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Have been in Oz for nearly a month now, is funny how time flies.It was a bit of a culture shock arriving into Sydney after so long in Asia, suddenly I didn't stand with my blonde hair and backpack and I actually had to pay proper prices for things, I winced at handing over $12 dollars just for the short train ride into the city. Welcome back to the western world. Reassuring myself that sunbathing was free and work would be a plenty, I would be just fine. Unfortunately the former proved challenging as my first few days in Sydney were characteristed by torrential rain; apparently it had started a week previous and wasn't going anywhere fast. City sightseeing involved jumping into various coffee shops and attractions as soon as the downpours began; therefore I soon discovered the Australian coffee culture, coffee is religion out here and good baristas are elevated to god-like status. After two months of drinking either Chai or, if I was really desperate, Nescafe this was a welcome suprise and my coffee addiction has well and truely returned.
Finally the sun decided to put his back on casting the city in a much better light! Ticked the usual sights off the list; opera house, harbour bridge, Bondi, Manly ferry, Darling Harbour etc while attempting (unsuccessfully) to job hunt. Bit of a supply and demand issue when it comes to casual work and backpackers in Sydney. While waiting for the arrival of Miss Hearne decided to to go discover some of Australia's natural beauty that it's famous for, firstly by agreeing to walk the 28km Royal National Park costal walk just south of Sydney, in one day, slight challenge as yoga is about as active as i've been since leaving England. Long day but the stunning scenery kept me going, changing throughout the day from sheer cliffs with 100m drops into the ocean and waterfalls to deserted beachs and then the final climb through the jungle to the end. Never seen a sea so turquoise and clear. Needless to say the next day I was rather tired and walking like a seventy year old.
The Blue Mountains provided more amazing photo opportunities and for me to use my legs to get out and about to see the wilderness. Spent a couple of days in Katoomba, closest town to the Three Sisters rock formation and Echo point look out. Kind of hit me looking out over the mountains how much of Australia in uninhabited, miles and miles of bushland and jungle in every direction, which was very refreshing after the densely populated India with its 1.2 billion inhabitants. Spending some time in the mountains did unfortunately mean I came face to face with nature in the form of a massive spider the size of my hand (cue screaming) and lots and lots of blood sucking leeches (cue LOTS of screaming). Nice stuff am sure I'll see much worse in the next month.
Back to Sydney to pick Jessica up from the airport and begin phase two of my travels. So nice to see a familiar face and have big catch up on the past three months. Spent a few days re-tracing my footsteps around the sights this time in the beautiful sunshine. Went to Tropfest, a massive short film festival in the botanical gardens, nice bit of entertainment to go with our wicked picnic and box of wine (backpackers best friend). Luckily the weather held out, unlike Good Vibrations festival last week! After a couple more days of city living we got some wheels in the form of Jucy Lucy, our bright green and purple van and set off towards Brisbane, Jess driving and me, map and lonely planet in hand navigating. Lasted about ten minutes before pulling off the road to a Mackie D's milkshake and getting lost! Has been great to have the freedom and out own itinery while we just drifted up north. Took a little while to get used to driving an automatic and I still keep flicking the windscreen wipers on everytime I go to turn left. At least I remember that you don't drive with the handbrake on, (quote Jess 'I think theres something wrong with the car, its keeps shuddering and isn't accelerating properly') Whoops.
Have alternated between just parking up at the side of the road for the night and actually finding campsites so we could get a shower, life on the open road has definately suited us. Spent a week driving North through New South Wales through endless National Parks and beautiful stretches of coastline, jumping in the nearest waterhole for a refreshing break or once in my case hair wash. Hit the Hunter Valley for a spot of wine tasting and then hit the nearby local nightspot (think Cessnock's version of the Crown) for more wine & rum tasting and some tone deaf kareoke.
Another couple of hundred kilometres and we pulled up in Byron Bay. Having heard many a good story about Byron we were ready to park up for a couple of days, party hard and recover on the beach in the day. Torrential rain for three days solid kind of ruined one half of this plan but hangover recovery can be just as effective lying in a camper van. Hit the backpacker mecca Cheeky Monkeys every night which to my delight didn't have a dancefloor instead everyone just danced on the tables, seems I haven't learnt from my last spot of table dancing (ie knee surgery).
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