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Published: October 8th 2007
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And so the Aussie odyssey is over. I loved Australia as I knew I would, and I'm sure I'll be flexing my dual nationality and heading back soon enough. Thankfully, and contrary to expectations, San Francisco is not in the grip of a freezing autumn but has welcomed me to the US of A with clear, blue, sunny skies. Good call on throwing out my last bit of sunscreen before leaving Sydney then. My body clock's all over the place and I can't comprehend the fact that I lived Friday 5th October twice. Having existed in the future in relation to England for the last 3.5 months I've time travelled back behind you now. Luckily I woke up the next morning and it was definitely Saturday 6th, so there was no need for any Groundhog Day-style panic.
As for the last month it's been an unreal but undoubtedly excellent time. Overall, I think we did pretty well for a group of people, some of whom were virtual strangers, thrown together for the first time in 26 years and fuelled by industrial quantities of alcohol. The joys and excitements, stresses and strains have added a new thread to the patchwork of
life. My brother promised me a certain and painful death should any photos of him happen to be published on the blog so I'll refrain altogether and draw a veil of discretion and mystery over my loved ones. As luck would have it, Australia is picturesque enough to pick up the photographic slack (and I'll attend to the pictures when I find an appropriately equipped computer, photo fans).
My final Greyhound leg from Byron Bay was marred only by the absence of a relief driver which occasioned a hour delay in the middle of the night which had a similar effect on me as telling a kid to wait till after breakfast for its Xmas presents. Finally made it into the northern suburbs of Sydney and slowed for a toll gate before sweeping round a bend in the freeway to be confronted by the mighty harbour bridge, upon which I uttered a clearly audible "OH MY GOD!!" and got a fit of misty eyed giggles. Very odd indeed to suddenly spot my mum on the pavement waiting for me with my auntie and cousin. If Hong Kong was like coming up for air before diving back in, this was
a bit like wandering out of the jungle to find yourself in someone's back garden: comforting yet disorientating at the same time. The clan assembled for a weekend of bacchanalian-style feasting and merriment for my mum's birthday and then we set about getting to know Sydney again. I was six the last time I was there so it was quite a different perspective but I was amazed at how much I could remember.
Not being blessed with the epic amount of time off work I have, my brother had to be pretty efficient in getting to see things so we went to the glorious Blue Mountains for a couple of days via groovy double decker trains. Back in town we were determined to see some of the famous nightlife and identified what seemed to be an ideal night of techno/industrial/hardcore. Sadly, this turned into one of the strangest things I've ever seen. What I'd fervently hoped was a dancing anomaly in Cairns was in full effect in what appeared to be a hotel bar with the chairs and tables pushed back youth club style. Try to imagine if you will a fusion of line dancing, Riverdance and epileptic fit
performed in backwards circles in tracksuits. Unbelievably disturbing, to the extent that I refused to go on the dancefloor and we ended up being thrown out for having fallen asleep with boredom. So close and yet so far from the mighty Sydney's quality clubbing experience! To add to the despondency I was sat in on Saturday night the next day and discovered that one of my favourite bands of all time, Nine Inch Nails, were on stage right at that minute not a few miles away. AAAARRRGGG! Mercifully, they were playing an extra night and after a thoroughly enjoyable day assisting my highly talented sibling in putting on a multi-course dinner party with my folks, we nipped out for a fabulous night of palate cleansing noise.
As for the rest of my time in Sydney, I'm pleased to report that a more mellow pace was maintained. There's something very pleasing about just being able to hang out and get to know people better and I was lucky enough to have the chance to spend time with everyone. Not only that, but the genuinely chilly weather (incredible but true) began to give way to the warmth of spring and I
Golden Gate Bridge
Welcome to the US of A was obliged to expend vast effort lazing by my auntie's pool. Mum and I went to the opera for her birthday slightly giddy on mango daquaries, which was excellent. My own birthday was a non-event (thoughtful gifts notwithstanding) after my body treated me to a night of violent and inexplicable gastric theatrics and I was rendered bed-ridden. I'm taking it as a clear rejection of the limbo state between my almost youthful early thirties and the inevitability of my mid-thirties. Godammit I'm getting old! Not only that, but I'm seriously out of shape too. Thankfully my energetic aunties helped me begin the task of shifting the Aussie beer-and-good-food gut which is threatening to leave me without any clothes that fit. My imminent return to the gym in a couple of weeks is not going to be funny in the slightest. Having been a keen observer of international footwear habits on this trip I finally submitted to the purchase of some utterly impractical souvenier high heels. Fully intend to engage in some Carrie Bradshaw-style foolery when I get to New York although as my aunties pointed out, they are far from being Manolos.
All good things must come to an end, and so it was that I had to crowbar myself out of Sydney and head to the States. Not before blagging my way into a sunset yacht race on Sydney Harbour though. Can't say my performance was that great but what a location! Haven't managed the same trick in San Francisco yet due to it being Fleet Week and there's no racing, but I'll be doing my best. Fleet week began with an incredible parade of navy vessels coming into port under the Golden Gate Bridge and discharging their crews into the surrounding bars. Despite reservations about the US military machine it was hard not to be impressed. I'm currently struggling to get my head around the fact that I'm in America. Having never been here before I've had no idea of what to expect beyond cliches. So far, San Francisco is proving to be a very pleasant experience. Sadness at leaving Australia, jetlag and sleepless nights stressing about coming back to normal life soon are conspiring to make me a bit confused but I'm definitely having a good time. Slowly getting used to the wierdness of sales tax, obligatory tipping and trying not to jaywalk. After sleeping off some of my second Friday 5th I joined the hostel bar crawl and randomly ended up in a pole dancing club (don't ask). For the last couple of days I've stayed focused on more conventional sightseeing activities and am off to Yosemite later today for a dose of the great outdoors and some bloody big trees.
Jude xx
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