You know you are in Australia when...

While waiting to pick my mum up from work I decided I would have some good old Aussie fish and chips from the main street in Shellharbour Village. I was quickly reminded how long I'd been out of Australia when theman behind the counter asked,
Would you like plain salt or chicken salt?
Wow! I had forgotten all about that yellow chicken salt!
I sat in the car, watching the waves, and enjoying my calamari, fish, and chips with chicken salt. Oh, I also added a bottle of creaming soda to my meal for good measure.

Some others...

Heaps.
Everyone says heaps, heaps of times.

Thongs.
In every colour, in every shoe store. I got some in Target for $3!

Very pretty dresses.
Worn with rubber thongs.

Flat Whites.
The only country in the world to serve this type of coffee.

Sour cream and sweet chilli sauce.
On potato wedges. Yum.

Sweaty heat.
Walking in the hot sun for 5 minutes does it. I must say, I really prefer the non-humid Moroccan sun.

Ta.
Thanks from a little person.

Disrespectful tourists and the Waterman

Jeff and I sat at our favourite cheap eat in the Jmaa El Fna (main square in the medina), watching the tourists and locals walk and ride by. I love to sit there and people watch from the table with the unobstructed street view of the square, but which also says ‘don’t approach me’. I love to watch the veiled women hold their photo albums of hennaed hands to the western women as they walk by, to see the well dressed young men unsuccessfully selling balloons, wooden snakes, watches, glasses and recycled cola bottles filled with Argan oil.

On one particular day a colourful Berber Waterman caught my eye. He was being swallowed by his outfit of mammoth red and green hat and faded red tunic. His weathered skin and dark moustache made him look very grandfatherly. He was trying to talk to the tourists who walked by, camera in hands. No one wanted any water. No one wanted a chat. So I was feeling sorry for the Waterman, thinking I would soon go over for a glass of water. Then two blonde women approached him, lifted their cameras, and took a portrait shot. He held out his hand for some obligatory coins and the women rudely shook their heads, ignored him and walked away. Not a smile, no permission asked for the photo, no courtesy.

So I went and asked the Waterman for a photograph. He smiled politely showing his browned and missing teeth. He lifted his tongue and made that high pitched ‘lalalalala’ noise and Jeff snapped away. He was also very grateful for the coins that landed in his hand.

Chilly in Marrakech

So my Australian blood must be resurfacing, as I am finding the recent Moroccan weather quite... cold. After coming back from a recent trip to lovely London, I am feeling the chill more than ever. Although I have a fabulous new travel mug, purchased from my favourite 'Lilly Whites in Piccadilly Circus', which takes the chill off the morning bus rides to school, it is not enough.
I do not want to be like one of the locals, who I admit to laughing at, wearing winter gloves, faux fur coat and a beanie. No, I refuse to look that ridiculous when it is really 20 C out. So I guess I will remember what winter cold was like in Canada and suck it up.
I am going to get my summer fix soon enough. 10 days in Australia. Then hopefully upon my return, I will bring the summer sun with me, so along with everyone else, I can complain about the stifling heat instead.