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Its here, our blog of Sydney. Sydney was completely different to any other stay we had in australia. Whilst Brisbane was similar, we were just too far away from the bars there. Sydney, we were caught up- right in the middle of the hectic city life :)
Cool Chris dropped us off at the Oz office, and directed us to find our Hostel 'MAZE'...In return for checking in, we received a book called the gospel. Basically a backpackers guide to the best bars in Sydney, and free drink vouchers for each bar! 15 bars (get in) and another load of vouchers, for things like $1 shots ect.
Entering our room, the both of us became hit by a wall of smell. It was a foul stench of pure body and feet odour. One bed had no sheet, and was swallowed in clothes, rubber dingys? and all sorts. Soon enough we come to realise how that bed was never occupied day or night? It was within hours of arriving and we received a text of James. Our Home in Sydney was on Pitt St, just of George St. We aranged to meet James the next day. James helped us gain bearings in Sydney, and showed us the beautiful sights of the famous Harbour bridge, Opera House ect. It had been a long while since seeing James, and felt weird to see him again, as we never thought we would again. After saying goodbye, we later decided to try out the Side Bar many had talked about at MAZE. We also saw it a good opportunity to start using our vouchers.
Side Bar was part of the apparent 'Best Hostel in Sydney'...often they would have Live music and a very good turn out of Backpackers.
The Hostel, Side Bar is connected to is called wake up!...and we would come to see why it is the 'Best Hostel' in Sydney by our last night...
Me and Marti had been testing the vibe of side, and the beer for about an hour or so, when we received a text of James, asking us where we were, and if he could join us..soon enough he appeared at our side, and we started getting more drinks in. James informed us of Scubar around the corner, noticing we had vouchers-we thought it was a good idea. Until this point, marti still had the same pair of flip flops since the beggining of our journey...like i said though, until now. If you imagine walking through Moda in Flip Flops, thats pretty much what we were experiencing in Scubar. The floor was so sticky, that martis flips completely gave way. So for the meanwhile, he really had one flip flop, and one bear foot. We even returned to Side Bar, this was because Side Bar was well better, and also-we didnt want to break any more flip flops ay!
The morning after, a trip to Manly beach was on the agenda. We scooted down to the Harbour, and caught ourselves a ferry to the famous Manly beach. Once there, we recognised the surf shops instantly. Rip Curl, Quicksilver, Billabong, Mambo and plenty others. Our eyes lit up and hearts so desperately craved every bit of surf gear in the shops. I definately couldnt afford any clothes at my financial situation, yet marti saw a chance to spend his doey on some really cool shorts, and flip flops lol..after what happened in Scubar anyway. Afterward we brought a pack of six crunchie ice creams from the supermarket and then went straight onto the sand and the sea...(Manly Beach, ahhh). We listened to our music, chilled, and watched the waves go by. Before we had a chance to enter, they declared the beach unfit to swim in after us being there for no longer than half an hour. Our hopes of cooling down had vanished.
Soaking up the rays, we waited until the sun had faded accross the blue sky; and then we made our way back. Walking back through the high street of Manly, we were easily tempted into a slice of seriously lush, and chunky pizza!
Whilst we are on the food subject, i will inform you all of how we mainly feasted of pizza breads, toast and take-aways...including a surrender to our favourite (Pizza Hut). Our nights at Maze when we wernt out partying it up, it was usually a nice long night of feasting on goodies and watching some good films from the hostel shelf of films. Often we got up pretty late (love the lie-ins) and then usually decided on an activity for the day. For example, one gloriously weathered day we felt like a good old strole around Sydney, walking right the way down Oxford street to backpackers central 'Kings Cross'. Here we explored the shops, grabbed lunch, chilled...and had a good laugh. We ended up seeing the Harbour bridge on the other side, it seemed for a second that we were lost? but soon found our bearings. Not having any clue about the Sydney festival, we turned a corner to see a huge crowd (same sort of thing as a Picnic in the park. We wondered around trying to understand the vibe, see what the score was. One geekish but helpful guy let us know it was jazz and classical music all day...and we left. After a mamouth walk, we found our way back to Maze, and exhaustion!
On a seperate outing we discovered some of the city centre shops, and some really cool deals of clothing. We both really wish we lived here, or had more money...so we could buy the cool t-shirts, hoodys, shorts ect that we see at every stop! brands such as Rythm, Rusty, Mambo, Hurley and so many other cool surf brands. I in particualr now wish i would have brought a certain Rythm top i saw, but at a state of finance like mine, such luxurys are impossible. Even marti refused on buying a top, as he had already splashed out on his new shorts (very cool shorts though, Mambo). Later we headed for Darling Harbour, to check out the scenery and bars, shops. We came accross a British lolly shop. The shop had everything from P.J tips to double deckers and HP sauce and some really good British stuff. It is at times like that one we really appreciated our home faves!
One afternoon at a small square court, we sat on benches eating Bakery goods-soon enough the local infestation of Tramps engulfed our eating space. there were loads in this area. One came up to us and started talking Jiberish to us. We were eating our donuts, and he was inches away smelling like someone had chucked piss at him. The stench was unbearable, he thought we was Ausies i think, because he asked if we were good surfers and stuff. I actually stopped eating! I was really getting annoyed now, especailly when he sat next to me, so i got up and pretended to put something in the bin...I didnt sit back down, i was hoping marti would get up, and sure enough he did.
Saturday night!! the first saturday for us, whilst in Sydney. The Hostel always gives pink bands out for the guests to enjoy the Power hour at the Gaff. This meant, if you had a band on, you were entitled to one hours free drinking (beers and wine). Of course me and marti jumped on the opportunity. Walking in the Gaff we tried to get a just of the surroundings, and bars to get our free drinks. It was packed with backpackers galore-all huddling around for thier free drinks. Me and marti saw a great time to try and get as smashed as possible, and drink as much as to what we could get our hands on. Our first couple of drinks we gulped down in record times. by the fourth, entertainment had began on the dance floor. For a couple of minutes we were distracted. Soon we realised its purpose to pull people away from emptying the bars pumps. We didnt fall for that nonsense and carried on at normal pace. Twice we came up with an idea of getting two drinks at one time from each bar, so to get two drinks at once. I would go and get a drink from one bar, gave it to marti on the way back, then went to the other and got another, and then marti did the same. This was very useful when the end of the hour came, and we managed to get four drinks just before they stopped serving the free drinks! :)
We managed to guzzle 7 free drinks each, these were scooners mind; not pints. Scooners are in between half a pint and a full pint. Some moves were brought out on the dance floor, some very drunk feelings expressed, then it was of to Scubar and Side bar once again. It was another night where the memory has trouble recalling most of the night, but flashes come back at the strangest times. I think we danced some more at Side Bar, met people on the dance floor and finally departed for a Hungry Jacks (Australian Burger king). It will amaze you all that on this night we only spent $1 on drink. We got a free drink at scubar, and a voucher for a $1 shot at side bar...and of course thier was the power hour before all that.
Bondi beach, along with manly, are the famous, and best beaches of Sydney...and if you are here, thats all most people will say. So we thought it our duty to see the giant Bondi beach. It said everywhere on the walls in our Hostel 'Beach walk..meet at reception at 12:00 Bondi and coogee beach'. But did anyone meet us?? i think not. Instead it was just us and a danish lad. The Manager simply said, Oh welll you must a have mist them. He gave us instructions of what buses to take ect to get their. Sure enough we found Bondi beach, and what a crappy day to visit. It was miserable, where as the whole week it had been sunny. But we tried desperatly to make the best out of it as possible. Under the soaked cafe tent, we enjoyed a good English Fry up :) ...Still with our friend for the day, we decided the weather simply wasnt going to change, and we haeaded back.
The dissapointment of the day fueled us up with the need for beer! Oh I forgot to mention about the free return journey on the bus i got. Marti and the Danish guy paid and went in, I only had a $50 dollar note, so the driver said, come back when you get off. i completely forgot about it and got off without having to pay!
So we went for another night on the razz. Marti found two Gospel books on the floor with the side bar and Scubar vouchers still inside. Quality! so we ventured straight to Scubar for our first drink. Within the half an hour two girls came up to the both of us and asked if we wanted to join them for a drink. So we picked ourselves up and got to know them. One was from Somerset, the other from Northampton. After finishing our drinks we all walked along to Side Bar. Me and marti had been drinking at the Hostel before, and the drink was a little effective by now. In side bar, there was a clear definition of interest from the girls. The Somerset girl attentive around pimp Hoskins, and the Northampton girl buzzing around me. After a while I surrendered and gave in, but she was far too keen by any means, and became slightly annoying not leaving a second for myself. When she asked to dance i said "'yeah sure, just let me go toilet first and me and mart will be over" so she took her mate, and it was then marti rambled with his frustration. "her breathe smells; she wont go away!". he didnt want to give into her seductive tactics, and i did admit the Northampton girl was very annoying, and so..marti asked "Can we just go?". It sounded very tempting, as the night was young, and we wanted to try out an Irish bar 'Scruffy Murphys'. Marti gave a short gaze at the dance floor, and darted up the stairs, and i followed. we wanted a new start for the night, try a different setting. Laughing aloud we chuckled at our disgracefully funny runaway.
We were at Scruffy murphys till very early the next morning, and our dancing was incredible through the night, especially when two extremely fit birds were daringly close to us on the dance floor. We split, then found each other again, met random people and had a wicked night.
The next day came- one of pure rest, films, and a Quiz at the Hostel. in our room came two new room mates- Alex and Emily. Two young girls. One from London and the other from Scotland. Emily was abit wacky and sometimes annoying, yet Alex was fit and cool. the remaining days at Maze were spent sorting out our trip to Melbourne on the Oz bus, and trying to get one more nights accomodation, close to the pick up spot (so we booked Wake up!) we chilled on our last nights, talking with Alex and watching films mostly. After checking in at Wake-up, we were also going to be meeting Sophie McNulty at the wake up! cafe bar. On a heavy raining day we enjoyed a hot chocolate complimentary of Soph and talked for a good hour or so. It was good to see someone we knew from Cheltenham, it gave us some slight comforting, as well as Sophie persuading us to return another year for a longer stay...very tempting.
Another detail i missed out, was that somewhere in our stay we had a stroll along the Botanic Gardens (lush) and topped up the tan and played some footy in Hyde park a couple of times.
Our last night and day in Sydney, and we had checked in at Wake up! Hostel. Awkwardly, we bumped into one of the girls we stranded that night in Side Bar. We just waved...thats all we got back anyways. We didnt want to approach and go into conversation! It was clear to us now, why Wakeup! was the best in Sydney, a truly marvelous accomodation.
God dammit I almost forgot. Whilst the Australian open had began, people flocked to the big screens in areas of Sydney to watch live games from Melbourne stadium...and so me and marti did also.
For our last night, what could be more fitting than to simply go down the elevator to Side Bar for one more night with our good friend- beer. It took a while for the night to kick into gear. It began with the Tennis on screen, and then meeting a very funny cool sweedish guy, who couldnt stop buying drinks for the both of us. Then we made another friend from England, who started buying pints for us also. We kept switching to dance, then not dancing. Some sweedish girls came into the equation at some point also, and it was becoming hectic. I do remember dancing for a long while, whilst marti knocked back more and more beers. I found the idea of getting up at 6:00am very hard to overcome, so i retired at around 2 ish and marti followed a half an hour or so after. (Note from marti: Matt actually snuck out of the club, went and pigged a Kebab- seen i didnt notice and went to bed innocently)!
In the morning, marti was confused to wake with a beer smelling patch next to him on his sheets, and his towel on the bed above? We were both feeling hungover, but i think marti had the worst of it. After 11 wonderful days, we looked forward to the Oz experience journey to melbourne....and of course Melbourne itself.
So thats was Sydney, you like? the end of our travels on the east-coast was coming to an end, and we started to reflect on the good times more and more. yet you still have to read, the travels through Canberra and others, and our 3 weeks with Big dave, Yvonne, Lauren, will and of course Blue the Dog! Keep reading, and keep the messages coming...we enjoy reading them all, and what you think of our photos ect Love Love Love xxx
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