Posted by gelfen
it occurred to me this week, and certainly not for the first time, that i have to be living in the best country on earth. what prompted such thoughts this week? well this weekend (well actually next tuesday the first tuesday in november) is a public holiday. now most public holidays are celebrated for days of great national significance or civic pride. but next tuesday is rather special - we have a public holiday for a horse race. now where else in the world celebrates a public holiday for a sporting event?
mind you, it's not just any horse race we're talking about here. it is arguably the premier horse race in the southern hemisphere - The Melbourne Cup "the race that stops a nation". while currently only observed in Melbourne, there are serious moves afoot to have the day declared a national holiday (since nearly everyone takes the afternoon off anyway to watch the race). for most australians the melbourne cup carnival conjures images of the greatest race horses this nation has ever seen, names like Archer, Peter Pan, Think Big, Kingston Rule, and Might and Power, not to mention the "cup's king" trainer Bart Cummings with a record 13 wins. this year sees the great Makybe Diva attempting a history-making third successive win.
incidentally, this year's cup carnival also marks the 75th anniversary for the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup victories of the invincible Phar Lap.
now i'm not normally interested in horse racing, but at this time of year is hard to ignore and the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is a dear part of this nation's cultural heritage. my country is fantastic!
*so that's one of many reasons why i reckon Australia is tops. how about the rest of you? i think we spend too much time complaining about what's wrong with the world. how about what's right? why do you love your country?*
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Whomsoever you see in distress, recognize in him a fellow man
Gelfen's special place where nobody talks to him anymore
[ This Message was edited by: gelfen on 2005-10-27 07:09 ]
Posted by scotsboyuk
I imagine most people will think that their country is the best, but of course we all know that the UK actually is the best.
Seriously though, I do love my country and I would say that it is the best country in the world. Why? For the following reasons:
The Monarchy
Churchill
Red Pillar Boxes
Double decker buses
Rain
Fish and chips
Tea
Warm beer
Golf
Bagpipes
Tartan
Haggis
Hotpot
Spitfires
English
Driving in open top sports car in pouring rain and turning to one's other half and saying "Bracing weather isn't it darling?"
The Grand National
Devon teas
Shakespeare
Robert Burns
Charles Dickens
Chaucer
Sir Walter Scott
Bill Millin
Steak and kidney pie
Black hackneys
Big Ben
The Tower of London
Magna Carter
Liberal democracy
The Lake District
Bowler hats
Rugby
The Munros
Gaelic
King Arthur
Sherlock Holmes
Blackadder
Fawlty Towers
Only Fools and Horses
David Jason
Billy Connolly
Agatha Christie
P.G. Wodehouse
Gin
Scotch
Jeeves and Wooster
Lord Admiral Nelson
Jane Austen
Mary Shelley
The Stone of Destiny
The telephone
The television
Tarmac
Wimbledon
Queuing
Stiff upper lips
Fair play
Tolerance
Multi-culturalism
Rolls Royce
Aston Martin
Queen
Freddie Mercury
Norman Wisdom
Sir Alec Guinness
Joan Collins
Boris Johnson
The BBC
J.R.R. Tolkien
The battle of Mons Botanicus
Robin Hood
Stonehenge
The Battle of Britain
Afternoon tea
Bangers and mash
Tennis
Plus fours
The Last Night of the Proms
Trooping of the Colour
Sterling
Summer days spent in the countryside
Enid Blyton
Ginger beer (lashings of ginger beer)
The NHS
Old boy networks
Fry ups
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"I may be drunk my dear woman, but in the morning I will be sober, and you will still be ugly." WSC
[ This Message was edited by: scotsboyuk on 2005-10-27 06:31 ]
Posted by tranquil
This is why I love my country!
One link says more than a thousand words!
Posted by gelfen
i was actually hoping for a bit more in the way of personal anecdotes....
Posted by haynesycop
What a list there scots
Posted by Davo_169
things why australia is the best for me:
18 legal drinking age
the temperature (40 degree day, 10 degree nights)
the beach (best beaches on earth!!)
the GIRLS!!!! i think most aussies will agree
the scenery
the laid-back-ness, no1 holds a grudge
Posted by vanquish
the UK rules
Posted by ziovax
I'm from Roma.
No need to say anymore.
Posted by whistla
Fish n Chips
Posted by max99
English
Posted by BlueQuill
I love my country.
Posted by joebmc
Essex girls
Posted by *Jojo*
Boracay Beach !
Posted by brix25
I'm not going to give a gazillion reasons why I love South Africa.
1: The People are cool and chill, no aggro here.
2: The weather...sunshine all round the year.
3: Our politics...crazy at times but never boring.
4: Our sports teams and their supporters...we might be the underdogs but somehow a miracle is always possible.
5: The beautiful women, all shapes, colours and sizes...it's about choice.
6: Beautiful landscape in the countryside...especially in the Cape region.
7: The fact that television is such a low priority down here...seriously tv is overated.
8: Our brilliant cellphone networks especially Vodacom and MTN.
9: Nelson Mandela.
10:Cape Town...the most beautiful scenic city in the world.
Posted by bonito99
Most filipinos are warm, friendly and smart and respectful of women, unlike ... Anyways the Philippines is a wonderful country because its citizens make it so. Most of us, i mean. Despite rotten apples in our society our country feels like paradise. There's no place like home . Home is where the heart is.
This message was posted from a K700i
[ This Message was edited by: bonito99 on 2005-10-29 07:06 ]
Posted by *Jojo*
1. Manila Zoo
2. Luneta Park
3. Sicogon Beach
4. Tagaytay Highlands
5. Durian fruit
6. Fruit Cake (during Christmas season)
Posted by mrao
I love india for the cricket, bollywood movies, chicken tikka masala, free gprs, cheap bars which serve great food, seafood, bad roads but understanding cops, hehe
Posted by Janet_k500i
Why i love holland?
Our prime minister looks like harry potter
Posted by JT
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I cannot stand the smell of Durian. Ive never tried it so cant comment on the taste but the smell repulses me. My Grandad lives in the philippines you see, so I went to visit him last year. He lives in cagayan de oro.
Posted by *Jojo*
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@JT - So you have a Filipino blood , pure or have a foreign parent:???: Yup, you can't stand the Durian's smell, but when eaten, it's - ohhhlala !
Other Famous Spots in the Metro:
1. Balete Drive (in time for the Halloween).
2. Shangrila Plaza Mall
3. EDSA (main thoroughfare)
4. EDSA Shrine (where the 1986 People Power Revolt took place).
5. Balintawak Monument
Posted by Krubach
Eusébio, Amália, Bacalhau, Figo e Fado!
I love Portugal!!!
The nation with the most ancient borders in the world!!
Posted by mrao
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Posted by Kryptik
Brix omitted that South Africa has the friendliest people on Earth!
Posted by Jim
What about "I hate my country" ?
The only thing I see for my country is fries and not "french" fries !
Posted by scotsboyuk
@Kryptik
I can testify to the friendly nature of South Africans. Everyone was most friendly and welcoming when I was there earlier this year.
Posted by plasmadog
Hmmm, i love the mad rush of people here, and how almost anyone can connect with another even with 25 national languages and i love that we can access esato here. (Maybe from north korea you can't ;-))
Posted by gelfen
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only if you don't count Australia!
another reason why aus. is the best:
http://www.wineinacan.com/
australia produces some of the best wines in the world. now we've got one of the best ways to drink it.
[ This Message was edited by: gelfen on 2005-10-28 00:50 ]
Posted by max_wedge
agree gelfen! Although South African's certainly are friendly bugger's...
Posted by gelfen
that they are. i know because so many of them move over here!
Posted by bonito99
San Miguel Beer Pale Pilsen.
Posted by *Jojo*
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H m m m . . .this just gives me an idea ! How about adding the word: "men" after the word country
1. Taho (chinese pudding
) Good to be eaten in the morning.
2. Pasig River (now rehabilitated)
3. MRT/LRT (rail transit)
4. Kalesas (horse carriage)
Posted by scotsboyuk
@gelfen
I have stood on the beach at Durban and gazed out over the Indian Ocean imagining Australia at the other end.
I shall be able to see Australia for myself when I get out there next year.
Posted by *Jojo*
@scots - Try to see Gelfen's newly built house (should be done by then), how about watchin' the F1 race too ? It will not be held in March '06 though as accdg. to reports there has been some slight changes with the scheduling, first heat might be in - Bahrain
Posted by gelfen
@scots: i'll have to shout you a cold one
Posted by Gigs
What I love about NZ?
Not only are we able to ship some of the more hopeless acts out of the country so that they call themselves aussies (Russell Crow) but we also win the Melbourne cup
I love the fact that food tastes so great here, looks natural and that we aren't afraid to experiment with things. The fact we have LIME MILKSHAKES! mince and cheese pies, and until they got shut down, georgie pie.
I love that I could be away from home for 7 months in the UK, US and Canada, yet be completely happy to return home. (Now I want to move lol)
I love that despite the so called rivalry with Australia we have good neighbours.. (as you go south
) discounting any cricket, rugby, yatching, acting, or other comparisons at the time.
I also love that in these high priced oil times.. my country is shaped like a petrol pump.
Posted by max_wedge
I like the fact that NZ told the Yanks to stuff off and split from ANZUS
We should do the same. Howard (our pm) is a Bush arse-licker. That's not slander if it's true is it?
[ This Message was edited by: max_wedge on 2005-10-28 13:22 ]
Posted by maddav
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That's it, I'm moving to NZ!!
Posted by DickySnapples
U.K
Argos!!!
The laminated book of dreams!
"so many beautiful things,i cannot possess them all!"
Thats why the books are laminated. To Catch the tears of Joy!!!!!!
Posted by bonito99
Car restoration is cheap!
Posted by carkitter
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Slander is spoken; because you wrote (typed) it, your statement is libel.
BTW self-imposed political isolation is overrated.
Posted by joebmc
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I'm sure wimpy's do them (well the used to).
Posted by maddav
I'll have to make my own Lime Milkshakes!
Posted by max_wedge
carkitter, so is libel still libel if it's true?
re: political isolation, the way bush is going, it's the us that will find itself isolated
Europe, China, Asia, India are all finding themselves increasingly at odds with US foreign policy (and domestic, for example the US wanting to retain control of internet naming and ip distribution, which ought to be handled by an international body.)
Nothing against yanks, I think the people of the US are one of the most generous, friendly and helpful people in the world. If only more of those people would vote, Bush would have never seen the presidency.
Posted by *Jojo*
People Power Revolution that ousted the dicator - Ferdind E. Marcos (former president) . . . A very FIRST in the world !
1. Bagoong (sauteed shrimp paste)
2. Longest Christmas Celebration (Sept. 1 thru Three Kings)
3. Philippine Basketball Association (First 'pay-for-play' league in Asia)
Posted by BobaFett
i wasnt born in northern eu ( so its not my country ), but i love scandinavia - denmark, sweden and norway. the ppl, the way they live, the economy, the traditions and not at least the nature ( and the weather ). i would like to live, work and die there...
Posted by *Jojo*
Yup, Bobafett nice places to live at: cool weather and very clean surroundings!
Posted by bonito99
Vintage Swiss watches sold at low prices
No alcohol curfew
Posted by brix25
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Are you these are not fakes?
Posted by bonito99
Certified by both rolex and omega service centers in the philippines
Actually most Swiss houses have service centers here.
[ This Message was edited by: bonito99 on 2005-10-31 05:54 ]
Posted by bonito99
Most people here do not like buying fakes or replicas, unlike some people like...