B. Experience Australian History and Culture

The best way to understand a place and the locals is to interact with the historical buildings, museums and the locals. Regarding the tour, I visited Australian Museum, Queen Victoria Building, China Town, Art Gallery and coffee shops where I can comprehend more Australian history and culture. It is no doubt that those silent pictures, artifacts, specimen, tools, architectural style, local products…actually telling me a marvelous story of Australia and a relaxed livelihood of Australian. 

A photo with a koala in Australian museum

Queen Victoria Building

I love visiting museum as it is a treasury for me to understand the origin and thought of the locals by reading words and examining collection. I especially paid more attention to read a painful history of indigenous Australian. When I admired their simple and happy life with pure thoughts, suddenly I was deeply grieved as there was a massacre to indigenous people by English!



A description of indigenous history



I discovered that greed for money, desire to natural resources and addiction to power can totally destroy people’s mind. I realized that ‘developed’ invaders increased their worth by robbing and exploiting ‘undeveloped’ countries. I hope I can give contributions on promoting love and care, so a fair world exists which everyone live happily. It is not only a dream and I believe it become true one day with our effort!!!

Australia has a similar history and background as Hong Kong. They have been colonies under English and the places are combined with foreign immigrants and locals. Luckily, both Australia and Hong Kong are multicultural city which harmonious environment is created with the support of different ethnic groups. Although discrimination is still existed, people basically have a stable living.

I love visiting Australian Museum!

I visited the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) twice. I appreciated the magnificent decoration which is a beautiful dome shaped building with colorful glass windows and two clocks. (Australia is a place full of arts!) However, I felt a little bit angry as it is an evidence of English invasion. The English even bulit their power by creating the Royal Clock. The clock activates on the hour and displays six scenes of English royalty. (display English history in Australia every hour? so ironic!) Although there is the Great Australian Clock showing the Australian history by 33 scenes, it only served as a contrast. I felt so frustrated that QVB is located in a busy street in Sydney…

The beautiful creatures in Queen Victoria Building

I encounted an EXCITING thing when I took a walk in Circular Quey. I saw indigenous people playing didgeridoo and Wooden Boomerang and even dancing!!! I took a picture with them and enjoyed the music. From the music and dance, I felt their passion and energetic power! I appreciated their effort to preserve their own culture by promoting to other people. In fact, Australian government keeps many historical buildings by changing their usage, organizes a place to gather different ethnic groups, such as China Town, little Italy in Norton Street, little India in Harris Park. It also promotes different cultures by organizing activities (there was an Australian Arts Festival on 6th Jan). The government really treasures the cultural diversity and their citizens. At that moment, I had strong mind that Hong Kong government should preserve their historical buildings, skills and tools as they are good representation of our unique Hong Kong personalities and values!



I encounted may cultural things!



I spent THREE hours having a coffee and a cake in a coffee shop with Josie (near Manly Ocean World). I also ate pancakes and hamburgers (The Rocks). I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and beautiful view (clean street with shops) to chat and read books. I watched two Arts Gallery (near Bondi Beach and Manly Ocean World) to appreciate paintings and sculptures with styles. I tried different white and red wine in Hunter Valley, I liked to smell red wine but drink white wine! (Strange? Right?) Australian love drinking coffee in a shop as they think it is time for them to relax and gather with friends. I also tried to have a drink in a bar (court down!), Australian teenagers love to have a drink as it is time to social and make friends, I become one of them!!

I tried may special food in Australia!

Here is an evaluation form to evaluate my knowledge on Australian cultures and history in the tour. The result is perfect and some suggestions are provided if I have a chance to have other study tours.

A evaluation from Experience Australia History and Cultural