G' DAY MATE!!!

On July 10, 2007, I landed in Sydney Airport and cleared my way through Immigration to start writing a new and exciting chapter of my life: The Great Aussie Experience.
Living abroad can be quite interesting and entertaining, but most people never take the time to actually write down their impressions and record their memories for posterity.
"The Aussie Explorer", an on-going written account based on all my aussie experiences so far, came to life 7 months later on February 17th, 2008. Its mission: invite you to come along and feel part of the thrills and chills in the Land of Down Under!
It's a vivid journal depicting all the excitement and bliss encountered by a "young adventurer" as he unveils the myths and mysteries of this fascinating land.
Road-trips, night-outs, sight-seeing... That's just part of what you'll catch here.
So, grab a cold one and enjoy!

Cheers, Mate!
Fernando de Mello Pimentel (Editor, The Aussie Explorer)

KILOMETERS TRAVELLED IN AUSTRALIAN ROADS (SO FAR):

  • 5.600 KM

ROAD TRIPS:

  • GREAT OCEAN ROAD - DECEMBER '07
  • PHILLIP ISLAND - DECEMBER '07
  • SYDNEY TO BRISBANE - JANUARY '08
  • BRISBANE TO NIMBIN - JANUARY '08
  • MELBOURNE TO CANBERRA - JANUARY '08
  • CANBERRA TO SYDNEY - JANUARY '08

DID YOU KNOW???

  • That for the first time in its history, the 2008 Edition of The Australian Open held competitions on blue courts, substituting the legendary green.

Saturday, 8 March 2008

KANGAROO WITH PLUM SAUCE RECIPE

PREPARE TO INDULGE YOURSELF WITH A DELICIOUS MARSUPIAL TREAT! IT'S AN EASY, DO-IT-YOURSELF DISH WHICH WILL LEAVE ALL OF YOUR GUESTS QUITE IMPRESSED WITH YOUR COOKING SKILLS.

BY: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

STEP 1: PREPARING THE PLUM SAUCE
Ingredients:
1 bottle of Plum Sauce (250 ml aprox.)
1 glass of red wine (Cabernet or Merlot)
1 stick of cinammon
2 to 4 clove sticks
Salt
Mix all of the above ingredients until boiling point.

STEP 2: COOKING THE KANGAROO
Ingredients:
Minced Garlic
Kangaroo Steak (Non-marinated)
Salt
Black Pepper

Prepare steaks with minced garlic, salt and black pepper. Let the meat rest as to absorb the toppings. Light Fire with medium flames. Put Kangaroo steaks on frying pan with a bit of canola oil. Fry them to the point of medium-rare (check inner part it must be red in color).

Serve Kangaroo steaks with the Plum Sauce on top. Potatoes make a good side dish.

Enjoy your meal!

All Rights Reserved - 2008 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.

Wednesday, 5 March 2008

30 YEARS OF MARDI GRAS

ON MARCH 1ST, 2008, SYDNEY CELEBRATED 30 YEARS OF MARDI GRAS WITH SHEER ENTHUSIASM, SHOWING THE WORLD THAT CHERISHING DIVERSITY IS PART OF ITS VALUES.

BY: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

Nearly 300,000 people were expected to show up at Oxford Street to celebrate the festival's 30th edition. One of the Gay & Lesbian community's biggest events in the world today, The Sydney Mardi Gras demonstrates a sincere example of harmonious coexistence of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation. Although it is an event which commemorates gay pride, myriads of straight sympathizers did attend the parade last saturday as means of supporting the gay cause or simply to have fun.

This year's edition was very unique since it recalled the festival's debut back in 1978. However special the first episode might have been for its symbolic importance for the GLS community, it was also marked by an extreme violent clash between demonstrators and the police. According to organizers, this year's Mardi Gras was all about looking back at the event's origins.

Although the festival was created with a strong political intent back in the late seventies, some members of the Sydney GLS community feel that the festival's representative voice has worn out throughout the years to become simply a massive party.

No matter what the outcome, the 3oth Anniversary of Sydney's Mardi Gras was marked by an interesting parade and a great cheering crowd!

All Rights Reserved - 2008 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.