10th Jan - First full day in Sydney today, so thought i'd do all the obvious places whilst taking in the town itself. Walking through Sydney it felt like any other city in the world i'll be honest. The whole place was one giant grid system like the original Sim City computer game, like a giant was playing with the city. Walked through the Botanical Gardens which had a massive variety of sounds and smells going through there, after that went to an Art Museum whihc had a good variety of European, Australian and Asian art etc there. Then carried on till i got a good view point of the Sydney Opera House. Now the Opera House itself, don't get me wrong looked spectacular, but you could tell it had been there a while, the white was a bit grim and looked like it needed a clean. I was told that it was originally designed by a Dutch architect, who whilst over there over seeing the building got so bored that they were taking so long just up and left (another bit of proof at the pace of life over here). So its still not finished to the right specifications today, mainly the interior. However, they are now in talks with the architects son, and are refitting the inside to the original. The Harbour bridge, now that was pretty impressive, was huge, and looked good conneting the two parts of Sydney together. I didn't do the walk over (as in over the very top), mainly cause it was a rip off and you weren't even allowed to take photos!! After this went to the Contemporary Art Museum, which had a special Lebowitz photography exhibiton on, but i refused to pay, as i believe all Art should be free and not just for the priviliged!! After this went for a walk through the main streets (George Street, Pitt Street), Sydney is a very multicultural place, with a huge influence of Asia and Ireland here (met most Irish people at bars!). Wandered around a bit more saw the Harbour, and Darling Harbour......Maybe its me, but i wasn't really impressed, the Harbour Bridge was breathtaking, and the Opera house was pretty cool, it is spectacular architecher, but i dunno. I apart from those two landmarks, i felt like i could've been in any westernized city in the world. Lots of traffic, lots of peolpe, most buildings look the same and crossing the road was like going to war, i felt like i should've painted my face blue and white each time i crossed the road and shouted at the people crossing the other side!! That night went out with some friends that i made in New Zealand, was nice to catch up with them, was a standard night of dancing mucking about and generally acting stupid..and after day 1 Sydney had already started the burning in my wallet!

11th Jan - After a night of sweating in my sleeping bag, top and tailing with my mate, i hadn't had much sleep, and woke up doing breaststroke with amount i sweated. We eventually rose from our den, to sort out ourselves to go to the Maritime Museum. The museum itself was pretty cool, learnt alot about Australian history, how the ditched the UK Naval defence for the US before they eventually got their own, and also saw a pretty cool Shark exhibition, although when surfing now i will wearing a nappy...did you know that 40'000 US citizens injure themselves every year on the toilet, Sharks only injure 4?! Walking back we had nothing planned tonight, and i just observed peopel here, and it got to me a bit how if someone bumped into you something no one said sorry, felt like going on a Patrick Bateman at times, but i didn't have a nail gun or an axe! That night we just relaxed, watched some aussie TV, and some more lame ass adverts that kind of reminded me of Waynes World, with the in appropriate advertising..."Ah, Nuprin. Little. Yellow. Different"

12th Jan - Ku Ring Chase National Park today lovely people. Made my own way up to this national park today.....you thought London trains were busy, the trians here were double decker, thought i was on an over populated planet or something.......Anyway managed to catch the right train, after deciphering the train timetable, which was worse than trying to take minutes for a George Bush speech and translate it to actually make sense! Got off at the right stop, then i read that i had to take a bus to the entrance to the park, but i looked at a map and thougt i can walk that its not far.........an hour and 20 minutes later and about 7k, i get to the entrance!! THink people thought i was trying to start a new trend.....intercity hiking! I took an off beat track to a place called Bobbin head, was quite exciting doing this on my own, the sites, sounds, smells, i didnt see another person for about an hour and a half, the bush felt like an busy city with all the noise, changing so often, but all hidden in the trees away from the foreight specimen walking amongst them. I reached Bobbins Head which was pretty cool, but a bit built upon full of tourists who had just caught the bus there, or taken there Yacht...mwaaaa! The way back was a bit more of an open track, with open sun, not many trees, sun was getting to me i think, like it was shooting straight into me. I eventually got back to the start, i'd been walking for approximatly 4 a half hours today. I thought i'd get the bus back, asked securiuty guard for nearest bus sstop and he just pointed and replied 'down there somewhere'. I found it and got on the bus stinking worse than the plot, acting, costumes, casting and general production of the film Catwomen, so you can imagine how bad i was. That night i got back, after a few people vomiting on the train, to a well deserved nap and went to meet some friends for a drink at their hostel, which resembled several student living rooms that i had seen in the past, bottles everywhere, playstation, old couches and stinking to high heaven, was a good night at a Dub Step night, so lots of stupid dancing which was all good!!

13th Jan - Had a day at the Sydney Design and Technology museum today called 'Powerhouse'. ALmost turned and run a mile when i got there though as there was an 'ABBA' exhibition on there, but i didn't have to go there, the lady i paid asked if i wanted to and whilst she was singing ABBA, i replied "No thanks, i hate ABBA"..her singing stopped. THe museum was full of intersting things and imaginative exhibitions. They also had an 80's exhibition there as they were apparently coming back in (didn't they come back to the UK like 3 years ago??). ANyway afterwards went for a drink in a bit of a swanky looking place with my mate, and there's me with beard, vest, sandals...so naturally stuck out worse than Vanessa Feltz on a Supermodel runway. AFterwards spent the night with some friends from earlier in my trip, my mate i was staying with and 3 of his German friends that he'd met earlier in his trip, was a great night, was in a bit of a backpacker bar for a bit, so was fun watching the people who feel cause they're on the other side of the world can act a bit 'crazy'/like dickheads (yes i know i can't talk but i do that at home as well, i don't need an excuse!)...So i got home at about 5am, due to there being a bar called 'Cheers' that doesn't seem to shut?!! My new local!

Just realised why i don't blog so much as i did in South America, cause it costs a bloody fortune so can't be online too long!!! It was free in South America!!