Quick Snapshot Impressions of Oz and the Aussies

Australia is an interesting place. Very much worth a visit. I've been particularly struck by how open and friendly people are. And how casual. I have one last night in Sydney before I head back to Hawaii and bought a ticket to the opera. I asked a friend here if the dress code would permit an open-collared shirt and sportcoat. He scoffed. "You'll be fine in jeans if ya like. It's very, very casual."It's casual, all right. And -- to my eye, anyway -- a bit off kilter. I've often seen women wearing what I can only describe as adult-sized versions of cutsie little dresses suited to 3- or 4-year-old girls. And guys -- big, rugged-looking guys -- walk around in pants that are peddle-pusher length, halfway down the calf. That's odd-looking, but the look is really completed with dark-colored dress socks and street shoes ... sometimes work boots.There's no contest for favorite expression here: "No worries!" But it often seems to be used out of context, at least out of my context. For instance, over dinner here in Darwin last night ...Very cheerful waitress: "And would you care for some cracked pepper?Me: "No, thank you."Waitress: "No worries!"(I was so relieved!)Dinner was quite good, by the way. It was a difficult decision, but I finally opted for the linguini with mushrooms and chicken instead of the smoked crocodile..