Asia and particularly Thailand are certainly quite reasonable, specially when it comes to long-term travel. I'm not surprised you had a culture shock. As far as the weather goes, I prefer cool climates any day :)

Australia is definitely one of the most expensive countries in the world. I notice it when I travel just about anywhere else, as everything seems cheaper (well, maybe not in Norway!) I'm sure if you had come from Belgium you may not have noticed such a difference.

Oh I can imagine that there's a huge difference in prices and temperatures between SEAsia and Australia! :)

I know Belgium, no need to explain. I also come from a small country (Czech Republic) so I am sure to have the equal cultural shock when travelling in large and exotic Australia!

After reading this it definitely feels like we will be in for a similar culture shock soon! We have spent 9 months in Asia and have only one month left in Indonesia before we arrive in Perth! Reading this will help us prepare I hope. The temperature though is something I'm looking forward to because it's been far too humid over the last few months now!

Just because Australia is closer to SE-Asia than Europe, does not mean that our economies will be on par. Australians enjoy a far superior quality of life and health status than the majority of people in developing countries such as the ones you visited, while the universal healthcare, social security, high wages, high employment, longevity of life etc that we have in Australia are a distant dream for many in SE Asia. Minimum wage in Australia is around $20 an hour, and our economy is based off our GDP, inflation, and wages so that the cost of living is in keeping with these figures. G.S.T is a tax on everything bought and sold in Australia, and that tax contributes to the building and upkeep of the massive amount of roads and infrastructure required for a nation this size. If you are happy to exploit the poverty and desperation of the SE Asians selling you goods and services at prices so low you know they have no other choice but to sell that low just to survive, then do so. Just don't expect the same in a wealthy nation such as Australia, where the majority are not forced to live hand to mouth like the vendors in SE Asia are, and we have an economy much like your own in Belgium. One more thing, if you dislike the cold while you are here you only have to go North to find it is much, much hotter. Go up to Broome in Western Australia, visit the Ningaloo coral reef nearby where you can swim with dugongs and whale fish, and explore the many pristine beaches Western Australia has. If you can visit El Questro gorge in Western Australia the natural hot springs there are exquisite, but if you want tropical jungles then visit Queensland, where the Daintree is UNESCO world heritage listed, and unlike anything you will see anywhere else on earth. NSW and SE Queensland also have many, many beautiful rainforests, mountains, beaches and things to do in a climate that is still warm/hot in winter. There are so many unique places to visit in Australia too many to mention here, so enjoy your time here and remember that Australia has every type of climate and geography there is. If you like skiing and snowboarding then visit Victoria, Tasmania and NSW in winter where our slopes have miles and miles of unexplored back-country ski-fields to enjoy as well as uncrowded ski resorts. I hope this gives you a broader perspective on things and dispels the negativity you are feeling while in Australia. 'Ave a good one! :)