Didgeridoo Use

More didgeridoo tips: In a traditional aboriginal setting the didgeridoo was used in both sacred and non-sacred settings. Because of this the didgeridoo could be used by both initiated and non-initiated males, but only by initiated men in ceremonies of appropriate spiritual significance. Traditional aboriginal society held strong beliefs about the separation of male and female responsibilities and rights, and the didgeridoo was strictly a man's instrument. When in a traditional aboriginal setting, even today, women should respect the local aboriginal culture and refrain from playing and thus breaking an eons old taboo. The didgeridoo was used in ceremony, corroboree, celebration and for just plain fun. In ceremony and corroboree it was normally used to accompany the songman, who sang the stories of the dreamtime. It added color to the stories and assisted other participants with the timing of their parts in the predetermined, prescribed order of things. For fun and general entertainment the didgeridoo was played to suit the player and his personal creativity. Today the didgeridoo is used worldwide by both males and females in an ever expanding variety of musical forms and combinations. It is also used as a form of meditation for both players and listeners as well as a healing tool by some.

About Australia

Australia is the world´s smallest continent and sixth-largest country. With proportionately more desert land than any other continent, Australia has a low population density. Lying completely in the Southern Hemisphere, Australia is bounded by the Indian Ocean on the west and south and by the Pacific Ocean on the east. These oceans merge on the north in the Arafura Sea between Australia and Indonesia and New Guinea, and on the south in the Bass Strait. The coastline length, estimated at 19,200 km (11,930 mi), is remarkably short for so large an area, a result of the relative lack of indentation. Major inlets other than the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Great Australian Bight are few.
A self-governing member of the Commonwealth of Nations, Australia celebrated its bicentennial in 1988 (see Bicentennial, Australian). It is a federation of five mainland states (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia) and one island state (Tasmania), as well as two territories (Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory). The country´s name derives from the Latin terra australis incognita, meaning "unknown southern land," which resulted from a confusion between Australia and Antarctica on early world maps.
In many ways Australia is unusual among continents. It lacks major relief features and has a high proportion of dry land. The continent´s isolation from other landmasses accounts for its unique varieties of vegetation and animal life, and for the existence of a Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) culture among the Aborigines. Except for Antarctica, Australia was probably the last continent to be inhabited by humans and the last to be explored and settled by Europeans. It is the only continent comprising a single nation-state.
Dutch explorers first sighted Australia in the early 17th century. Capt. James Cook explored the east coast in 1770 and claimed the land for Great Britain. In 1778 the first settlement (Sydney) was founded at an excellent harbor on the southeast coast. British convicts played an important role in the territory´s early history. The discovery of gold and other ores attracted immigrants, but Australia remained a primarily agricultural country until World War II.
Subsequent industrialization has been rapid, and today Australia ranks as one of the world´s most economically developed countries, although vast areas of the interior, known as the Outback, remain all but uninhabited.

Australian Geology

Geology Australia was once part of the enormous landmass Gondwanaland, which earlier formed part of the supercontinent Pangaea. Much of its geological history is remarkably ancient; the oldest known rock formations date from 3 billion to 4.3 billion years age.The great plateau of western Australia is underlain by a vast, stable shield of Precambrian metamorphic and igneous rocks, ranging in age from 570 million to 3 billion years old. These form the core of the ancestral continent, which, with Antarctica, had split off from Gondwanaland during the Jurassic Period, less than 200 million years ago, and had begun drifting eastward (see Plate Tectonics). Australia began to assume its modern configuration by the Eocene Epoch, some 50 million years ago, when Antarctica broke away and drifted southward.The thick sedimentary rocks of the Great Dividing Range were deposited in a great north-south trending geosyncline during an interval that spanned most of the Paleozoic Era (570 million to 225 million years ago). Compressive forces buckled these rocks at least twice during the era, forming mountain ranges and chains of volcanoes.

Kangaroo

One of the great icons of Australia, the kangaroo shares center stage with the Emu on the Australian Coat of Arms. It is a variety of hopping marsupial, or pouched mammal, of the family Macropodidae. The 45 varities can range from the tiny rat kangaroo at 12 inches, to the Red Kangaroo at 9 feet tall and the Eastern Greys topping 200 pounds. Kangaroos have powerful hind legs designed for leaping, long feet, short forelimbs, and long muscular tails. The hind legs are also used to deliver blows at enemies when the animal is cornered; the feet are sharply clawed. The tail serves as a balance when the animal leaps and as a prop when it stands; the usual posture is bipedal. The handlike forepaws are used for grasping. As in most marsupials, females have a pouch surrounding the teats. The single young is born in an immature state after a gestation period of about 40 days and is suckled in the mother´s pouch for about six months. After it begins to graze it returns frequently to the pouch for shelter and transport until it is too large to be carried. Kangaroos feed on grass and other vegetation; they are the chief grazers of the Australian plains. Day-active animals, they move about in herds called mobs and sleep on the ground at night. Males are called boomers, females flyers; the young are called joeys. They inhabit all parts of Australia and in many areas compete with livestock for grazing land. Determining the state of the kangaroo population is difficult as interest groups on both sides of the issue give conflicting assesments. It is safe to say that the kangaroo population is strong but that there is an ongoing "culling" program.

Australian Economy

Most of the rich farmland and good ports are in the east and particularly the southeast, except for the area around Perth in Western Australia. Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide are the leading industrial and commercial cities. There has been considerable industrial development in the last two decades of the 20th cent., and the standard of living has remained generally high. While the Australian economy fell into a severe recession in the late 1980s and suffered from the Asian economic slump of the mid-1990s, it had largely recovered by the late 1990s, although unemployment remained high.

Australia is highly industrialized, and manufactured goods account for most of the gross domestic product. Its chief industries include mining (much of which is accomplished with the aid of Japanese capital), food processing, and the manufacture of industrial and transportation equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, machinery, and motor vehicles. Australia has valuable mineral resources, including coal, iron, bauxite, copper, tin, lead, zinc, and uranium. Some lumbering is done in the east and southeast.
The country is self-sufficient in food, and the raising of sheep and cattle and the production of grain have long been staple occupations. Tropical and subtropical produce—citrus fruits, sugarcane, and tropical fruits—are also important, and there are numerous vineyards and dairy and tobacco farms.

Australia maintains a favorable balance of trade. Its chief export commodities are metals, minerals, coal, wool (of which it is the world´s largest exporter), beef, mutton, cereals, and manufactured products. The leading imports are manufactured raw materials, capital equipment, and consumer goods. Australia´s economic ties with Asia and the Pacific Rim have become increasingly important.

The Australian Way of Life

Most Australians enjoy or aspire to middle-class suburban lifestyles in their homes. Apartments—called flats—were not common until recent years. They became more prevalent because of reduced family sizes, the adoption of more cosmopolitan modes of living, a trend toward rented accommodation, and state government efforts to revitalize the inner cities and maximize expensive infrastructural investments in transportation, water supplies, and other services. These developments were accompanied to some extent by an increased sophistication, especially in the capital cities.

Australian fashion generally follows Western styles of dress, but is distinctive for the lightweight, colorful casual wear that reflects the absence of harsh winters. Food and drink preferences are influenced by global fashions, but also mirror the rise of ethnic diversity and the country´s capacity to produce most kinds of food, wine, and other beverages in abundance.

Popular culture is dominated by an emphasis on leisure activities and outdoor recreation. Great pleasure is taken in traditional backyard barbecues, bush picnics, and a wide range of organized sports, including soccer, Australian Rules football, cricket, tennis, baseball, basketball, volleyball, netball (a game similar to basketball, played by women), athletics, cycling, boating, swimming, horseback riding, and horse racing. Fishing and gardening are popular activities.

Aboriginal Use of Emu Oil

The Australian Aboriginal people have been a part of the Australian landscape for tens of thousands of years. They were and still are a very naturally oriented people. They use everything that nature offers them including the emu. The emu, a large bird that could be found most anywhere there was open country, was prized for many reasons. One of these was the fat on top of their back, which the aboriginals have used for thousands of years to treat muscle aches, sore joints, and inflammation, among other ailments.

Washable

Another great feature of authentic sheepskin boots and slippers is that they are totally washable. Hand wash using a mild liquid hand soap or a cleaner specifically designed for sheepskin. Do not use detergents or wool wash. Sheepskin boots or slippers should be rinsed well in cool clear water. Air dry, toe up, naturally and slowly, away from direct heat or sunlight. Do not dry in the dryer as it dries out and stiffens the leather. Reshape by stuffing with a paper towel. Proper care and washing will help maintain and prolong the life of your sheepskin slippers and boots.

Athlete's Foot Treatment

Want to learn more tea tree oil tips? Tea tree oil offers a natural cure for the annoying problem of athlete's foot. This condition is caused by a fungus infection of the skin that most frequently occurs between the toes, but can appear anywhere on the feet. If left untreated the condition can spread to other parts of the foot and body. Symptoms include dry and itchy lesions in the milder forms. Athlete's foot is commonly associated with a fungal nail infection. To be rid of this condition, simply treat the affected area twice per day with pure tea tree oil. Continue the treatment for some time after the symptoms disappear in order to prevent their return. There is also a foot powder and a foot spray available to help keep your feet dry and for general hygiene purposes. Tea tree oil skin benefits even go all the way down to the soles of your feet.

Uggs in America

You don't have to book a trip to Australia if you're interested in getting Ugg boots. Over about the last 30 years, sheepskin Ugg boots gradually became more know in the U.S. as more and more people became aware of their special properties, comfort and warmth. A variety of Australian sheepskin boot companies established representatives in the U.S. to show off their sheepskin boots and slippers and try to build a market with their Uggs. They slowly evolved from the beaches to the ski areas and finally into the world of the mainstream fashion consciousness. Sheepskin's versatility shows that it is not just for surfies anymore mate. In fact, Uggs are worn by many women, including numerous Hollywood starts. This has led to a wide range of fashionable styles including Classic Tall and Classic Short Uggs, Ultra and Essential soled tall and short boots as well as exposed fleece accent boots.