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Published: October 11th 2006
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I checked into the Base Backpackers on Kent St, just up from Darling Harbour, I would highly recommend it. There were two guys sleeping in the room so I just locked up my bag, grabbed my Sydney guide and off I went. Darling Harbour was a fav. so I sat there for a bit supping on a Boost Juice and planning my day. The weather was great….sunnys required! Like any good tourist I headed straight for the Opera House. From the Circular Quays you get a good look at the Harbour Bridge as well. I wandered round taking lots of pics…because I was on my own (sad I know) you will find that all my pics void of me! I did get one snap of me taken by a family from Newcastle, you hear a million accents in Sydney few of them are actually Australian. On my way round to the Opera House there was a performer juggling knifes and whatnot. There was a huge crowd so I decided I would stop for a minute, that was my first mistake. Right then he decided he needed volunteers….yip you guessed it…one of those not so willing volunteers would be yours truly. I
got roped into the show for like 30mins. Laugh if you must but there was just no escaping. When he finally wrapped up the show I headed along to the Opera House. The Botanical Gardens sit right behind the Opera House so I wandered around there for a few hours. It is beautiful and there is loads to see I was kinda/very creeped out buy the flying fox bats that are all over the trees though. On my way back towards the hostel I checked out the Rocks market. I only caught the tale end of it but it was still bustling and the bars were starting to fill up. The Sydney Aquarium was near to where I was staying and it’s open till late I heard that it was worth checking out so I figured seen as I was on my lonesome now was as good a time as any. IT really was fab. I found nemo again, a lot easier when they are in a tank though! The Platypus was the cutest thing ever but of course it was the shark and stingray tank that got my attention. I can vaguely remember deep sea world and it’s just
a bigger better version!
Back at the Hostel the place was kinda deserted except for a few people who were in for the night. I had a new roomie Becky she had just arrived in from London so she was a little delirious from tiredness! I decided to head out to get a bite to eat, only intending to stay out for an hr max. I ended up meeting a guy and girl from the hostel at the pizza place. They were heading out to a bar and decided I had to come with. We ended up at a bar in Oxford Street. Little did I know that I had found myself in Sydney’s gay district….very flamboyant to say the least, I lost count of the number of transvestites I saw…very entertaining indeed! The bar was fun and the music was great, I do love a good dance! I finally made it back to the hostel around 3am.
I pretty much checked out all the tourist hot spots in the city. I literally checked off all the places in my tour guide I even found myself wandering around the Museum of Modern Art….and I don’t even get modern
art! I made a quick exit just as soon as I made that realization! I did go to Paddy’s Market mostly just for comedy value. Whilst not being quite as scabby as our own version it wasn’t the best…buy cheap buy dear as my Gran used to say….after a wander round I left minus any tack! The Chinese gardens in particular were beaut! At night a Canadian guy Daniel and I headed out for dinner and went to the cinema to see You, Me and Dupree…lol!
Next day I took the ferry to Manly which was made special by an old guy singing (killing) Elvis numbers…he was hilarious! Kept on telling people that it was just a natural talent and how good his voice was. I think he was one of those crazy people who buys a ticket and rides back and forth all day! Manly was great, very laidback. It wasn’t warm at all so it wasn’t the best light to see it in. It comes across as being a lazy beach town. The lack of warmth didn’t seem to put the surfers off so I sat down at the beach and watched them and wrote a few postcards….don’t get upset or let that fool you. Despite being full of great intentions I still haven’t actually posted a single postcard! Sorry guys! At night Daniel (Canadian), Becky (English), Ryan (Canadian), Jessica (Swedish) and I went down to the Hostel bar. after that we headed to Paddy McGuire’s to see a band, probably the most Irish bar I have ever been in…and I have been to Ireland!
Tuesday my head was a little fuzzy and I only had once place I wanted to visit. Randomly I visited the NSW Freemason Headquarters, out of sheer nosiness! The curator was really sweet and took me round a bunch of the Chapter rooms. After that I was done with my touristy stuff. I bought some lunch and went to lay out at the Botanical Gardens.
Id love to say that I taxied it to the airport and was home in a few hours but nope, 12hrs on a bus and I was back in Melbourne. Not a bad journey but I do hate that they pull into the shadiest service stops and the driver gets out leaving the bus door open…I’m so sure so crazy man will jump into the drivers seat and we would be none the wiser! So maybe I shouldn’t watch Urban Legend or Wolf Creek till I get back! I really did love Sydney but I must say I was happy to get home. That probs had something to do with the fact that I was wandering around by myself. There is a lot more of Sydney to see I will be back. I fly out from there so I will have some more Sydney stories for you next year…sounds scary doesn’t it!
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Yannick
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Well I was wondering when the next blog would be!
I love hearing your stories and this came just in time I was really starting to get itchy feet and I promised myself I would give it a year... but this email seems to set it down just a tad!!! Was happy to be reminded of my Sydney tour... hahaha anyhow take care darling and try to keep them coming!