Sunburned in Sydney

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Wow I'm finally in the southern hemisphere. The first thing I did after disembarking from my Cathay Pacific flight was run to the bathroom. Was I sick? No way! I was just curious. I had always heard that water flushed to the opposite direction in the Southern Hemisphere. So I ran to the cammode and flushed like a wild man. The bummer of it all was that I couldn't really remember what direction water swirled down in the Northern Hemisphere. Foiled again.
My first impression of Sydney was that it looked and felt a lot like Denver. It's a bit arid here, things are spread out, and it is chill. This first impression almost blew apart in a mess of broken bones while trying to cross the street for the first time. I just can't get my head around the other side of the road driving bit. I spent about 20 minutes just watching the flow of traffic trying to make some sense of it all. After 15 minutes and feeling confident about everything being in reverse I took my chances and tried to cross the street again. And again, I looked the wrong way and almost came to grief. It's just beyond me. I give up until the 19th when I pick up my campervan rental and the real Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome action begins. Watch out Mel!!
Sydney is super layed back and ADam and I quickly agreed that we have to figure out a way to live here. Everything just sort of flows here. It's all easy. Australia, and more importantly Australians, are relaxed, friendly, and a lot of other good things that I've figured out in the 28 hours that I've been here. It's been love at first sight. I'll have 3 more weeks to get my heart broken.
The Opera House is nice, not as big as I thought, but has a spacy 1960's sort of feel. The city is filled with green parks, botanical gardens, and a bunch of places to get fish n' chips.

ALright almost out of time with the internet. I'll repot back after the first day of the TDU.

Good day mates, or something like that.

Mike and ADam

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Photos

ADam at the Opera House
It's exciting to come to a world 'spot'

Sydney Harbor Bridge
People pay upwards of 150$ to get harnessed up and walk along the top of the bridge. The backpackers that we are, ADam and I decided to give it a miss and eat some steak instead.

Sydney Opera House
A break in the afternoon rainstorm.

Hotdog stand in Sydney
This hotdog stand is about 300m from Russel Crowe's house. I wonder if he goes here after a night of raging and phone smashing.

tough name to remember harbor
This used to be the rough, drunk sailor hangout a hundred years ago. Now, its a somewhat swank harbor with overpriced pasta. It's called something like wooloonoogoo harbor. (for real)

Jet Lag
I look exhausted. 13 hours on a plane can do that.

Comments

[hyungju kim]

envy envy envy.............................you two!
adam! but go dang gi ra! meo kko...

[Douglas]

checking toilet now...
Hi, Here is Korea and the water in my toilet does not rotate! It just goes straight down. Does that mean Korea is on the equator? I don't know well. If Korea is on the equator, how to account for today's snow? I saw the movie "Australia" and so know everything about the country. There are witch doctors who can go anywhere and solve dangerous situations with magic, right? Best wishes to you and to the always photogenic ADam. D

[hyungju kim]

show me!
Armstrong picture.. When you going to get there that tour down course? I wonder about race and player..

[peter]

Hey
Bondi Beach. Now that brings back memories. We used to get on our boogie boards down there n' run into chicks................that's one way to pick em' up. Us Aussies have mellowed quite a bit.........apparently the new Oz pick up line is "brace yourself". globalization has mellowed us I guess..............