Businesses in tourist zones know travelers want to take their experiences home with them.

In Australia this can mean, among other things, crocodile belts or oilskins or bush hats. I tried on bush hats.

They looked nice on the shelf, but believe me, they don’t look good on me. Maybe if I got sunburned and ditched my bifocals...

I found no end of other choices, though. How about kangaroo jerky? Crocodile? Emu?

Mmmm—probably not.

Boomerangs are big in tourist shops. Hand painted with Australia scenes. Authentic.

These were made in China.

Then there’s didgeridoos: aboriginal musicals instrument made from eucalyptus limbs that have been hollowed out by termites. Genuine ones are made that way. Some sellers place great emphasis on that fact.

They’re tempting, but c’mon—they’re musical instruments. You can’t just pick one up and play it, any more than you could a clarinet. You have to practice, practice, practice. You have to take lessons. Which are available for those impulsive enough to buy a didgeridoo.

Maybe you haven’t heard a didgeridoo. I hadn’t. The sound they make is unique: a sort of low throbbing drone. Expert players generate overtones causing the sound to shift. Proper playing produces a continuous note—no breaks for intake of breath. The technique is called circular breathing; something oboe players, among others, learn to do.

This link will take you to a video clip of an expert aboriginal didgeridoo player making lots of overtones and practicing circular breathing. He’s pretty special. Give it a listen. It’s only 1:40 long.

Meanwhile, I’m going to take another look at that emu jerky.