Helllloooooo everyone.......well I am here.......wow, wow, wow, wow and a bit more wow!!!!

Flight from Perth was ok, we arrived at the backpackers and went straight out (after taking the train from the airport with my rucksack actually on my back - like in true backpacker styleee!!!), met some locals, got drunk and the less said the better of that night!!! I arose about 11, and decided to get exploring....The Opera House has always intrigued me, in fact a previous beau secured himself a date (poor sod regretted this later clearly....you know who you are!!!), by answering when I asked "if we went to the Sydney Opera House and I was dancing on the wall outside, what would you do??" he correctly answered "I would join you of course!!!".....so the anticipation of seeing it in the flesh was just too much, so off I go......walk down Pitt Street and through the Central Business District towards the Harbour.....it is a vibrant place, this area is full of suits as you can imagine, and honestly it felt quite a lot like London with sun!!!!!! On my way I notice the National Opal Museum, Opals are my birthstone and Australias national gem, so I was determined to take one home....and more importantly the sign said it was free to go to the museum....well I am a backpacker now!!!! So in I go, learn all about opalisation and fossils and stuff!!! Then came the fun, bought a stunning bracelet with 3 light opals in as my keepsake from the trip....I LOVE IT!!!!!

So feeling quite chuffed with myself, off I go towards the harbour....and honestly, as the bridge sneaked a peak through the buildings I was so excited...I am sounding like a full on geek I know, as I got closer I could hear the guy in the pics playing his digeridoo to some proper techno beats which was awesome!!!! And fitting, as there was the bridge but more importantly, there were "The Sails".....completely overwhelmed, even more elegant in real life......there was also a cruise liner docked, that I think was a good one, something like the Queen Elizabeth or something, I overheard some guy talking about it?????

I just sat for a while taking in the vibe.....then took a walk over to the sails and went in and around and had a wee as I said INSIDE!!!!! No tour taken as I will see something there while I am here so thought I would class that as my tour!!!!

Then sat for a while at the sails (yes Rich I do still have an affiliation!!!), watching people running round it, imagine that, taking your daily run along Sydney Harbour!!! Anyway, I am sounding even sadder now....I think it is safe to say, I loved it.....so started to make my way back and noticed that "Slumdog Millionaire" was playing at the cinema in the Harbour, had read about all the oscars it got, so thought I would check it out......cool movie, was chatting to a guy from Bangladesh about it last night, and he said that it is a very true representation of life there which is very scary.....so then made my way back up George Street mosied in and out of some shops and got back to the backpackers about 8ish....Anj was up by this point!!!! Had some food and caught some zzzzz's!!!

Thursday, we took ourselves off to Darling Harbour, not the same buzz but a gorgeous place none the less, checked out the beautiful Chinese Gardens, never been to such a tranquil place, especially within a city centre, was interested in the whole yin and yang theory so something to check out when I come home!!!! Yesterday we took a random ferry to a place called Watsons Bay (Mr Brookbank I am sure this was one of your special places :-)), well it was absolutely gorgeous, stunning beaches, gorgeous bars and there is a clifftop walk you can take.....so we did.....and we stumbled across a nudey beach.....well I know that I am 31 but it still cracked me up!!! This guy with all his glory (and I mean all his glory!!!) was waving his hand and it at us!!!! For sure the biggest giggle yet, like a couple of school girls!!!! Came back from there, having decided to change backpackers, we moved all our stuff only to decide that actually the first one was better and went back!!!!!! We then hung out with some of the guys at the backpackers on the roof terrace which was cool.....and met a couple from Northampton, small world eh!!!!

Today, we have just chilled it, its surprising how tiring this travelling malarky is you know!!! Anyway off to skype with Dad now as the beloved bank have frozen my accounts as there has been overseas activity on it!!!! Even though I told them every date and every destination...TWICE!!!!! And breath!!!!

Sounds like there has been some stuff that is not so fun at home so loadsa love to you guys that are having it rough......take care and talk soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx