Blogs from New South Wales, Australia, Oceania - page 1122

Ciao a tutti! Oggi sono andato a visitare il Tropical Garden e l'acquario di Sydney. La giornata e' iniziata sul tardi a causa del fuso orario. Mi sono diretto al Tropical Garden che si trova tra il mio ostello e il centro citta'. A proposito, sono finito nella zona a luci rosse di Sydney.... L'altra sera a passeggio da solo sono stato fermato piu' volte da buttafuori che mi volevano far entrare nei localini....almeno mettessero qualche ragazza carina ad adescare... Ovviamente me la sono data a gambe levate! Ma torniamo ad argomenti piu' elevati: A dispetto del mio scetticismo il Tropical Garden si e' rivelato molto interessante. C'era una una mostra sulle orchidee e sulle pianate carnivore. Esistono anche piante carnivore VEGETARIANE! Che vuol dire? Pare che mangino pezzi di altre piante che cadono nelle loro ... read more

Hello! I am in Sydney now and am having an incredible time thanks in large part to my 'Aussie Mate' Char (short for Charmaine) Roberts. I had signed up to be matched with a UNSW student (University of New South Whales) and couldn't have gotten a better match. Kristen and I arrived in Sydney 10am on the 13th. Before that we were in Cairns for one night and unfortunately it rained the entire time, so nothing exciting to report there. Originally I had planned to spend a week at a backpacker's hostel until I could find more permanent accomodation. Then, as Kristen and I were in the cab my mobile rang and it was Char, inviting me to stay with her and her family! Kristen was more than welcome to stay a couple of nights before ... read more

Ciao a tutti! Dopo un viaggio infernale finalmente eccommi in Australia. La legge della 'suora' sull'aereo colpisce ancora. Ho fatto da Bangkok a Sydney a fianco di una libanese che parlava solo arabo. L'ho anche dovuto aiutare a compilare il form di immigrazione (in inglese). Incredibilmente sulla Emirates non c'era un singolo attendente di volo che parlasse arabo.... Comunque, sbarcato in citta' chiamo subito per prenotare l'ostello dove mi battono il numero di carta di credito via telefono. Poi dicono che in Italia non ci fidiamo.....mah! L'ostello non e' male, ma troppo caro per quello che offre (saluti da Aronne Piperno!). In compenso ci sono quasi solo tedeschi e posso rinfrescare i miei passati zurighesi. Appena arrivato in stanza, mi faccio 3 ore di sonno e poi parto in stato comatoso per una visita del centro ... read more

David and Beth were my original fruit picking contacts. However, when I had first called them, they didn't need any extra pickers, so they gave me the number for Koolkuna. After 3 weeks at the berry farm, I was collected by Campbell and taken to Balnagowan Organic farm. Balnagowan is in Walcha, whose small country town is a half hour drive away. It is a working sheep and cattle farm, as well as being an Organic farm employing backpackers and marketing fruits such as zuccinis (corgettes to us Brits), yellow button squash, potatoes, snow peas, beans and shalots. On the farm live David and Beth, who are parents to Kristin (residing on Norfolk Island), Angus, Zoe and Campbell. David and Beth both picked the fruit with us and gave us other jobs to do. Beth cooked ... read more

Today I woke up and felt I just had to get out of the room so i headed out in to rush hour Sydney, made a quick call home then went up to the bridge and the opera house again, hoping for some better weather as it was cloudy yesterday. strolled round the botanical gardens and spent hours photographing exotic trees and succulents, its beautiful up there. Got back to the hostel and there were a few less swedes and a lass called Sue...crazy girl from liverpool but Ive never been so glad to hear a liverpool accent! we went out for a meal and found a great cheap bar for a few beers...drinking Toohey's New...cracking stuff!!!... read more