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G'day Bruces, g'day Sheilas! Sorry, couldn't resist! Yes, that's right I'm in the land they call Australia. Okay, okay, so I'm only here in this part of the world for a week or so, and granted you can't possibly see everything that New Zealand or Australia has to offer in such a short space of time, but give me credit boys and girls, I have tried my best! Read on everybody unless your name is Mum (in which case, please refer to paragraph 4)...
I arrived in Auckland last Wednesday, after effectively a two day long flight, eager to see as much of the place as I could. Back on the Southern Cross James and Christina had told me that a company called the Kiwi experience did free day city tours, so I got onto them straight away.
Three hours later and I'm on Auckland Harbour Bridge, attached only to a rope being held by some Kiwi who's taunting me for being a no-good Pom. "Do it," he shouts. "Do it now you filthy Englishman and stop wasting everybody's time" (quote may not be word for word). As I close then open my eyes for the final time, I notice that my feet have shifted and I have shuffled forwards so that I am half way off an 80 metre high platform and staring into the a sea of blue which raws upwards, hungry to swallow me whole. I, of course, am about to do a bunji jump, and as I fall, I'm reminded of a ride called Loggers Leap that I used to go on when I was little at Thorpe Park...only much-much worse. Needless to say, it was certainly a once in a lifetime experience I hope only to experience once in my lifetime. I wanted you all too to share in my terror, but it turns out the video that one of my friends took is too long and the file too large to fit on the site. Still, I have a t shirt and DVD of the happy event, which I'd be only to happy to show you when I get back.
I left New Zealand - I guess much like I shall leave Australia - in the knowledge that both are beautiful and picturesque countries, with much for the adventurer and risk-taker to enjoy, but just like South America, both need much more time than I can afford right now. So I hope to return one day.
The reason, of course, that I may only have but a few days here, is that I'm off to India very soon, and this is something New Zealand and Australian customs officials are all to aware of; both appeared very wary of my motives for travelling to their countries. I could only guess why this could be. Perhaps, it was the quick succession of flights I have just had, perhaps my faliure to declare a packet of Chewits, risking a $200 fine - don't worry, I acted calmly under pressure - or maybe it was my unkempt appearnce to which Mum had alluded before I came out may make me an easy target. Whichever, I have now twice found myself under questioning, most severely in New Zealand, where they had insisted they search every item of my belongings and sprawl everything out in front of me so that everyone could see what colour boxer shorts I have. "You may as well get the sniffer dog", I mocked, after seeing the disappointment in the guy's face at not having found anything untoward. He laughs and walks away out of eyesight and his colleague returns with the aforementioned mut. Anyway, as a result of my excitement about going to India, and in consideration of the amount of airport time I have had just recently, I have been able to formulate an itinerary of my own which I think is very ambitious, and owes much to of course my Lonely Planet guide, and my friend Molly, who gave me a whole long list of places I shouldn't miss going to a while back. I hope to update you in some of these places.
I came to Australia on Thursday, first spending a few days in Melbourne before arriving here. Melbourne is a very pretty city and, to me, not completely dissimilar to London, most notably because of the river that runs in the South. However, I didn't spend my time completely in the city centre, and (I like to maintain) because of the must-do things people had told me about, I booked myself on a tour of the suburbs in which Neighbours is filmed. I can't quite remember what my expectations were before going, but I found it quite fascinating firstly, how small Ramsay Street (or Pin Oak if you live there) is - there are only six houses in the whole road, and in general, how just like any small town the place is. People and cars walk passed just as if it were any street, I guess, because that's what it is. As a consequence, carrying round the street signs/school sign etc. in order to pose with to make a good photo felt a little silly. Still, it's all good fun though isn't it?!
Last night - obviously having not got enough of the whole Neighbours experience - I went to the famous 'Neighbours Night' here in Sydney, which was kind of a quiz thing, and seemingly very popular, though admittedly, mostly with the party-hard Brits. I'm sorry to say my team and I didn't win, but we did get to meet, take photos and get autographs with some of the cast, the most popular of which being Dr Karl Kennedy, real name being...well, Karl Kennedy. Yeah, that's his name. Apparently he's out on the road with his band in Britain again at Christmas, to which my friend Ruth will be delighted - of course, I am now on the VIP list. I have plenty more Neighbours news...in fact, I now know every storyline/exit/departure for the next year, but unfortunately (for you) I have been sworn to secrecy by the powers that be.
I think perhaps the thing that Sydney has which most other cities do not is everything, if you see what I mean. In my four days here, I hope to see most of it, and have already been ona ferry a couple of times, having been persuaded by the very nice lady at the airport to buy a weekly travelcard. I've also been out at night a couple of times as part of the free evenings arranged by my hostel, and been to Coogee beach as well.
Right, I should be off now. Hope all is well at home. I heard about the flooding, which sounds like a bit of a nightmare. I hope it doesn't monsoon too much in India!
(guess who got travel blog of the day for this one folks...?)
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