Sydney's West Is the Best Thing About Australia

This article came about because we're partners with the Parramatta Lanes Festival, on between October 10-13. But the article also came about because the headline is a cold, hard fact.

Sydney's "Westies" have dropped their ugg-boot stereotypes as the area has become a home for hipsters, refugees, and families of all collars. Whether it was the influx of migrants, or because it's the only area you can build a home for an honest buck, the area represents the battler's ascension to the middle class. And it also just seemed like the place where my community in Dandenong is headed. The best kind of template, with all the same personality and spice.

As I walked around I met a guy named Chris, a concreter and proud Anglo Aussie who moved to Western Sydney in the early 90s. "I've got a real problem with this image of being Aussie," he told me when I asked about the area's mash of culture. "I'm as proud as they come but I can assure you there's nothing more Australian then smashing a few beers at the Woolpack Hotel then hitting Oz Turks for a HSP. What could be more Australian than watching the NRL with a Crowny and a HSP with extra chicken salt? No one wants to be eating chops and mash all day."

The talk of food led me to the holy grail of charcoal chicken in the West. El Jannah translates to "heaven" in English and that is the only way to describe their food. While devouring the Lebanese-style chicken and garlic sauce, I spoke to my friend Musa about how useful Middle-Eastern food has been in bridging cultural divides, "Food is traditionally meant to be shared," he said. "Especially in my village in Lebanon. My uncles serve big plates of rice and lamb that we all eat with our hands. It is a communal experience, a generous offering and sharing."

Whether it's El Jannah or the Knafeh bakery, the community wants to integrate by giving away what we love. And back in my own original home of Afghanistan, you visit family with sweets and food, not because they need it but because you want them to feast on your mum's super secret recipes.

Afterwards I thought the best way to spend the sunset would be to catch a film at the Blacktown cinema. My friend Ruby told me about how much the Skyline drive-in cinema meant to her during her teens. "I met my first boyfriend there, an assyrian boy called Younan," she explained. "He drove a bright green Toyota that made a really loud noise when he rolled in. At the drive-in the movies became secondary to the atmosphere of the crowd. Anyone who wasn't there with someone spent a lot of the time checking each other out. It was real cute."

The drive-in cinemas in Bankstown were different again. They united all collars and colours under an 80s neon-sign aesthetic. It was a social outing that rejected the exclusivity of Sydney's bouncer scene. "No one cared about the colour of people's skin, what religion anyone was, or what they were wearing," said Ruby. "The drive-in was where everyone showed off and got together on a Friday night. It was really fun."

It was the month of Ramadan and the following night I decided to soak in the festive Islamic spirit by visiting Lakemba mosque. Iqbal, who was my Uber driver, got excited when I told him where I was going. "Wait until you see the generosity," he exclaimed. "Once the sun sets, the people haven't eaten all day but they care more about feeding you. The food is for everyone, no colour or country or even religion, you must eat with us once the sun sets."

I found the street overflowing with people in the blocked off streets. Young Muslim boys and girls were handing out fresh dates to curious Anglo onlookers, inviting them into a world that preached only unity. "But I'm not Muslim" replied one lady as she chewed on a date. The boy's father smiled. "Who cares?" he asked.

If this struck a chord you should come to the Parramatta Lanes Festival, in the heart of Sydney's west, on between October 10-13. Check out VICE Australia curated screenings on Aird Street over the three nights and a lineup of Sydney's finest hip hop including Nes, FlexMami, Klasik, and Ziggy curated by Noisey on Friday night only. More info here.

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