia (which is horribly more expensive than the last few destinations combined). So, it was after this reasoning that we found ourselves on a Bali-Darwin flight, ready to make Australia the twelfth destination of our world tour.
The arrival and the first days in Darwin bring me emotions I haven’t felt in a long time. From the moment we arrived at our hotel, we knew that this stay in Australia would be easy. Let’s be clear, we’ve encountered ease multiple times since our departure. The United Arab Emirates were an easy start to the trip. Taiwan was easy despite the fear of a Chinese attack. China, aside from the language barrier, was relatively easy. Japan was easy. Singapore as well. The big difference between all these destinations and Australia is easy to identify: Western culture.
When you arrive at your hotel close to midnight and the employee checking you in is also the bartender, and once she hands you your key, she tells you it’s still early and invites you to grab a beer at the bar, you immediately know the coming month is going to be easy.
I have nothing against Asian cultures. In six months, I’ve had some great times in Asia. However, after six months of travel, I admit I’ve been missing my familiar comforts. Six months spent deciphering social codes to function in society while trying to appear “normal,” as was the case in Japan, is exhausting. Six months spent having to watch my words and actions and suppress my identity, as was the case in the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, or China, is oppressive. Landing in a country where individual freedoms are recognized and freedom of expression is possible—it truly feels good.
Australia allows you to be yourself and reconnect with your familiar comforts. Well, not all of them. They drive on the left, and even after a month here, I still struggle to figure out which direction cars are coming from when I exit a parking lot… but hey, that’s a minor detail. The country allowed us to reconnect with a language we know well. We were able to listen to music we recognized and sing it at the top of our lungs on the country’s roads (at least when we could pick up radio signals).
We also indulged in Western food. You can’t imagine the joy brought by the simple act of biting into a juicy burger, eating a greasy pizza, or savoring a potato salad loaded with mayonnaise after 4 months of noodles. Whether made of rice, wheat, fried, or in soup, hot or cold—don’t get me wrong, they’re still noodles, as good as they may be. It’s amazing how a simple camembert and a bottle of wine (Australian, of course) can stimulate endorphin production and create a real sense of well-being after 6 months of forced abstinence. It feels like being reborn.
It’s hard not to feel good in Australia when you interact a bit with Australians. They are simply delightful. They are smiling and incredibly kind. They don’t flinch when you mumble in English. They greet everyone with a “G’day, mate!” exactly as if you were one of their own. We noticed the same in Sydney, even though the city is much larger and has more immigration. It feels good to see people who are lively, smiling, happy, and laughing. It’s also so much more pleasant to have genuine social interactions that don’t reek of tourist exploitation, as was the case in India or Indonesia.
Moreover, they celebrate Christmas twice a year: in December (in 30-degree heat…) and in July. How can you not love these Australians?
Australia is also perfect for those nostalgic for America. The food, the music, the architecture of a city like Sydney, and the oversized cars give the impression, at times, that you’re in an American city. Sometimes, I even felt like I was in Quebec. Not necessarily in the desert or while watching kangaroos hop, of course. This feeling was especially present when we were grocery shopping. I even rediscovered a supermarket brand well-known to Quebecers. IGA—I went there as a child with my grandmother. It was the only real supermarket near the small village where she lived. I also shopped there as an adult when I still lived in Montreal. I admit it was a total surprise to find the same brand and logo in a small, remote town in the Northern Territory.
The shopping experience in Australian supermarkets is also similar to that in Quebec. Fatty meats, refrigerated milk (not UHT), limited cheese options, and nostalgic products I love that are either rare or overpriced in France.
Few fresh products, lots of refrigerated or frozen items. There are no clothing, hardware, decor, or electronics sections like you often find in Auchan and Carrefour in France. It’s strange to say you feel good while grocery shopping. Still, I dare say it, even at the risk of sounding like a nostalgic bore. I even dare add that I could see myself shopping there every week. Just as I could see myself living, on the other side of the world, in this peaceful and serene country that seems untouched by any geopolitical or social issues.
I’m not stupid. I know full well that not everything is perfect here. Nevertheless, my Australian experience had no major issues, and from my perspective, the country has many elements that are dear to me.
Will I ever move to Australia? I have no idea. I’ll just see what the future holds for me.
Is Australia Worth Visiting?
I believe my opinion on the matter is quite clear. However, I am aware that the country is not within reach of everyone. The long flight duration, the almost complete lack of direct flights (the Paris-Perth route exists), and the inevitably high ticket prices may discourage many. On the other hand, for those who will have the chance to discover Australia, I am convinced they will have unforgettable memories.
Check out Benjamin’s Travel Reflections:
Find all our other articles on Australia:
