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Published: November 13th 2007
Friday, November 9th, 2007 - 4:02 p.m. We started the day yesterday by heading out in search of breakfast. After going down the road and grabbing starbucks at the entrance to a mall, we headed in to see what was available. The first option we came to was an over priced joint that didn't look that great, but we were hungry. After seeing that a mushroom and cheese omlette is $16.50 and a side of hashbrowns is an additional $4.00, I was ready to go back to the hotel and do the $17.50 breakfast buffet. Shannon, a girl that gave me a lot of advice before we left after being here for 10 months, warned us that we could spend all of our savings in Sydney because it's so expensive. The over priced breakfast didn't matter much though because just after Jan ordered her coffee the manager came over and said that he was canceling our order, that is was "quite rude" that we brought in our drinks and that we could go to the food court. I understand it's rude in a real restaurant, but I didn't really think about it for a crappy over priced mall food
place.
We came across the food court as we ventured on and it turns out that this place that the low lives like us go to with our starbucks in hand was
awesome. They had everything from falafel to Thai to pizza to breakfast options to a fresh fruit and yogurt stand. Alex and I split a massive falafel wrap, way to much yogurt with berries, and a diet coke for $12.00
From there we did some shopping and got ripped off. Unknown to us at the time, but I'll get to that...
Saturday, November 10th, 2007 - 12:15 a.m. After our mall experience we found a Sydney Explorer bus that you can buy a day pass to see Sydney's biggest attractions. It was finally feeling less like Chicago and actually being in Australia. Stop number 27 offered us fantastic nachos, fish and chips, and salad. We ate on the roof of a bar preparing ourselves with food and a restroom break before heading.....................................................
to the bridge climb! Sydney's very own historic massive bridge offers the best view in the area. After getting on our jump suits, harness, taking off all of our
Airplane Battle Wound
This is the bruise on my back from falling.jewelry, locking up our clothes and cameras, getting clips on our hats and glasses...we were finally ready. We walked down a very narrow wood plank with the smell of diesel from the boats below, 160 feet above ground. He told us that if we get lost they printed a handy map right on our jump suits as to where to go and pointed to the line art bridge logo (ha, ha). There were sections that we would duck under metal, climb through beams and up ladders. Finally we were over 400 feet in the air at the very top. Six lanes of car traffic, a train lane, and a biker/walker lane below us. Absolutely incredible. It wasn't as scary as I had envisioned it to be.
After the bridge climb it was dark out. The climb takes about three hours to complete. We stopped to refuel at a bar/restaurant then made our way to the Opera house. The bar offered kangaroo and crocidile...we might have to try it before leaving. I don't know if I can bring myself to not only eating meat, but either of those to boot. The really nice part is that it's illegal to factory
Hotel View
We didn't know at the time that we're right on the harbor, just our room faces teh other way. farm anywhere in Australia and all of their meat is free range.
Stopped on a street corner, map in hand, we debated which way to go. A very friendly local dressed in a suit stopped and said,
"Do you need directions?" That wasn't the first time someone did that either. They really are the friendliest people (aside from the guy that kicked us out of the breakfast joint, but I guess we had that coming).
We've lucked out with the weather. It rains in the morning and evening, but the last two days have cleared up nicely. I even left my jacket in the hotel today. Our cab driver from the Opera House said the weather is ridiculous and that he never wears his winter clothes this far into the year.
"They say it's global warming...I think it's global cooling!" Our cab driver, like most everyone else I've met here, is not originally from Australia. He's been here for 17 years and when asked where he moved from he replied,
"Hell" and later said he's from Bayrou. He went there a couple years ago to visit and said he will never go back again.
Australian's love it
here and can't imagine living anywhere else again. The only originally from Australia people I've met so far was a couple also on the bridge climb that had never taken the time to do it. Everyone else has been from France, New Zealand, England, Israel, South Africa, and Bayrou. They've all lived here 4 to 30 years and would call no other place home.
My brain is adjusting to the traffic driving on the opposite side of the road and having to look right, left, right before crossing the street. In case you forget though, they conveniently painted on the street "Look Right". The toilet flushers are just like in Europe with a button on top that you push half for a little flush or the whole thing for a big flush. Might I add one more time that Sydney is SO expensive. Currently this trip is furthering my love for Australia, but I could never live in this city. Even the internet is $30 for a wi-fi day pass or $2 per 20 minutes on the super slow computers provided in the lobby area. None of the coffee shops offer free wi-fi... I know just in the span
of the Jackson Coffee Co, The Crazy Cowboy, and Nomad - there's THREE free wi-fi locations.
Alex and I poked around the hotel for to long getting ready to head out for the day today. (well, technically yesterday). Jan split to go do her own thing and scope out the beaches. We attempted to go to the casino, but you have to have your passport to get in so we headed to the Paddy Market instead which is where I found out I was completely ripped off the day before at the mall. I bought what I thought was a really nice jacket at the Mall for around $60 bucks. With all the rain I needed something that wouldn't soak through so it's a nice useful souvenir. When we got to the Paddy Market we found my exact jacket for $20!
$20!?! Ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous! We stocked up on t-shirts and hats that were $8-$10 a piece as opposed to $30 everywhere else...the exact same design, brand, everything. So, that's my advice, if you go to Sydney, wait until you find the Paddy Market, it's on maps and easy to locate, you will find shirts for the bridge,
the beaches, the opera house...everything. I needed a cap to keep the rain off my face and they have a million different styles - $4 each or three for $10. A huge bargain.
We were beat after shopping though. The market is endless and we didn't want to buy from the first stand we came up to because while so many were the same, some had one or two shirts that were different. We made our rounds then attempted to go back to find what it was we wanted. My calves, shins, and butt muscles are spent. Alex, Jan and I showed up at the hotel an hour before we planned on meeting trying to beat the other party to get in a nap. Luckily we all showed up with the same idea and crashed for a few hours.
We were up long enough to go to an indian restaurant called Zaphffron then back to hit the hay.
Tuesday, November 13th, 2007 - 2:18 p.m. I'm really not a fan of tourist traps. If I were to do this trip over again, I would definitely, without hesitation, not go through a travel
In case you forget...
Always look right when crossing the road... agency, but book my own hostels and play it by ear. Sydney is a historic location with a lot to do, but it's just over the top expensive. I saw on the news here that tourism is dramatically dropping due to the expensive prices. It had a comment from a girl who booked a trip to Australia and after finding out how expensive it is, they re-booked for Tahiti.
I'd much rather be in hostels in remote locations. Hopefully it gets better from here.
Alex and I are in Cairns now...Jan went home on Sunday. Speaking of Sunday, Alex and I went to Bondi beach. The waves were tossing us around everywhere and the ones coming back from the shore were almost just as strong as the ones coming it. It was a blast! We left and tried to hurry to catch the buss for our 7 o'clock reservations at the sky lounge. It's similar to the Sears Tower in that you go up and you have a 360 degree view of the city, only this is a rotating restaurant. The food was fantastic and the view is only beat by the bridge.
Monday we were back
in the air and flew into Cairns (pronounced "cans"). It's half rain forest, half ocean. Our hotel is right on the main strip with an ocean view. It rains off and on. It's a lot less congested then Sydney, but still not quite the local feel. We head out for our three day boat dive tomorrow.
Last night we ventured to the Casino and spent a whopping $20.00 on slots and picked up a $5.00 poker chip for Barb in the bulk mail unit at the post office. She said she collects them and wants one since she might not ever make it to this side of the world. We stopped for a bite to eat then had a nice long walk in the rain home. It's about 25 - 30 minutes to town from our hotel.
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anonymous
non-member comment
G'day, How's about a pic of that bridge you climbed?! Sounds HIGH! And that pic of the local playing his music, that's a 'dijideroo (sp), Uncle Ken plays one :-) Ups and downs keep the travels exciting, but it's time for only ups now !! Safe travels and I love you, mom xxoo