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Published: July 21st 2005
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02/06/05 - 09/06/05: I had arranged to stay with a good family friend back in Australia, Aditya, who is working in Dallas as an engineer. Aditya was in the process of renewing his license so was unable to pick me up from the airport but I was happy to make my own way. Its good not having a plan but there were two things that were not in my favour. 1. Public transport is almost non-existent in Dallas - the car holds a special place in the heart of every Texan. Even taxis are hard to find. 2. The Dallas-Fortworth airport is the hub for interstate travel in the US and the terminal is the size of a large suburb.
Tired from only having 1 hour sleep and slightly uncertain of what to do for transport at 6am in the morning I did what any person would do, I looked for a group of friendly people to strike a conversation and ask a few questions. Hoping that the great Australian catchphrase greeting "Gday" would make it easier to talk to a complete stranger (I have since learnt that saying this doesn’t help much because most Americans will reply with "Huh??"),
I was surprised to hear a "Gday" in return - an Aussie! An older Australian couple were being picked up by their relatives. They ended up giving me a lift 20 miles to a train station near their home. Turns out that Sam (Sam and his wife Daffney are the host relatives) is the pastor of a church so he pointed out their church and gave me a tour of the area.
Many of you would have heard of the Bible Belt in the US....well, this is it. Sam pointed out the street that got into Ripleys Believe it or Not for having the most churchs of any street anywhere in the world....believe it or not! J.D Jakes, a name familiar to many Americans, is the pastor of a church we passed that has over 18000 people (mostly African Americans) attend each Sunday, 5 morning services. These "Mega churches" are becoming more popular here and I guess they go hand in hand with the mega Walmarts, mega Highways, mega McDonalds and every other mega landmark that makes Texas Texas. Some of these churches, like McDonalds, also offer a takeaway service - the congregation gets a fast, actionpacked spiritual service
and are told that they will be materially blessed in this life if they have enough faith. Hmmm.
I took the train north for 30 miles, walked in the wrong direction for a couple of hours before being picked up by Aditya at the train station, my original starting position.
Even though I’m taller than the average person, you can’t help but feel small in Texas. Everything is enormous here including the people. You only have to go to the gym to experience Muscle Fest 2005. I guess it must be the nutrient, hormone packed fastfood diet or something. But on a more serious side, without exercise their diet makes for a very obese state - highest obesity rates anywhere in the world are found in Texas.
The size of the highways has to be seen to be believed. Its not as if 4 lane highways in both directions isn’t enough but the main Texan arterial highways have service roads. The idea being that you get off the 4 lane highways onto the 2-3 lane service road so that you visit a shop or fast food outlet before heading back onto the highway. Everything is designed so
that you don’t have to stop or get out of your car. All takeaways outlets have drivethrough (1000s of them!), drive through banks are standard everywhere and you can roll up to a petrol station and buy 1L of softdrink for US 60c in a tapered cup that fits into your cars standard drinkholder. After you see the size of the trucks common in Texas you will understand why the US is the most oil hungry nations in the world (See photo).
I’m sure I must have looked unsual running along the highway or walking with my backpack because I did not once see a person walking or running along the side of the road. Even a squiral peering over the edge of a wall seemed stunned to see a pedestrian (See photo). It was so relaxed sunbathing that it only started to panic when it realised that I was standing between the wall and it's tree, its only form of escape. A desperate lunge into the tree branches ended my exciting roadside experience.
It was great hanging out with Aditiya and we went to see a few of Dallas' tourists attractions; the place where JFK was shot,
the city centre, Ripleys Believe It or Not museum and the Wax Museum (See photos). We went to an Aussie pub called "Downunder" whose logo was an upsidedown map of Australia (its not as if the Americans arent confused enough about what Australia looks like) but it was good fun and we felt special because we were the only Australians there.
Aditya bought a Corvette while I was there so I was lucky enough to ride in that. 2004 model 405 hp of pure American driving muscle that would have been twice the price in Australia (See photo). Just the fact that it comes with an inbuild 'G-force' meter (as well as every other mod-con under the sun) indicates that this car is step up from any other car i have been in.
For those that havent been to Dallas I wouldnt put it on one of your top 10x10 places to visit. I enjoyed myself for the time I was there but unless i was working or was unforunate enough to be born there, I could never see myself living there. The people were very friendly but I was having trouble finding any sort of character in the city beyond the gigantic superstores, car yards and vast open grassed areas (See photo).
Keep in touch,
Mike
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nusilusi
Holly
Lucky enough to have been a long term Dallasite, Don't mess with Texas dude! :)