Advertisement
Published: January 10th 2009
Edit Blog Post
31st December 2008 - NEW YEARS EVE
I woke up this morning still pretty drunk from the night before. A quick shower later I hadn't really sobered up and Gem described me as in my own world as I sat downstairs having breakfast in my Australian outfit!!! I still mucked in, got the cool bag sorted and then we headed out with Hatty, Steve and Charlotte towards woolworths to get some soft drinks. I caved and ended up buying and egg McMuffin sandwich to soak up some alcohol......disgraceful Debs!!!
Following woolies we followed Hatty and her friends to Botanic Gardens and got in the very long queue. As the morning progressed we moved slowly around and there were loads of people behind us too. For the first hour or so I laid in the shade and tried to come around a little which I did after a litre of water and a nap. As we moved further forwards others from the hostel joined us in the queue and we had fun whilst in the queue playing ball games, chatting and generally having a laugh. The guys had an awesome set up for smuggling alcohol in......loaves of bread hollowed out with
Alcohol Smuggling!!
Awesome...the top was even glued on and wrapped in clingfilm!!! vodka in, alcohol hidden in pringles tubes, goon taken out of the box and disguised as ice packs and bottles of spirits stuffed down trousers. Surely they would get some of it past security!!!
We queued for around 4 hours in total before we got through the gates. Good fun in the queue though mainly laughing at a guy called Matt who kept striking poses and saying 'I'm a fine figure of a man'.....you will see why it's funny when you look at the photos!!! He also had an awesome phrase of 'Have a word!!!' which sounded so funny and will be added to my vocab from now on!! All the alcohol got through security and I regretted not smuggling some in myself as they didn't even check my cool bag...must have an innocent face!!! Once through we found a patch of grass to settle for the day.....not the best view of the bridge but it was a good spot and we could always walk to the front later for the fireworks.
The day was fun and despite being there for about 11 hours it passed quickly. We played cards, sang, chatted, slept, danced and played drinking games.
The boys shared their stashes of alcohol which meant the day was a cheap one though we did buy a few beers as well. We also worked out that when you took empties back you got a dollar for each one...us ladies scavanged all day and almost made money on our returns!!!
Things stepped up a notch at 9pm with the 'childrens firework display'. Even this one was awesome and bonfire night at home would never be the same again!! 6 barges set up down the river setting fireworks off, the bridge all lit up, loads of boats in the harbour (best view in the house and if I was minted I would definitely have hired one) and an electric atmosphere!!! My emotions got the better of me and I cried. Despite being surrounded by some of my best friends and lots of new freinds I felt a long way away from home!! Despite my tears it really was awesome and I was so excited about the main show at midnight!!
After the fireworks we partied on and had even more fun. Joe and Mr Wellbeing (Irish guy) led a few rounds of songs that we all joined
in with and we were all in high spirits. It was good to be in a big group when so far away from home!! We drank more and then at around 11.15 we went to find a spot near the front so we had a good view of the bridge. I sat on the hill with Steve, Charlotte, Troy, Joff and Joe.....we definitely had the best view and I even managed to wangle a sparkler at one point!!! The anticipation was amazing and we all counted down and then watched in awe as the fireworks went off and the bridge lit up the sky. I then trundled the couple of feet to where Nat was standing for some happy new year hugs and kisses and a few rounds of Auld Lang Syne. Christmas may not be big in Oz but New Year was something else......words cannot describe it!!! Awesome!!
Following fireworks the coventry guys went off to Head Candy after party and us ladies went back to our spot on the grass to gather our stuff up. A few guys were still around and we had more hugs and one guy - mikey - even tried to turn me
into a catherine wheel...it didn't work!!! Us ladies then headed back to Kings Cross and the hostel. Funny walk home...everyone though we were Australian which makes a change from swedish and Hatty kept dancing like Michael Jackson and chasing Kirsty with a big stick...very random!!! I was gone.....so so tired and emotional that I needed my bed. The girls dropped me back at the hostel and then went for some food. I crashed at about 2pm cape intact......amazing day and happy 2009!!!
1st January 2009 - COASTAL WALK, MEAL AND GOODBYES ALL ROUND!!!
I woke early and felt very empty...needed food!! No hangover though which was good!! I went for breakfast on my own and couldn't believe that some of teh guys were only just getting in......that was hard core!!! Following brekkie, I showered and once all the ladies were ready we headed out and caught a bus to Coogee beach. Coogee was nice and I had a couple of hours sleep on it which was much needed!! Once we had spent a few hours there we set off on a coastal walk towards Bondi Beach. We passed a couple of gorgeous places - Gordon's Bay being one of
them - where the locals seemed to go to get away from the tourists. The walk was nice but we were pushed for time and I was tired.....things had finally caught up with me!! About 1/3 of the way there Nat, kirsty and I caught a bus back to the hostel whilst Gem and Hatty continued the walk to Bondi.
Once back at Boomerang I crashed for a good few hours whilst Nat and Kirsty went to the harbour for a ghost walk. I needed some sleep as I would be up early tomorrow for surf school. I woke up when Gemma came home and then we showered and got ready before setting off to Darling Harbour for a nice meal out. The harbour was beautiful and all lit up......it was a nice way to spend our final night in Sydney together. We found a seafood restaurant, waited for Nat and Kirsty and enjoyed a nice meal......my fillet of Baracuda was pretty damn good!!! The service was poor though and despite some gale force winds the front of the restaurant was open so we had to be moved about 4 times due to wine glasses going over and being
freezing.......spoilt it a little really!!
We finished eating at around midnight and then practically ran back to the hostel as it was so cold and windy. I had to be up at 5.30am for surf school so I packed my stuff up for morning, said my goodbyes to Gem, Kirsty and Nat and then headed to bed....exhausted and excited about surf school tomorrow. Will really miss Gema nd Kirsty....been fun having them around and will seem weird without them!! Shame I didn't get to say bye to some more people in the hostel too but I am sure facebook will come to my aid!!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.191s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 33; qc: 131; dbt: 0.1362s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.5mb