Sunshine and Christmas tree's!

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First thing we should mention about our visit to Sydney is where we are staying. We are staying at a hostel in the Kings cross area known as 'the Asylum'. Well we are both now fully aware where the name comes from...

Our first night out resulted in us getting very drunk with the staff and travellers from our hostel. Although not the cleanest or most comfortable, it's definately one of the most fun places we have stayed.

Sydney itself reminds us very much of England but with sunshine. The street, building and landmark names will nearly all be familiar to British people; Hyde park, Oxford street, Liverpool street, Victoria etc. Its also expensive which is very British!

Whilst here we took an open top bus ride around the city (very tourist!) and ended up in Bondi. We had both heard of Bondi beach and were really looking forward to going there, however we were both a little disappointed by it. It's just like a british seaside resort and the beach wasn't that spectacular. Maybe we have just been spoilt by previous beaches on our trip. Still we caught some rays and had a few drinks before heading back.

Before coming away one of things we really wanted to do was hire a Harley Davidson and ride it through Sydney. Unfortunately the only bike hire place here had no Harleys left so we had to make do with a Honda equivelant, on the up side it was 40 quid cheaper! So we hired the bike, bought a map and set off west of Sydney to ride through the Blue mountains national park. We both had a fantastic day covering about 300 miles and riding some of the best twisty roads I have ever been on. We rode through loads of little towns where the people could not have been more friendly. It was quite surreal, at times we felt like we were riding through a film set as it was just how we'd imagined it from TV.

We have also spent some time in the various harbours and bays of Sydney as you can probably see from our photos. One of the highlights of this was climbing to the top of the Sydney harbour bridge. Before we came here we both thought the Sydney harbour bridge was the same as the Tyne bridge only a bit bigger, well we were right only it's a lot, lot bigger! Sydney harbour bridge must be ten times bigger, having eight lanes for traffic and two railway lines as well as footpaths and cycle lanes. We were briefed at the bottom about safety, given our climb suits and harnesses then off we set. It took around three hours from start to finish, at the summit you are 440 feet above the sea, which take it from us is very high! The scariest parts were the walkways where you could see straight down between your feet, and climbing the steep ladders between the lanes of traffic.



Tomorrow we are leaving Sydney and heading off to Fiji for some R&R (traveling is a tough life!)...

Paul & Vicki x

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Photos

Looking from the Bridge to the Opera house
Wearing our 'ultra cool' climb suits!

Hyde park Christmas tree
Please note Vicki's 'winter clothing'

Wild boar statue
Rub its nose and make a wish!

Comments

[sean tommy guns jobson]

hey dudes
hello the first thing i must ask is paul have u got a bum bag as well as a man bag ? it looks realy good over there the weather here is shit so just be ready for it and nothing else is going on really and paul u look like z on that bike i can see u and gary getting one when u get back its all about MPG not BHP any more well u 2 take care and will talk to u soon later dudes jobba

[Phil Battista]

You lucky bugger it looks great, have a fantastic time and enjoy yourselves as much as possible. Best of luck Phil