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Published: December 27th 2005
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Lindsay - we arrived at Sydney International Airport on the morning of the 22nd December. The flight had been quite uneventful and relaxing, with only the dire movie choice spoiling the flight (The Dukes of Hazzard - how crap is that film?).
Russell - I was really annoyed I stayed up to watch that damn film coz no sooner had I got off to sleep they served breakfast. Apprently it was 7am at our current location but it was 5am Singapore and therefore Russell time!
When we arrived at the terminal we had to get our visas which turned out to be incredibly easy. We didn't even need our codes as it was all linked to our passport. I was really quite impressed. I was a bit worried when I read the customs sign that said I had to declare any food, plants, wooden items or dirty shoes! They are really into their quarantine here. Fortunately our Vietmanese chopsticks didn't count ("Nahhh you'll be right!" our customs man said) nor did my shoes which still looked a bit of a mess from Taman Negara.
Lindsay - The subway system is connected to the international terminal, so as usual
Sydney, NSW
View from the harbour bridge we headed in the general direction without a real clue what we were doing. Oh the simple joy of going to an information counter where they can understand you! Though slightly disappointing that the gesticulating is no longer necessary. We were determined to start off as residents, not tourists, so we got ourselves equipped with a travel pass for the underground system.
We arrived at our destination station and quickly worked out where our hotel was. Again boringly easy - the streets have names and numbers that go in order and everything. After the obligatory quick snooze, we headed out into the city centre to get a look at the harbour bridge and opera house. And it was every bit as good as we hoped. We did have to pinch ourselves (well, ok, I had to pinch Russell) to make sure we were really here.
Russell - The bridge and the opera house are both bigger than I imagined, especially the bridge. It is amazing, so you must all come and see for yourself!
Lindsay - We went for a walk around the quay, and started to head home as the evening started to turn chilly, stopping
at a chinese restaurant on the edge of Chinatown. It became immediately evident that our set budget was going to get a bit of a pounding in Sydney, but then what do you expect?
Russell - Though relatively speaking wine is now available and affordable!! Though their obsession with Chardonnay is a bit worrying.
Lindsay - The next day we woke up to beautiful blue skies. So we went and did the same again! And went to gaze at the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. This time we went for a walk along the bridge, to Kiribili on the opposite shore.
Russell - It was about this time that we realised that we had been wondering around on the wrong time zone! Our guidebook had told us we were 10 hours ahead of GMT but it seems that Sydney is currently on Summer Daylight saving and therefore 11 hours ahead. Turns out we managed to catch the last train home for two nights running by the skin of our teeth thinking we had ages!!
Lindsay - The next pressing concern was the rapid approachment of Christmas, and trying to make some last minute preparation. Christmas
Russ in Sydney
View from the north shore of the harbour does seem very odd in the glorious sunshine, and evidently the Aussies feel the same way because there is a distinct lack of Chrismassy stuff around. The shops aren't decorated, there are no lights in the streets (no dark nights I suppose), and worst of all no Christmas tat in the shops. So I had to do without christmas tree ear-rings, tinsel (no tinsel!), glitter, everything. On Christmas Eve the first seasonal thing happened when my first present arrived in the form of a Christmas bouquet from my Dad. Complete with holly! After a swift shopping trip Russ and I met up with a plastic bag each of little presents and had to lock each other in the hotel bathroom so we could wrap them without the other seeing. For Christmas Eve dinner we went in search of a traditional roast, and ended up at the Slip Inn's Orphans Christmas Party. For those "celebrating without the olds". We decided that this was just the thing for us, but on collecting our (delicious) dinner we realised that we
were the olds. A few beers later and we didn't care. So much. We were sat in the Garden Bar, when I looked
up from my beer to see the most enormous bat flying above me, and into the trees at the side of the street. I quickly elbowed Russ to check I wasn't seeing things as bat after bat came swinging into the trees. I'm not a bat expert, but these were so big, at least as big as the ones in the Singapore Zoo that we were so impressed with. Just flying around the city! The final highlight of the night were the fireworks that suddenly began exploding in the sky at around nine o'clock. Possibly a try-out for New Year? We shall have to wait and see.
Christmas Day came around for us whilst everyone in the UK was just going to bed, emphasing how far away we were from home. In a very strange sunny land! We opened our presents, and had a few drinks of the Australian sparkling wine, before heading out with the rest of the travelling population to Bondi Beach for a barbie. The few drinks were necessary as Bondi is an alcohol free zone, although we did wait a while before attemping to play in the sea. I say attempt because the force of
the waves is strong enough to knock you off your feet if you're in the shallow, and push you under the water if you go deeper out. Either way it was great fun, although we both had to keep coming out to have a drink of water, and wash the sea-water away. The police and news helicopters kept sweeping above the beach, as all the people cheered and waved at them. We got our obigatory BBQ'd prawns, although we didn't get to ask them to throw another shrimp on for us.
Russell - We had a great day on the beach where we even got to play with my Christmas present from Lins, Grip Ball. Perhaps I should explain to avoid embarassment that this is a game with a tennis ball and two velcro pads where one person throws the ball and the other has to catch on their pad. It is great fun anyway.
When the sun went down we headed to the bus stop to get back to the train station. We caught the first bus and headed off..... in the wrong direction! So much for being able to understand everything. We didn't find out until
we got to the end of the line and the driver tried to turf us off. Still we had our travel passes so it didn't cost us anything but a bit of time. And we got to see some of Sydney's suburbs, which are also devoid of Christmas decorations it seems. It was definitley not your average British Christmas.
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Pam
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Been dropping in now and again to follow your travels - such memories you'll have to look back on!! Have a fantastic time in Oz... I remember when I first saw the Harbour bridge, the grey top just peaking over the roof tops of the buildings as I walked down the street towards the harbour bridge.... it truely is an awesome sight and much bigger than expected. Thanks for bringing back that amazing memory for me. Have fun down under, you couldnt possibly not!