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Friday 19th October 2007- Investigating Sydney
Left Kathy at central bus stop and booked into Wake Up on Pitt Street. Kathy was staying with Ed her mate from Thailand so went off to investigate the city on my own. Just enjoyed strolling around finding my feet. Sydney is very busy but it as a lovely warm day so I just enjoyed walking around soaking in the atmosphere. Went back to the hostel and met a girl in the room called Jo. A really nice girl from Southhampton we went for tea together in China Town. Had a really nice night went down to Darling Harbour and had drinks in the Black Bird. Unfortunately the chinese did not agree with me so we left fairly early and I crawled into bed.
Saturday 20th October 2007- Sydney Harbour, Opera House and Manley Island.
Got up at 10:00ish and me and Jo made our way down to Sydney Harbour. It was a bit of a walk from the hostel but we walked through the Botanical Gardens which were beautiful. The view as we walked down the hill was magnificent. Just incredible! I really like Sydney. A city with a beautiful harbour, hot weather and beaches about 20 minutes away. What could be better! Had photos around the harbour and the Opera House and then decided to get the ferry to Manley. The ferry ride across was lovely, watching the sailing boats (narrowly missing the ferry). Arrived at Manley and discovered a market that is only on once a month. Spent 30 mins walking around and didnt buy anything I was so proud! Got to the beach and ate Sushi unfortuantely it was probably getting a bit late so it wasn't that warm. Lay on the beach but after a while decided we should head back to the hostel. Had tea and went to Side Bar for a drink. Decided to go to bed as we were getting up for the rugby! Only had 4 hours sleep probably should have just stayed up in hindsight!
Sunday 21st october 2007- Rugby, Chinese Gardens, Cinema.
Got up at around 4:00am and headed down to the harbour to meet Kathy. Kathy wasn't picking up so decided to follow people in white shirts. Met Brett along the way who befriended us and introduced us to his mates when we got to Cargo Bar. It was nice to be watching the World Cup Final in Darling Harbour. A girl started chatting to me who was drinking and said she had been up since 2:00 the day before. When I asked how was she still standing she replied "Class A my dear". Stupid me! I actually really enjoyed the game apart from the result. The English were slightly outnumbered so we left straight after the game. Met up with Kathy as she had been at the other side of the harbour. The sun was out and we decided to treat ourselves to breakfast. Cowered in a corner as all the South African fans were walking past the bar singing and chanting. After breakfast I went back to bed.
Got up and Kathy and me went down to Darling Harbour to find something to do. Decided to go around the Chinese Gardens and had great fun dressing up in traditional Chinese dress. Spent a while taking photographs of ourselves. Kathy was a bit embarassed at first but pointed out we didn't know anyone. After this went and sat at Darling Harbour as it was too late to go into any of the other attractions. Had an enjoyable day even if we did loose the rugby! Went back to the hostel got changed and met up with Kathy for the cinema. Went to see Mighty Heart with Angelina Jolie. Which I really enjoyed but obviously it was a bit upsetting.
Monday 22nd October 2007- Bridge Lookout, Museum of Modern Art and Lunch.
Met up with Penny and Emma who we had met in Surfers and all went off to do the Bridge Climb. Decided to walk down to the harbour which was probably not the best idea as it was boiling. We were so hot that we decided to call in at the Gallery of Modern Art. This actually turned out to be really interesting! Especially the exhibition on the fourth floor by a feminist artist. Photos on facebook!
Got to the Bridge eventually. I actually thought the climb would be longer but it was fairly short. I really don't understand why people would pay $170 to walk the bridge when you can pay $9.90 to walk up the Pylon. Got some good photos but the sun had gone in by the time we got to the top. Typical! Walked back through town and decided to stop for lunch. A bar had pizzas for $10 so me and Kathy shared one. Kathy and me then went back to the hostel and checked e-mails etc. Spent the night packing for Batemans Bay.
Tuesday 23rd October 2007- Batemans Bay
Got on the bus to Batemans Bay where Miriam and Ted met us. It was really nice to see them and they made us both feel really welcome. Had a homecooked tea of Pumpkin Soup and Cheesy scones. Weather was a bit miserable but never mind!
Wednesday 24th October 2007-Batemans Bay
Got up and the weather was horrible so no beach. Ted took us to see Miriam dance. She is really good and I was very impressed with how fit the ladies were I was knackered watching them. We then walked around town and looked at the shops not as small as I thought Batemans Bay would be. M& T treated us to lunch in the local cafe unfortunately no improvement in the weather it was even raining. So we decied to go home. On the way back we drove to one of the local beaches where some people were surfing but no one was swimming. Took a photo and then ran back in the car as it was so windy and rainy. Went back to the house and went to bed for 2 hours. (I hadn't slept very well the night before because I was coming down with something). Had a lovely evening just relaxing and watching telly.
Thursday 25th October 2007- Canberra
Miriam and Ted had suggested we went to Canberra the night before. So got up and off we went. The weather wasn't great again especially over the mountains the mist meant Ted had to slow down as he approached the bends (I was quite grateful as I really don''t travel well on windey roads). Arrived in Canberra and went to go up the Sky Tower. Unfortuantely it was too misty to see anything. Headed into the city got a bit lost but we were fine after about 10 minutes. Went for lunch and then did a bit of shopping which was cool. Unfortuantely didn't get to see Parliament House or the gardens as the weather was not great. Had another nice day! Miriam and Ted are such a comedy act. Kathy and I spent so much time just laughing at their banter. I hope I am so happily married when I'm 80!
Friday 26th October 2007- Night out Kings Cross.
Said our farewells and travelled back to Sydney in the rain! It was actually quite sad to leave as we had a really nice stay. Got a message off Penny and Emma that they were going out that night instead of Saturday. Got in and started to getting ready. Had a cool night we started in Side Bar then the Three Monkeys. Unfortuantely they wouldn't let me in with thongs (flipflops) on. So the kind Irish girl who lived acorss the road gave me some shoes that her flatmate had left behind when she flew back to Ireland. Thank God! Stupid bouncers I wouldn't mind but a girl in a purple dress which was far too short and who was wearing fishnet tights got in after me. I was raging and if I hadn't wanted to go back in I would have told him what I thought. Made a point by walking back out in my thongs when we left. What a stupid rule!
Then Kathy and me went off to Kings Cross to meet her mate Lee form home. We arrived at Hugo's. Infront of us two blokes who were dressed in designer suits were turned away. So I'm thinking there is no chance. I'm in straw and black shoes that aren't even mine (carrying flipflops), black shorts that are so last year and a blue cardigan that does not go with the outfit. Not sure how we did it but we got straight in. We were greeted by stunning, trendy, rich men and women so felt extra trampy and inadequate but hey. Actually had a good night talking to Lee and some lads from America. Got home about three!
Saturday 27th October 2007- Slept
Wasted the day as we were so ill from the night before. We haven't had a drunken night out since Surfers so our bodies didn't really know what had hit us. Should really have had tea before we went out! I've decided though the only way to ensure you don't have such bad hangovers is make sure you get drunk regularly. This way your body is used to such abuses. Kathy drank wine, Baylies, Jack Daniels and beer. Needless to say saturday morning was interesting. We had to check out of our room and we had no toilet on our floor so she had to throw up in the bin in the room. The German guy in the room was horrified. I thought it was hilarious! Stayed in that night and watched Terminator 2. Why do people enjoy those films?
Saturday 27th October 2007- Sky Tower, Oz Trek and Barracks Museum
Got up early leaving Kathy in bed and went to do the Sky Tower and Oz Trek. The weather in Sydney was ok but not as good as the day before gutted! Went up the tower and was treated to panoramic views of the city. Then went on Oz trek which is a motion ride like at Granade Studios. The guide in the film took us around Australia and then centred on Sydney. It was actually very well done but felt a bit ill with motion sickness. Seriously I'm going around the world and I get sick on a ride suitable for 5 .
Left and headed for Hyde Park where people were playing chess with big pieces how cool is that. Then went to the Barracks museum on Macquorie Street. This is well worth $5 (backpacker discount). 3 floors of the history of the barracks. This building also acted as a depot for women immigrants, a prison for those convicts who weren't high security and the 3rd floor was an asylum for destitute and old women. It was very interesting especially learning about the offences people got sent to Australia for. However imagine after you had finished your sentence you were free to live in a country that was warm and did offer some opportunity. There was also a whole section about hulk ships especially the one's in Bermuda. Hulk ships held prisoners because the prisons on land were full. Many also held prisoners just before they were ready to be sent to the colonies to work in bad conditions.
That took about 3 hours to get around. Got back to the hostel, Kathy was asleep as she had gone out the night before. Now I'm sat here writing my diary but need to go back to the room as we have to change rooms agian tomorrow at 10:00. Our hostel must be the busiest hostel in Sydney. I think I'm going to have to return to Sydney as I have not seen nearly half of its attractions. Going to do the power house museum and I'm hoping the weather gets better so I can sunbathe on Bondi.
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