There is an ongoing debate amongst Sydneysiders and Melbourians. May I say that I have a completely subjective view, since none of these cities meant anything to me until recently. We first visited Melbourne on our first trip to oz, about 5 years ago. I remember feeling that the people were really friendly. Subsequently moved to Newcastle, 1,5hrs from Sydney. We spend a lot of time in Sydney, since it's near to us and Newcastle is pretty boring. 

Recently, I had an exhibition in Melbourne again and managed to be there for longer. I feel that I have the right to have an opinion about these 2 great cities now. Here is my opinion;

Sydney is a more beautiful city. I recon its the fact that it's quite hilly that helps. It's perhaps a bit more lush. NSW is overall a bit warmer than Vic, so that may be the reason for that. Melbourne CBD, road systems and general layout makes much more sense than Sydney. Sydney seems to have happened as independent little villages (hence called City of Villages?) but Melbourne was planned and therefore works pretty well. To give you an example, it took me 5 to 6 hours on foot to have a good grasp of the CBD of Melbourne. After being in Sydney for perhaps 20 visits this year, I still don't understand it very well. Make no mistake, Sydney is big, but like a maze. 

Weather in Melbourne is known to suck, and I agree. The beaches arent very nice either. You can't compare NSW beaches to those in Melbourne. I don't surf so I can't comment on that, but I got a feeling that Sydney will win hands down in this category. Scenery, I recon Sydney has the upper hand as well, but I might add that I stil need to see more of Melbourne to truely comment on this. 

So why do people love Melbourne then? Melbourne has culture, European culture. People are friendly and sincere. It is said that Sydney has an American culture. It's a business culture in Sydney. This is not so much my opinion but a majority verdict by everyone I spoke to. I did talk to many people about this, because it matters greatly to me. Some people are quite insulting about certian aspects of either city. Fact remains, both cities has great attributes and they are both great to live in, I'm sure. Let me give you this analagy; I was born in South Africa. There we have Johannesburg and Cape town. People from Johannesburg thinks that Joburg is just the best place ever, Gansters paradise, business mecca and financial hub. Then there is Capetown, and that just tops up everything that you could dream of in Joburg. Capetown aren't for everyone. Some people like the concrete jungle of Joburg, but others love the beaches, the cozy European nature of Capetown. Perhaps this isn't the best example, but I'm sure you get what I'm saying. Both places are cool, just depends on what you like. Wherever you live, you can make a difference and that is what matters most.

I feel dismayed. I have always steered clear of politics, because it bores me. As I am maturing, I feel the need to know what is happening for the sake of our future. As you might know, I grew up in Africa. Boy, what amazing stories we have to tell about the most outragious things that our politicians do and get away with. Lately, Australian politics has become equally outragious. Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott arguing like two siblings over a toy. We all know it. We are all ashamed and fed up with it, yet, it continues daily. I heard an interesting debate yesterday about Capitalism. The one guy, spoke about our 4 year cycle Western political system;
1. An election is won by a certain party based on promises made.
2. The following year policies are changed to suit them and gain more profit for themselves, not necessarily having to reflect the promises made.
3. Excuses are being made why the policies didn't work, promises broken and subsequently criticising others.
4. Campaigning for the election in the fourth year.
Of course this repeats over and over again. Is it just me that feels that governments forgot that they are serving the public, not extorting them? This is not only in Australia, but America and most of Africa too. This goes for local councils as well, whom in Newcastle think that they are in charge and we need not know what they are doing, sucking the people dry. The system is only working for those in power, and screwing the rest of us, knowingly. Yet, it does not change. Why would it if the people whom it's benefiting is in power, making the decisions? In all logic, it won't unless we can actually get someone in power that is ethical. He/ she would be hated by other politicians in the first place for pointing out that they are at fault, and thus never be elected in the first place. Even if elected, he/she might get the Kevin Rudd treatment as served by out current prime minister. So, fat chance...

We all have to be so diplomatic in life now. Lawyers has gotten the system to a point where you can't even distinguish between races or sexes without the risk of being called a racist. These rules does not apply in the parliment of course, where insults, slander and disrespect is at the order of the day. Our Government sets this example, and yet is hoping for us to behave and repect others? Today most of the important politicians of Australia are in Bali for the Bali bombing rememerance service. Why? That is where they will telly the most publicity and votes. Do you think they actually care about it? Australia is labeled as a christian country. Yet we are not willing to pray at any public meetings (unless in church itself) in fear of offending others. How strange is that. If you believe in God, and pray to Jesus, believing them to be true, then how does that justify abandoning them when it suits us? Or do we only believe in parts of God, when it's convenient? If God felt that way about us, He would not have had Jesus on the cross I can assure you.

This is where i want to draw the similarities between America and Australia. We are very similar in many ways. Personalities of the people are very differnet with Ozies being much more reserved. Yet our political and spiritual status is very similar. 

How are we ever going to get out of this cycle that does't seem to make anything any better? I heard a friend of mine form Taiwan said how proud she is of her country. I honestly find it very hard to say that. In Africa, Malaysia and now Australia, politicians has made me ashamed of what they do. They are in charge of a country, with a big responsibility, and yet seems to be more concerned about themselves. What is there to be proud of in that? I pray that this will change, soon as we are all losing hope, slowly...

I wish I never knew anything about politics!

It's time for new life, new beginnings and hope. Mostly, for me it's Landscaping season and I'm having a bit less time for art than in the Winter.

I have something bothering me. The fact that the world is turning more anti-governmental. Now I know that there has been problems for long periods of times, and mind you, I'm no Historian either.  But it seems obvious that Politicians arent making choices based on the good of the people. They aren't stewards of a Nation or town anymore. Politicians or Councilors are making decisions based 98% based on votes, and votes alone. if they happen to be helping to get a road built, and it happens to help someone, then they should be voting for them, and that is the basis of decision making in our modern politics. I think that there was a time when working as a public servant was done with pride, and it was a respectable job. But if at this point in time in Newcastle, Australia, you tell someone that you work for council, you will be almost hated. Everyone feels that our money is being wasted. Everyone knows that is't an absolutely cushy job for lazy people and that your career will stagnate from there onwards. It's common knowledge that it's the most unproductive sector of our society at present. Yet, with the biggest responsibility. The government and councils are running a country, organising life almost, yet with such apathy.

I believe that Australians are born with a feeling of anti-establishment because of the convict heritage. You can hear most Australians calling the police 'Pigs' openly and for no apparent reason. That made me wonder until someone explained it to me.

Governments and councils are run as businesses. Perhaps not always very well, but they are. The government obviously knows how much money we have, where is our limits and how far can they push us. This is all due to our technological world where statistics and facts will be avaliable to governments at the tip of their fingers. Banks are pushing us as well, grabing as much profit as they can. New on the scene is Electricity companies. Next is supermarkets, Coles and Woolies having an absolute monopoly in deciding how much profit they want to make.

 I fear that this is just the beginning. Nobody seems to be on our side, other than for the odd journalist who dares to speak up. the media is now just a puppet used by corporations to spread their propaganda. So who can you trust? We can't even trust ourselves now can we. We can trust God. God never changed, and His word is true. Why build up treasures here on earth where the moths and rats can eat it? Build up treasures in heaven. I wasn't planing on writing about God, but ultimately, everything else seems rather bleak really. I do believe that if our leaders feared God, that things would have been different. Australia is sadly not a christian country and I pray that God will change the hearts of leaders, not only in Australia, but all over the world, to not be selfish and power hungry. I pray that in South Africa the groups instigating violence will realise that there is a better way. I pray that America will stop to bully everyone else as they have been doing for more than 30 years now, and that Australia will stop to help them in doing so. I pray that you have a good day and that we can look beyond all these problems and see the sun rise every day, and hear the birds sing, and know that we can make a difference. 

I feel that I have recently been a bit harsh on Ozies in my blog  on a few occasions, and I want to give some gratitude and apologise. Perhaps I am wanting things to be the way I am used to it, and feel that people has to be more like me, and African. I think I expected Australia to be very similar to South Africa, but it's quite different in most regards. There are many really good things about Australians. Ozies are very friendly. I think that South Africans lost their compassion to a certain extent due to the rampant crime. People there keep to themselves and have become much more suspicious. We have been so warmly welcomed into the neighbourhoods here, and even know everybody by name in our whole street. In Malaysia, that would never happen, unless you stay in a very small village. The Australian culture might not be very obvious and striking, but there is qualities that one can distinguish. I think the most obvious one for me is the openness of people once you know them. I'm trying to force myself to think of more things, but I am still exploring and learning about the Ozie culture. What I can say with certainty, is that Australia and Australian are great, and we are honoured and privileged to be part of this huge continent. Thanks to everyone here for being nice to me, and please excuse my sometimes abrupt comments. I am adjusting. Perhaps you would have felt the same if you moved to South Africa or Malaysia...  I do believe that being able to look at a culture, being 'seperate' from it is an artistic advantage and I will try to use it positively.