Hello.<BR><BR>I am going to the States from Sydney and am wondering if there is anything special from here that I could take that can't be found in the States???

Tim Tams.

How about some Cadbury Smarties or Crunchie Bars?/<BR><BR>I will be going to Sydney soon from the States--what should I bring my Oz friends?

Judging from the gifts I brought back from a recent trip to Australia, I'd say boomerangs and aboriginal art. Of course, didgeradoos would be popular, but hard to carry/ship. In Darling Harbour there was a shop that had boomerang refrigerator magnets that were hand painted by aboriginals which I think would be very popular with your friends in the states and not very expensive.<BR>Martha<BR>

Judging by our American friends, I'd say that Timtams and Cadbury Flake bars are pretty popular.<BR>If you are going to any of the national parks, you can buy posters and bookmarks inexpensively. Another suggestion is coasters - either individually or in sets - available from the markets much cheaper that the tourist shops.

Caramello Koalas and Cherry Ripes. We're down to our last couple of packets and I know there's going to be tears. Just discovered Flakes at Fairway in NY, so maybe they're not Australian after all. I always thought they were.

Crunchies and Tim Tams! Boomerangs- more important that they that really fly, than the decorations. Lemon butter. And of course, those little dried frog purses for the people you love the most!

When we visited Sydney I went to Paddy's market and bought a selection of note pads with Oz scenes stamped on them and pencils with koala and some canvas bags with oz designs. If you have to take gifts for kids the kangaroo money pouch will get a laugh. Lush cosmetics are not available in the states (are available in canada) and that is always nice - the massage bars are wonderful and so are the shampoo bars. There is an artist who makes and designs pewtar items ( quite costly) and belief he has a store at double bay - schiel (?sp). A friend recently bought us a wonderful book - Above Sydney.

Try Cost Plus World Market for Flakes bar. I've seen it at upscale markets too.

I think we have Lush in San Francisco

Actually they're not &quot;frog&quot; purses (frogs are protected here and unlike parts of Europe and Asia you won't find them on restaurant menus either). The ones you will see here are made from cane toad skins, cane toads are one of the worst introduced pests the country has ever seen and have caused havoc with local wildlife. However, their skin, when treated correctly and tanned is soft and very durable and buying products make from cane toad skin is doing everyone a favour. Mind you, not everyone's cup of tea.

The Cadbury sold (and made?) in the US is a pale shadow of the Aussie version - take as much as your suitcase allows. Declare it, they'll wave you through. Now if you could only take a ton of VB, you can't get it there. Maybe a few tinnies?

WK

Not being able to get VB in the States is a problem? Sounds more like a mercy. Why would you even think of drinking such a horrible brew when you can buy Sam Adams' excellent Boston Lager? I've drunk beers from all over and they all beat VB. Even Budweiser, for God's sake.