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Published: July 20th 2012
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So... since the last time we wrote, we have actually seen other parts of Australia other than Wairewa, Lakes Entrance and the FARM! We have EVEN been out of Victoria and ventured into New South Wales (Sydney). After spending more than 88 days on our beloved farm, we have now got our 2nd year visa's for Oz and can officially stay for another year. We actually realised the other night thanks to Rob quizzing us on the states that we have been here long enough to be able to name all locations and state names! Very exciting and also very geeky!
The farm..... well there were good and bad days there but overall we would probably do it again and the work itself wasn't entirely back breaking but after several months, got quite repetitive. And as the weather cooled down into winter, the picking definately became less enjoyable. None the less we made some brilliant friends, and have very good memories and who knows we may even go back at some point in the future to save some more money!Hopefully not too soon though, I only just got the lemon zest out from under my nails!
The big day
finally arrived to leave on the 15th June 2012, and we drove from Lakes Entrance to Gembrook (a small village in the middle of nowhere- near Melbourne, to stay with Phil's sister, Vicky) and experience a real Ozzie BBQ. We had already established that Aussie's drink a lot of beer but wow this was on a different scale. Froggy ( Vicky's Australian husband) and Vicky were amazing hosts and we ate lots of meat, drank millions of beers and even had our tarot cards read! After what was a pretty heavy night, we headed off to Melbourne CBD, to stay there for the night before our flight on Sunday to Sydney. Phil had our car which later turned out to be a small nightmare, but nevertheless we had wheels and the 4 of us stayed in Hotel Discovery. Now I don't know if this is because I am getting older or I was still violently hungover, but the excitement of going in the top bunk really wasn't there. And the sharing your room with 4 other strangers also wasn't as much fun as I remembered in Amsterdam with my Fabulous friend Bex!
In the very early hours of the
following morning, we fumbled in the dark for our belongings, got ready in the hallway to avoid waking anyone else up, and headed for Tullamarine Airport headed for Sydney. After a speedy 1 hour flight with Jetstar, whom might we add are much better than their British equivalent Ryanair, we landed in Sydney. We were speechless from the second we arrived. Everything in Sydney is so quirky and absolutely beautiful. The moment when we saw the Opera House, was an absolute jaw-dropping one and incredibly surreal. The weather while were there was mid 20's and gorgeous during the day. I think the highlight for both of us, was walking down to Circular Quay to catch the ferry to Manly. Now there's a view. The Sydney Opera House & the harbour Bridge. The skyline was just amazing and we stared at them from the open roofed boat as we sailed out of the harbour.
During our 4 day trip, we managed to fit a lot in. We stayed on 'The Rocks' on the Harbour after Saul's mum great recommendation. This is truly the best location we could have hoped for. The Holiday Inn on the Rocks, was perfect and felt
like enormous luxury after the farm and the backpackers.
Day 1.
Dumped bags, had a shower, flew round the Sunday Markets at the ROcks, walked around the harbour and plonked ourselves in the opera bar where the sun was glittering on the water with a Cava in hand. Several drinks later we walked back hand in hand to the hotel and stuffed our faces in a gorgeous little Italian nearby.
Day 2.
Lie-in, caught the ferry to Manly, which is a cute little seaside town, a bit like Blackpool perhaps just a little bit prettier!.
We get down to the beach and we were so surprised to see it full of people, surfing, swimming and sunbathing. It sure isnt bad the Winter weather here! We were sat there with coats and a scarf on but then again if I had a body like most of the Aussie Girls here I might be a bit more keen to show it off! Had a delicious lunch and hopped back on the ferry to Circular Quay. We took another ferrry or 'sea taxi' as Saul liked to called them, to Darling Harbour to visit the
Wildlife Zoo. We went under the World famous bridge to get there. We saw Koala's, Kangaroos, Crocs, snakes and all sorts of other weird Aussie species. This will sound stupid but Koalas are definately cuter in real life and Kangaroos leg's are much longer in real life. 😊
Sitting on the beach really makes you realise something about Australians. They really are all so gorgeous! And its not just the women, the men too ( luckily for me!). Everyone is also really fit, as they jog past you in their shiny lycra leggings and sunglasses on. Hence why Saul and I have quickly signed up to Fitness First in an attempt to 'fit' in a little better! Literally!
Day 3.
Because we loved Manly so much, we jumped on the Ferry and decided to stay there for our last night. Of course because I booked the hotel, I booked it in the wrong place. Oops. I actually booked us into a YHA Hostell- as the Aussie's like to call them, in Collaroy which was actually 45 mins by bus from Manly! I really should have learnt not to be too hasty in booking hotels after our Hostel Florida
Experience in Seville! It turned out to be amazing. YES! We took a long 3 hour walk down the beach and had a Thai that night.
All in all we absolutely loved Sydney and will most definately be coming here again. Of course the sunshine makes everywhere a better place too but as they say.. ''We most definately left our hearts in Sydney!''
Back to Melbourne excited for the roadtrip, hoping to be greeted by Phil and Rob, however with a problem with the car, there was no one in arrivals! To cut a long story short, we couldn't leave Victoria for another week due to a problem with the previous owner of the car not paying speeding fines. We decided to stay in St Kilda for a night while we decided what to do in the Habitat Hq hostel. I must say I really wasn't impressed with St Kilda at all. Cold, just grotty pubs everywhere and not that cool. Probably was as nice as everyone had been saying but with the dissapointment of not going anywhere, the bad weather and the fact we had to leave Sydney kind of put a dark
cloud over St Kilda!
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