Certain countries just develop a reputation with the rest of the planet.
Sometimes it's earned, but sometimes it's way off base.
So what about Australia?
Are the rest of the Earth's stereotypes about the land down under fact or fiction?
Redditor Phrince_Prillip asked:
"Non-Australians, what's the first thing that comes to your head when you think of Australia?"
Mr. Dundee
"A voice in my head saying 'You call that a knoif?'"
- Flaky-Fellatio
"Love the pronunciation of the word 'Knoife'."
- Phrince_Prillip
"That's not a knoife. THIS is a knoife."
- MadnessPersonified
Giphy"I hate that my answer was kangaroos."
"I know more about Australia but f'king kangaroos pops up first."
- yankiigurl
"AUSTRALIA=KANGAROOS"
- Zgirl333
"Kangaroos, yes. But specifically that kangaroos are just buff donkeys."
- Torshii
GiphyFood?
"Answering honestly, the first word that popped into my head when I read your question was vegemite."
- ReadyTadpole1
"Now I want some Vegemite."
- Fabulous_Parking66
"Please don't make the mistake everyone makes. Remember, it's not chocolate. This has been the Australian Government Department of Vegemite Health and Safety."
"Funded by the Australian Government Canberra."
- ProbablyNotYourMum
"If you are a foreigner, the first time you eat vegemite, it should be spread so thin that it is a light brown smear. Half a pea size might be too much for one piece of bread."
"Now if you are an aussie and still do that amount, you are weird."
- Theosie
GiphyR.I.P. G.B.R.
"The Great Barrier Reef. It’s a dream of mine to see it one day."
- macaronsforeveryone
"Better book yr ticket soon…"
- BandicootPlastic5444
"I guess my dream is dead in the water, literally."
- macaronsforeveryone
"People say it's all dead but there's still an enormous amount of living reef to be seen. It's definitely worth going to."
- philjorrow
GiphySouthern Hemisphere
"Summer during end of the year, December."
- ixhejehdbejeh
"For whatever reason, we still play all the old Christmas songs. even White Christmas, when it's summer and like 40°C (104° F) outside."
- rawker86
"Christmas on the beach is sensational."
Crikey
"Steve Irwin."
- Ok-Chocolate5893
"When I was a kid it was my life goal to meet Steve Irwin, I was obsessed with the man. When he passed I was absolutely inconsolable for days."
"Also, does anyone remember the episode where he lays with his dog [Sui] before she passes? I've been trying to find the clip and was never able to."
"No idea why I want to make myself cry but it was a really touching moment."
- la-bano
"Bless that wonderful person."
"We miss him, my eyes just watered from thinking about him, he was my first ever celebrity death, and I was devastated as a young boy."
- Sir_Admiral_Chair
GiphyChomp!
"Crocodiles."
- Deana-Marie
"Ooh! Saltwater crocodiles!! I'd forgotten how big they can get."
- pennyraingoose
Giphy🎵 You better run, you better take cover...🎶
"Men at Work’s 'Down Under' automatically started playing in my head when I read the word Australia."
- Jaded195
GiphyChanged Perception
"German here, now living in Australia."
"Before: heavy drinkers, kangaroos and koalas."
"Now: Huntsman spiders, bushfires, flooding and heavy fines for everything."
- drschnaps
"Twas an early morning after a big night with my mates. Everyone was sleeping, and I got up from the couch to go to the toilet or whatever."
"I came back to witness a chunky Huntsman spider walking across the tiled floor, toward my friend's bedroom door."
"I could hear its footsteps."
‐ PHILOSOMATIQA
"The big spiders are fine, it’s the tiny ones that will kill you."
- My-Witty-Username
A lot of animals made the list, but koalas, echidna and wallabies did not.
Did anything else synonymous with Australia get forgotten?
What do you think when you hear Australia?
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Who doesn't love a good travel experience?
While difficult right now, what with the seemingly never-ending worldwide pandemic, there still lingers in many people's hearts the desire to see the world.
But where to go? Don't want to go any place too touristy, too on the grid, right? Certainly there must be some spots that you've heard of but never given a second thought to see.
Reddit user, justarndmacc, wanted to give some space to the underrated locales of the world when they asked:
"What city is massively underrated?"
Having fun is key to any bit of travel. After all, experiencing the day-to-day life of local eateries and shopping is fun, but what you really want is to see how the people live there celebrate and enjoy themselves.
Knowing How To Party
"I was not expecting Krakow to be one of the highlights on my trip to Europe" Mallonhead
"I loved Krakow! Wouldn’t have thought to go there but my friend married someone from Katowice so checked it out on the way."
"Great place and Polish people certainly know how to have a good time at a wedding"- VegetableVindaloo
Beer On The Streets? Hello!
"Savannah, Georgia."
"Absolutely stunning architecture, not overcrowded, rich history, and you can drink beer on the streets."- americanslang59
It's Australia. Everything Might Try To Get Ya.
"Underrated by other Australians, but my city of Adelaide."
"Beautiful wine regions, nice beaches, great nature walking trails in the hills and boutique eateries, great nature reserves, all within about an hour drive."
"Come during festival season and the arts scene is insane."
"Stay more than a week or so you might start to struggle, but a lovely stop on an Australian trip."
"People just focus on the murders..."- eroticdiagram
You might have heard of the city before this, but it wasn't for what people want you to know it for. There seems to be more lying under the surface than we might think when we imagine these cities.
When The Belfast Child Sings
"Belfast, Northern Ireland."
"People still think it's the 1980s with Gerry Adams, masked bandits doing street patrols, uniformed police beating up Catholics, murals everywhere and a car bomb parked on every street corner."
"That is basically all gone now, apart from the usual marching season and a few dodgy suburbs you'd best keep away from."
"Most normal people aren't that bothered and the city centre is really good."
"Seriously good friendly people, clean and beautiful city, great vibe, stellar entertainment and nightlife, awash with culture and history. Houses and property are also dirt cheap."- _spookyvision_
Can't Beat History
"Plovdiv, Bulgaria"
"Not a small city, actually a big one, but it has so much in it and also it has 8000years old history"- ShortResearcher4173
"I LOVED Plovdiv."
"Very beautiful city center, seems to have a rich artist and cafe culture."
"Food was also A++"- halbesbrot
Catch All The Sports
"Madison, Wisconsin."
"I was only there for a day but everyone was super nice, the city was incredibly clean, there was plenty to do, and the scenery was amazing."- gil_beard
"Wisconsin is super underrated as a state; and Madison is the best the state has to offer."
"Madison has so much more than college sports, but either way I'd like to add: "
"That place is something else during game day."
"From Women's volleyball to football."
"Sure it's not Alabama or Duke, but we have relevant sports on both men and women's side all year round."- TimmyRL28
Come In For A Good Drink
"Da Nang."
"It’s changed a lot from what it looks like in all those Vietnam War movies"- throwaway4127620
"
Hello from Paddys Irish Pub in Da Nang as I write this"
"I lived in and visited many many cities and this place is by far the most liveable place I've been to."- its-not-me_its-you_
Sometimes a country is lucky enough to have more than one city worth visiting. Would such a country exist?
A Dream Country
"Kanazawa, Japan."
"It has the charms of Kyoto without the overcrowdedness that Kyoto suffers from during peak tourist seasons."- PumpkinSpiceBiscotti
"Japan is cheating."
"Japan has so many cities outside of the usual (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto) that are skipped by tourists but are fantastic."
"Nara, Hiroshima, Nagasaki/Kagoshima, Kobe, Nikko, Kamakura are all worth a visit if you’re willing to spend a few weeks in Japan."- ExoticCommunication
"Asahikawa, Japan. Has a much less crowded snow festival than Sapporo and the snow is so beautiful. Plus, a really cool zoo."- semispooked
The Unofficial 6th Borough
"Jersey City."
"Everyone whines about how expensive NYC is when all they have to do is look across the river."
"Lots of new, big, spacious apartments, and if you live next to the local PATH station, easy access to NYC."
"It’s just so nice to be able to enjoy all if the things in NYC without actually being there."
"A few new parks, and easy access to I-95 and I-80, among others."- Academic_Olive8675
It's Gorges...
"Ithaca NY has my heart."- pumpkin_pasties
The Home of Prosciutto
"Parma, Italy."
"It's the perfect mix between big noisy city and little cute Italian town."-
Brotherly Love... and Cheesesteak!
"Philly."
"I mean yeah it sounds like a perpetual cod lobby but at least you get some Philly cheesesteaks."- MrBoots47
Small, But Full Of Life!
"Ljubljana, Slovenia."
"Slovenia as a country is incredibly underrated."
"Their coastline, only 11 miles long, but a couple of beautiful towns, the capital, their alps, the wine country."
"Stunning country. Incredible food. Incredible people."
"Can't wait to go back."- Bobgoulet
A City Of Many Names
"Saint Petersburg, Russia."
"Beautiful city, friendly locals, not so many tourists except at landmarks."- dushi7
Cleveland Rocks!
"I am not sure many people will agree."
"It I moved to Cleveland for health care and it’s just a nice place to be the people are nice, it’s affordable and I am happy to be here."- SnooRecipes5028
So Much More Than The Motor City
"Detroit has some incredible architecture, amazing public art and museums and yes, even a monorail."
"Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac built Fort Ponchartrain du Détroit in 1701, giving the (now downtown) area a distinctly European feel."- HolsKitchen
Vegas East?
"Gatlinburg, Tennessee."
"Think of it as Las Vegas on weed."- Leviticus99
Beautiful Inside And Out
"Brasov, Romania."
"Went there so often but the time I visited the centre during summer, ah it was absolutely gorgeous! "
"People were dancing and signing together right in the middle of everything."
"It was such a beautiful sight, many others joined!"
"Also absolutely gorgeous architecture!"
"And not to mention how beautiful it is during winter, one of the most popular skiing destinations of the country."
"Miss it incredibly."- kalosity
Wherever you do get to travel, make sure you take in as much as you can.
Barring world events shaping our daily lives, you might not get another chance for a long while.
Transgender Man's Emotional Reaction After Seeing His Chest For The First Time Following Top Surgery Has The Internet Cheering
A transgender man from Australia shared a huge catharsis with the internet following his top surgery.
Sol (@capritran) shared a video of himself immediately post-surgery when he saw his chest for the first time.
"Been waiting for this for a long time?" asks the nurse, as sol gets visibly emotional about the completion of his top surgery.
"I'd like to share my very personal chest reveal moment with the world, to hopefully show that despite the endless negative experiences we trans people have, we also get to experience some of the best feelings in the world. use this video to manifest your own future if you need to."
The biggest thing people took away from this video?
The trans struggle for gender confirmation and the emotions surrounding it are real.
@capritran So happy for you!!! I’ve officially scheduled my surgery for April of this year and I’m still in disbeli… https://t.co/3cT9xYfFy6— Owen Shepard (@Owen Shepard) 1581966344
@capritran I’ve been feeling this way a lot - deep down I know I’m not a girl, but I don’t want to admit it just ye… https://t.co/XDjJgqnYcs— Anna • アンナ (@Anna • アンナ) 1582007000
@capritran I can't imagine how awful it is to see your own body & know it doesn't reflect your identity and the ide… https://t.co/3CJVRMuJNh— beegsf🌊🌊🌊 (@beegsf🌊🌊🌊) 1582133179
@capritran @DamianAsia I didn't draw the scars right, I think, but... thank you for sharing this. I hope I'm there… https://t.co/3vCMyhkLMb— 🏳️⚧️Cake🍰 (@🏳️⚧️Cake🍰) 1582011358
@capritran I don’t know you and I’ve got a LONG way to go before I understand how to be a proper ally but this vide… https://t.co/UVgQMgxRA8— Katie Tunn 🇺🇦 (@Katie Tunn 🇺🇦) 1581974643
Despite the fact that transphobia around the world has skyrocketed, plenty of folks were very supportive.
@capritran @Nefermira This is why I support. You can see the relief in your face. How dare somebody even judge peop… https://t.co/Tc7Djcii8Z— Curry Goat (@Curry Goat) 1581982651
@capritran Thank you so much for sharing this.— Dara Does Deep State (@Dara Does Deep State) 1582123308
@capritran I love seeing these videos. They are so revealing of the actual joy and emotions of my trans sibs. Well… https://t.co/jAsoQ1QQnx— Charlie (@Charlie) 1581960279
The HRC reports that violence against trans people is going strong this year, with a death already reported in 2020, and 26 deaths due to transphobic violence in 2019.
While the numbers sound small, with the tiny size of the openly transgender community, the percentage of deaths makes trans people one of the groups most targeted for murder.
@capritran I’m so happy for you 💙— Ida Skibenes (@Ida Skibenes) 1582024442
@capritran Oh goodness. The visible *Relief* when you look. I'm so, so happy for you!— Perrin Caristi (@Perrin Caristi) 1581960301
@capritran Please, how do you share this to Facebook? Would like to show my son— ankicat (@ankicat) 1581974879
@capritran This is the Type of energy we need in 2020, love that for you!!— tosh 🔜 AC(?) (@tosh 🔜 AC(?)) 1581963993
@capritran This 65-year-old grandma is very happy for you. I am sending you my strength to heal quickly and very be… https://t.co/EhHo1YDH69— Build Back Better (@Build Back Better) 1582034648
Let's hope the 2020s are the years of the trans community quickly becoming more accepted.
Australia Asked Gay Asylum Seekers If They Could Just Pretend To Be Straight And Go Back To Their Home Countries
Many people across the globe are forced to seek asylum in far away places for fear that their sexual orientation or gender identity will lead to persecution, prosecution and even death in their home countries.
That risk must generally be proven when requesting asylum.
Spoiler: there's a right way and a wrong way to ask for proof.
Buzzfeed News recently acquired internal documents from Australia's Department of Home Affairs through a Freedom of Information request.
The documents, at their worst, note that some Australian immigration officers asked if asylum seekers could successfully return to their home countries, pretend to be straight, and so avoid persecution.
@HannahD15 WTAF. Just checked my watch, yes it is Jan 2020.— 🌻The Hon. Prole Hammyhamster (@🌻The Hon. Prole Hammyhamster) 1580178730
In 2018, the Department of Home Affairs conducted an internal review of immigration officer performance during the interview stage of an asylum seeker's journey through Australia's immigration apparatus.
A total of 21 interviews occurring between November 2016 and August 2017 were randomly chosen and reviewed.
To humanize and contextualize this, consider that these interviews are the moment when a non-straight and/or non-cisgender person arrives to prove their case. If the interview goes well, the person will be able to remain in Australia, safe to inhabit their identity without fear of violence anymore.
The burden of proof becomes significant in a moment like that.
Does this person need to show that they'd be persecuted at home if they openly expressed their orientation and/or gender, or that they'd be persecuted even if they kept their orientation or identity hidden?
Australia answered this question nearly two decades ago, in a 2003 ruling by its highest court.
At that time, the court heard a claim brought by two gay men seeking asylum in Australia despite remaining in the closet back in Bangladesh. The court ruled that asylum claims based on sexuality must be considered even if it's possible to hide that sexuality in the country of origin.
Officers must, according to that ruling, consider only what would happen if an asylum seeker were openly gay or openly non-cisgender at home.
A decade's passing apparently made that distinction fuzzy.
Four of those randomly chosen 21 interviews include immigration officers asking an asylum seeker if they could keep their sexuality discreet at home and not face persecution.
@avatarOfTruth @HannahD15 @BuzzFeedNews That being “discreet” is no guarantee of safety? People beat and kill other… https://t.co/XGersyNoqQ— Rod 🇺🇦 (@Rod 🇺🇦) 1580179234
In two other interviews, asylum seekers were in a heterosexual marriage. Immigration officers cited this and called their homosexual orientation claim into question, effectively a "straight until proven gay" approach.
Both those asylum claims were rejected.
@HannahD15 Well, now hang on, maybe they also asked political dissidents if they could be, you know, “less dissident”— Nathan L (@Nathan L) 1580179618
One interview asked the person, "Why do you think you are gay" displaying a clear misunderstanding of how sexuality works.
Ghassan Kassisieh is the legal director for Equality Australia, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to "promoting and protecting LGBTQIA+ rights."
He spoke with Buzzfeed News about the negligent disregard of Australian government policies by the immigration officials.
"Seventeen years after the High Court ruled that applicants must not be expected to remain discreet about their sexuality in order to avoid persecution, 4 out of 21 interviewers seem to have continued down this problematic line of questioning."
"Worse still, applicants who say they remain heterosexually married to avoid bringing shame on themselves and their families, are simply not believed to be gay."
In its conclusions, the official government review acknowledged concerns and dedicated itself to improvement.
"Assessment of LGBTI claims can be difficult, as the evidence is usually limited to the applicant's personal account."
"It is important that the questions asked during the interview assess the credibility of the LGBTI claims, but are also sensitive and not overly intrusive."
The Department of Home Affairs did provide new instructions to immigration officers to ensure interviews were conducted more sensitively.
Kassisieh's response to those changes was positive, but cautious.
"Guidelines are only good if people follow them."
"While the department must be commended for its guidelines, training and quality assurance processes, the results of its audit show that more needs to be done to ensure every applicant is given a fair hearing no matter who is making the decision."
Dad Shares Powerful Image Of His Heartbroken Young Son Cradling A Wallaby Killed By The Australian Bushfires In His Arms
Thanks to donations and volunteer work, organizations have been able to rescue and begin rehabilitating countless animals from the deadly bushfires in Australia.
Yet the billions of animals that died and those still dying looms over every happy story of animals being saved.
Amidst the countless videos of injured and burned animals that have been posted during the fires, one heartbreaking photo that a father posted of his son has gone viral.
Australian wildlife expert Tim Faulkner, famed for hosting Australian TV ABC's Outback Adventures shared a heartbreaking encounter that he and his family experienced in the wake of the fires. According to Yahoo News Australia, the Faulkner family found what appeared to be a recently deceased wallaby while on a trip to Barrington Tops in New South Wales.
The family began to cry when Faulkner's 7-year-old son, Matthew, decided that he wanted to hold the animal to "look after it", Faulkner explained. Faulkner captured the moment and then posted the sad photo along with others on Facebook.
He captioned the powerful photo:
"Everything is dying…"
"I went out to provide food drops and check our cameras for the endangered Brush-tailed rock-wallaby, I ended up feeling like I was showing my little boy his future."
"He cradled the dead wallaby, found near a muddy puddle of water. The smoke plumes lifting from the wild fire in the backdrop and he said, 'They're all dying aren't they Dad?' I told him it was his job to save the world, it was the best I could do. He accepted."
"If this photo doesn't speak a thousand words I don't know what else will."
"Almost all wild Brush-tailed rock-wallaby habitat has burnt or is at imminent risk. They are starving, dehydrated, exposed to predators, and dying."
The Faulkner family captured photos of wallabies eating the food they put out for them.
Tim Faulkner/Facebook
Faulkner continued in his Facebook post:
"A second wallaby was found on the road after it had been forced to the roads fleeing fires."
Tim Faulkner/Facebook
He concluded by saying:
"I'm so proud of my amazing family for dropping everything to help where we can, they are my heroes."
Tim Faulkner/Facebook
He also urged people who were touched by the image to donate to Aussie Ark.
"Support our cause, donate to Aussie Ark."
Founded in 2011, Aussie Ark is a non-profit organization that focuses on native Australian wildlife conservation. According to their website, their flora and fauna rich sanctuaries house 50 species of mammals, 42 species of reptiles, 18 species of frog, and 278 species of birds.
By providing protected habitats to vulnerable species, they have had great success in raising populations of animals and reintroducing them back into the wild.
You can donate to Aussie Ark here.
People expressed their grief for the animals that have been killed.
Kerrie Jones/Facebook
Vikki Coates/Facebook
Donna Yetman DeJardine/Facebook
Janet Hill/Facebook
Though the situation is dire, people were able to express hope for the future.
Rosario Ayela Gadea/Facebook
Glenda Porta/Facebook
KT Mitchell
Mary Gorgens/Facebook
Faulkner also managed to show the bright side of their conservation efforts.
Despite the tragic circumstances, the family successfully fed and observed wallabies that are still living in the area.