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Published: October 15th 2007
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Sashimi at sea, fireworks in the harbour, jumping around to the Sneaky Sound System; there is too much to do to be bored. As this was our last leg in Sydney we wanted to see and do as much as we could in the final few months.
We finally moved closer to where the action is, basing ourselves in Randwick in the Eastern Suburbs. Randwick is best known for its race-course. For us the major attraction was convenience, as it is only a 15 minute bus journey to the city centre, where Gregor worked, and less than that to Coogee Beach. Plus the huge and gorgeous Centennial Park is nearby, encouraging Becky to dust off her running shoes and get fit.
Coogee is great! Gregor enjoyed many a night out at the Coogee Bay and the Palace. The nights seemed to follow a similar pattern ending in a visit to the pie shop whilst watching the late night activities. One memorable night out with this partner in crime, Mr McGuire, seems particularly memorable. It began with another Slam! Beach Volleyball competition, before moving to the Coogee Bay for a foam party. The boys were drenched to the skin. Dave
crashed over, with the two drunken idiots wanting to recount their festivities at four in the morning. Luck Becky!!
Coogee is great for chilling out. It may not be a surfing beach but it is not as busy as Bondi and still has plenty of shops and restaurants. If the sea is too strong then there is always Wylie Baths, a huge rock pool where you can go swimming. It is a little strange though tot be swimming in calm sea water pool doing laps with little fish keeping you company.
We have been to various events whilst here, including Australia Day, which was one big party. There was the great Aussie BBQ in the Park, live gigs in the Rocks (including Diesel and the Whitlams - huge here although we had never heard of them before we arrived). There was also a tall ship race, a parachute display and a fireworks finale to rival New Year. They really celebrate in style. Plus Google Earth was flying over to update their photos, so people were told to make shapes on the ground to add some excitement to the website. We couldn’t see ourselves though when we checked.
The men’s final of the Australian Open was a good freebie. A large screen was erected in front of the Opera House. Most of the Chileans in Australia seemed to converge there to support Gonzales. There was a lot of flag waving, as well as face painting and red outfits. Their enthusiasm was enthralling, as was the continual chants and it was almost disappointing that he lost. Almost, as Federer conjured up another magical display.
Music has been another theme in the last few months. We saw Eric Clapton in concert but he didn’t play Layla or tears in heaven. How dare he!! Gregor had a somewhat different time at the Good Vibrations festival, an open air dance event (while poor Becky had to work). He still goes on about watching Sneaky Sound System and bouncing about the crowd, screaming his lungs out while some nutter climbed on top of a marquee tent and somersaulted down. At the other end of the spectrum was our visit to the Opera House to see ‘Marriage of Figaro’, just to prove that we can be cultured occasionally.
A must do in Sydney is ‘Govindas’, where you have a delicious all-you-can-eat vegetarian
buffet before lying down on the cushions to watch a movie - all for a bargain price.
When in the country we think that you should try and sample the local delicacies and in Oz this meant beers, seafood, BBQ, pies and cricket. Lots and lots of cricket!! In fact, sport is huge in general, with cricket being the favourite. The atmosphere whilst the Ashes were on was fun, helped by the fact that England got a thrashing. Gregor decided to see what all the fuss was about and went to the Australia v New Zealand one day international and strangely decide to support the Kiwis (his mate that he went with was from there). Becky sent him a text half way through saying, “Are you asleep yet?” but apparently it was brilliant. The crowd were highly excitable, with lots of Mexican waves, sombreros, and giant volleyballs bouncing about. The crowd kept chanting “Sign the sheep, sign the sheep” and Vittori, one of the Kiwi players gave in eventually. Good man!! So, a great day out - even though the Kiwis were robbed.
Another delicacy was eating fried chicken foot during Chinese New Year. Strangely enough, it was
more daunting than the shark dive that we did in Manly (whilst doing a scuba review). Having nine large Grey Reef Sharks swimming with you should have scared the pants off us but was actually just a beautiful experience. They are fairly harmless but still look the part, as you will see from the photos.
Another visit to Manly, this time to stay with friends, was far more painful. We went surfing and both got stung by Bluebottles, also know as stingers or Portuguese-men-of-war; the stings are agony. When Gregor was initially stung it did not hurt him much, so little in fact that he and Jonathan even teased Becky for being a big girl’s blouse. So, when his stings reacted badly overnight, to the point that the pharmacy winced, then sympathy was non-existent. Believe us; we won’t be swimming in the sea if we know that they are there again. Thankfully, Jonathan’s summer wine concoction and top food made the trip worthwhile and the game we played hit home just how poor our knowledge is of geography and the world at large.
We ended up doing loads more, including going out with Gregor’s uncle and family on
their boat and Gregor spent a great day with his Dad when he came over for the day before heading off on the QE2. Still, the main event is still to come and, as much as we love Sydney and are sad to leave, this is when the travelling really starts.
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David McGuire
non-member comment
sydney
fantastic recount of your times in sydney there...little disappointed myself and gregor were referred to as "drunken idiots" but you can't deny the truth i guess. coogee bay palace still lives on although impending winter has seen the level of debauchery go down a notch or two!!!