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Published: January 20th 2009
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26/12/08 = Boxing Day on Bondi Beach
Heard Garry and Claire get up at 7 and didn't want to be rude, so snoozed for a little while longer, but then got up at 7:15. Gem and Kirst were still fast asleep, but me and Deb got up and got changed. Headed into the living room and found Claire chilling out. Chatted to her for a while (she's so friendly), then she started to help me and Deb plan the next part of our trip. Got a map out and she recommended us loads of places to go = really good. Got some really good tips, then had some breakfast. Now, I'm not a savoury breakfast kind of girl and croissants for me definitely = jam, but when they brought out the ham and cheese and I tried it, it was lovely. Croissants were beautiful and finished off with a lovely fruit salad too. Dining in style...got to make the most of it...will be the first and last time I see a croissant for a while!
At midday, decided we had to go even though didn't want to. Could happily have stayed there for weeks (would probably have put my
stone back on!) Did the 40min drive back and was really sad when said bye to Claire...a little but like leaving home again. Swapped email addresses though and will hopefully see her again as she lives in New Zealand; that would be cool.
Was another lovely day, so went back to grotty hostel, got in grubby shower, then headed out for the famous Bondi Beach. Walked to bus stop then caught $3 bus to get there. Had to stand up for some of journey, but wasn't bad. Bondi Beach = unbelievable sight. Just like all the postcards and famous pictures. Bondi = medium sized beach sompletely and utterly full of people. From top of hill people looked like ants. all squashed in and scurrying around. Never seen anything like it. Without people, was a really nice beach. Clean white sand and beautiful water. But with all people was awful and tacky...like a galm version of Blackpool. Found a space though and settled in lovely hot sun. Everyone around us was foreign to Australia (mostly English) and didn't hear or see one Australian person. Not suprised though, if I lived here and had pick of all beaches, I wouldn't choose
Bondi either.
Laid in sun for a few hours and even had a sleep because there was a nice breeze. Then had enough and
went in sea for a while. Brilliant waves and did some cool wave diving again. Tried wave surfing, but really didn't work and had to give that one up. Got out of sea and decided to make our way home. Managed to get straight back on a bus and journey was nice and cool with air-con.
Back at hostel, had a v.exciting dinner of noodles and a sandwich. Actually went down really well. Did bit of chatting at table, then went to get ready for night out. All about ambivalent about night out, but felt like we had to because it was Boxing Day. Got showered, but by the time we had got out, Gem and Kirst had changed their minds and didn't take much to change ours either. Decided to stay in and recooperate. Got cards out and played cards in corridor for a while (these corridors have been so useful!). Loads of people ended up getting involved and ended up playing for ages. Was good fun and evebtually stopped at midnight to
try and get some of good rest we had all planned. Was so tired when got in bed that went straight to sleep.
27/12/08 = Goon is evil!
Good sleep last night, but still woke up really tired for some reason. Not a sunny day, so decided to do some sight-seeing. Had a big 'free' breakfast of 4 slices of toast (greediness returning), got showered, quick chat, then headed out. Headed to tourist information first to ask about main things to see and do and a really helpful man gave us lots of good information (although I suppose that is his job). Asked him about working on a farm/ranch = another thing trying to plan, but he didn't have much info on that.
Headed down George Street to get to 'The Rocks'. Was really nice down there and really worth a visit. Is a v.old looking part of town and has lot of history to it = old police houses and Barracks and lots of info about how prisoners used to be shipped over from England. Also had first viewing of Opera House here, but to be honest, was v.disappointed. Not the Opera Houses fault, but
The Opera House
Doesn't look so good on a grey day. it looked v.dull because of dull day, infact it looked distincly cream, not white. Definitely not as pretty as had imagined, but decided to wait for a better day before make full mind up. Was much more impressed wth Harbour Bridge = beautiful.
All wanted to walk across bridge and on way to finding it, also found a really good market. Got some beautiful yoghurt and fruit and chilled out for a while on wall. The Rocks = great place to chill. Walked round market and managed to get passed all jewellry stalls without buying one thing - that took some doing. Although did buy procariously through Kirsty, who did buy jewellry. After victory in market, continued on jourmney to bridge. Checked about bridge climb on way because had all planned to do it. V.disappointed when got there and found out that it is totally not a climb, but just a walk up bridge. I was imagining a rock climbing type climb, not meandering up some ramps. Shattered my dreams and decided not to do it for 2 reasons: 1) Is not a physical challenge 2) V.v.v.v high up and meandering = delayed up high for longer, not the
quick up then straight back down that I wanted.
Disappointed about bridge climb, went for a walk across it instead. Lovely views out to city and v.suprised at how comfortable I felt. Not scared at all of height thing. Think was made alot better by fact that was a road of cars next to us running at same level as us - just pretended it was a normal road. Had option to climb pilon on bridge, but didn't bother with that either because were all happy with view we already had. Walking back over bridge and into city, saw a ghost walk advertised. Love things like that. Me and Kirst went to enquire and decided to do it. Told all stories of deaths in area and also some of history = cool for us.
Walked back to hostel and made some dinner straight away because were so hungry. Had the usual giant pasta dinner, but with a pepper sauce, just to make it that bit different. Went down really well as usual, but with difference that couldn't finish it this time - took 20mins eating and was still only half way through....there's only so much 1 person can
do! Got showered and ready after that and then started drinking = where night went wrong! Oh no! Goon was not fruity goon today, but dry white goon and totally made a difference! Was the worst thing have ever drunk (comparable to cider drunk as a teenager...probably worse!) and every time made myself drink a bit, was nearly sick. Persevered and sure enough, it soon started sliding down. Got way too cocky with it then and was a slippery slope downhill...
All went up onto rooftop to drink for a while before we went out and really glad we did, because was actually a really nice view. Could see the bridge really clearly. Drunk more...laughed more...drunk more, then had to come off roof at 10pm because it closed. Headed out after that and the evil of goon made the rest of the night a bit of a blur! All went to a place calloed The Gaff and was quite good. Seemed to all split up and me and Kirst stuck together. Chatted to people from hostel, had a dance and then got 'escorted' out by some bouncers for being too drunk. Sneaked back in, but then eventually got 'escorted'
The Ladies
...some clever shots... out again later, so me and Kirst left (love you Kirst for sticking with me partner!) Now, do have to explain that people regularly get removed and refused from bars in Aus for being too drunk and was by no means just me. Nearly all of us got removed at some point in the night. Suppose it's a good thing really...although I really wasn't that drunk...well not the worst I've ever been anyway....digging hole deeper 😞
Crashed out in bed when got home and straight to sleep. Messge here: don't drink goon!
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