Put another shrimp on the barbie?

Australia is an awesome place. While it is a huge place, and many (including myself) don’t see a ton of it, what locals and travelers alike get to see is pretty awesome. Australians are friendly, they are progressive and they also offer some good times and some great BBQ.

Beyond the stereotypes and what we see through media as foreigners though, Australia is a bit mysterious. From the interesting lingo to some of the bizarre natural phenomena that seem a far cry from other western nations, Australia has a lot to offer.

Like any travel destination, locals sometimes get bored of explaining themselves to visitors. With Australia being an English-speaking country, the backlash from this annoyance can have some hilarious ramifications. Being a duel-citizen between Oz and the U.S., I’ve learned to pick up on some of the fun Aussies poke at foreigners. The best and most celebrated has to be the stories that Aussies can tell to those who aren’t in the know.

In the recent week, some of the best “unbelievable facts (lies),” I’ve heard from Aussies go as follows:

1) Kangaroos have become a serious health concern, with them starting to work in groups and literally rape and pillage smaller villages. Western Australia has entered a state of emergency.

2) Kuala Bears are in fact high every day (eucalyptus jacks them up!) and the notion of a cranky Kuala can be true if you try and stop them from getting their fix.

3) Platypus are the most dangerous animals on the Australian continent.

4) Kangaroo taxi services actually exists. Those pouches are warm! 

While this does seem far-fetched, with Kangaroo boxing having actually been a real thing in the not-too-distant past, sometimes you do have to stop and ponder about what Australians tell you. Enjoy your time traveling down under, and if you don’t want to be had, make sure you do your research!

Photo courtesy of Steam Community