Interlude Before Sydney

I know that Sydney is next in the laundry list of my adventures but I felt that ­­my recent discovery of Australian’s Good Friday/ Easter traditions deserved a jump up the list. In Australia, Easter is almost as important and as big of a holiday as Christmas. Last week Todd asked me if I was planning on getting him anything for Easter. “Uh… no…” I replied, “should I?” He responded by saying that most people get Easter eggs for each person in their family, their boyfriend/ girlfriend and pretty much anyone else important in their life. I know that Americans do observe Easter traditions like hiding Easter eggs and dressing up in their Sunday’s best but Australian traditions are very very different. In Australia, Easter is the biggest camping day of the year. Of course some people go to church and stuff I am sure but the camping sites are choc a block full of people. Becky, Todd and I went for a short one night camping trip yesterday and we passed a few campgrounds that had so many people booked in that it looked like an LA beach in the summer time. On Good Friday, no one eats red meat. I mean no one. It doesn’t matter if you are Christian or not, religious or not, it has become an Australian tradition to only eat fish on Good Friday. Similarly, the only day of the year you cannot buy alcohol in Australia is on duh duh duh duh: Good Friday. One of Al’s friend’s works at a bottle shop and he said the night before Good Friday is absolutely packed. Everyone goes and stocks up because G-d forbid you run out of alcohol on Good Friday! The bars are also closed at midnight the night before Good Friday and open again on Good Friday at midnight. Ahhhhh Australians, you sure do love a good party :)

Speaking of party, Todd and his mates have had a really good reason to party lately.

Last weekend as I am waiting to board my plane from Sydney back to the Gold Coast, a very ecstatic Todd called me to let me know that they broke a world record. After 6 years and 8 attempts they managed to break the previous record of 100 people water skiing behind one boat (a record that had been previously set by a water ski club in Cairns.)

On March 28^th they awoke to the sounds of bag pipes (random I know) and waded into the freezing water. After 80 seconds of holding perfect form and being dragged through the water, 114 skiers managed to stay up for the necessary 1 nautical mile. Todd and his friends from the Horsehead Water Ski Club (the oldest water ski club in Australia) will be in the 2011 Guiness Book of World Record and he has promised to sign loads of copies for me so now you all know what you are getting for Hanukah and Christmas next year ;)