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Published: October 22nd 2007
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When we got our stuff off the bus we had some breakfast in a cafe & waited for a bit as we couldn't check into Claire & Michael's apartment in Bondi until 1pm; it was cold & raining & a world away from the clear blue skies of Byron! We got the train & the bus to the apartment complex & checked in their apartment, we walked into Bondi & did some food shopping and had a walk to the beach in the afternoon; we moaned about the rain & the cold & had a nice tea & some Goon.
There was a really bad storm on Friday night with gale force winds & it was still like that when we woke up on Saturday morning. When the rain eventually seemed to die down a bit we went out to explore Bondi, only for it to start tipping it down again so we had to take cover & wait for the rain to stop, I hadn't seen rain like that in ages, it was really bad! We went back to the apartment & spent Saturday afternoon in the warmth of the indoors, we had a quiet night, Claire went to
bed about 9pm out of nervous excitement I think, I spoke to Andy for a bit on the phone before going to bed too.
On Sunday we had an early morning as Claire had to meet Michael from the airport, we got the 7.13am bus from Bondi to Bondi Junction train station & I said goodbye to Claire at Central Station where Claire changed onto the airport line & I went to check in to my hostel, called Wake Up. I was able to put my stuff in the room when I got there & headed straight out to Paddy's market, I had a nice little shop, I got some candles, a tea towel, (as there hadn't been one in Claire's apartment), & a few other bits & pieces. I then went around the shops & managed to find a coat which I needed considering Sydney's cold rainy weather & a decent top to wear out in the evening. I headed back to Wake Up for something to eat & spent the afternoon on the internet doing my blog, it took me two hours & I only managed to do one blog! I spent Sunday evening on the phone
talking to Mom & Dad & then Andy.
On Monday morning I had a text off Claire & I went to meet her & Michael after breakfast. We walked up George Street to an area of Sydney called 'The Rocks' & Michael told us stories from his days of backpacking in Australia. We walked under the harbour bridge & headed to a an old English style pub for lunch, we walked back into the centre of the city & Claire & I went to Air New Zealand to change our flight dates. The lady was really helpful & finally we managed to confirm the remaining flights of our trip; Claire had already decided a couple of weeks back that she would go home five weeks early after The Cook Islands as she was homesick. I said bye to Claire & Michael & headed back to the hostel.
On Monday evening I went to Sidebar with two of my room mates, Louise & Colleen, I went home just after 11pm as I wasn't in the mood.
Tuesday morning I got up & did the scenic walk out of the Lonely Planet book which started in Hyde Park going
in the Anzac Memorial, past the Pool of Reflection to Archibald Fountain, (which was really pretty), to St Mary's Cathedral & onto the Art Gallery of New South Wales. I spent about two hours in the Art Gallery, I really enjoyed it, some of the exhibitions were a bit mad but I think that's what I liked about it. One of the exhibits was lots of small rectangles of broken glass with numbers on, all over the floor with hair mixed in! There was also a dead date palm tree lying across the floor with mud/soil about 25ft long with roots, both were by an artist called Anselm Kiefer. He also had some other sculptures called 'Women of Antiquity' which were really interesting.
I think my favourites were the Aboriginal paintings with so many colours & textures; I also liked the sketches by Matisse & Picasso, they were really beautiful, no colour just pencil or carcoal. Picasso had also done a drawing/etching of a monkey titled 'The Monkey' in 1942. There was a lot of Asian Art very similar to the things I'd seen throughout Asia. One thing that completely amazed me was a huge painting/piece of art by
Brett Whiteley called 'Alchemy'; it was his way of visually describing the centre of the meaning of existence. It had a complete range of mediums, smaller pictures making up the large exhibit as a whole. There was a part with animals, Australian landscapes, a setting sun & the part that everyone I watched look at it do a double take was a picture of Anal sex; I could not believe my eyes, I think he had too many drugs or something!
The Gallery really made me want to draw, sketch, paint & be all creative! From the Gallery I walked through the Domain to the Botanical Gardens. At this point it was chucking it down but I was determined the weather would not spoil my day. I walked round to Yurong Precinct to get good views of the opera house & harbour bridge. There were lots of cockatoo's & other birds in the park. I walked around to Bennelong Precinct in front of the opera house & went in to find out about the tours.
I walked around the opera house & then to Circular Quay, looking in a couple of shops on the way; I found out
about travel passes, ferries to Manly & as it was starting to get dark, I made my way towards Wake Up. On my way back I got a call from Claire so I went & met Michael & her in a bar called 'The Three Wise Monkeys.' They talked me into going back to Bondi with them for some drinks so I went back to Wake Up to dump some books & get my phone charger. As I was doing this my room mate Dave asked where I was going & told me there was a cyclone that was due to hit Sydney & had the potential to rip roofs off! I went back to meet Claire & Mike in Scruffy Murphies & grabbed some food on the way back to theirs. The weather was shocking but I got home ok after a nice evening with them both, chatting & drinking.
On Wednesday I don't really know what I did as I was really nervous about Andy arriving. I spent the afternoon on the internet & writiing in my journal & Louise & Colleen told me I was going out with them & we went & got some Passion
Pop from the Off License across the road. I cooked dinner but couldn't eat as I was too nervous so I got ready & we went to sidebar again, it was busier than Monday & I made friends with a few people from England & a few Norweigian guys. It was a good night, a bit strange & I enjoyed myself, I think it took my mind off my nerves! I did have to break a fight up though, I went home shortly after that.
On Thursday I got up, got my things together & checked out. I was sat in reception of Wake Up reading my book when Claire called, it was about 11am & I couldn't check in until 1pm so Claire said to come to their apartment. I got a travel pass & made my way there, Claire meet me off the bus with my four bags & I was able to check in straight away which was good. When I opened the door to our apartment there was a HUGE bunch of 22 red roses sat on the table with a little note from Andy, I could not believe it! I think seeing the flowers & the card made me feel more nervous!
I spent the afternoon unpacking my stuff, went food shopping, did my laundry & got ready; at 7.30pm, I said goodbye to Claire & Mike & made my way to the airport to meet Andy, I don't think I have ever felt so nervous, all I had to eat all day was half a slice of toast!
I had enjoyed my little independent adventure in Sydney & it was really nice of Claire & Mike to invite me out for drinks, lunch & to their apartment for the evening, it helped my nerves spending time with them.
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