Advertisement
Well it's goodbye Australia already!!
We spent Monday chilling, doing our washing, making plans for the rest of the week and also for NZ so we maximize our time there!! We went for a walk around the local area as well as making a cake out of whatever was lying around but mainly relaxed. We ate dinner with Lou and her brother before bed- very basic day sorting out our bags, lives and making plans really! We did pop out for a short walk and smoothie which was also known as a cup full of yoghurt!
Tuesday morning we set an alarm to wake us up bright and early so we could head down to Palm Beach which is like 2hours away and as well as being a beautiful northern beach the reason we chose this one and not one of the others is because it's where home and away is filmed! However upon waking up and seeing clouds followed by rain (and therefore mad dash to get the washing in!) we decided to do Manly today as wit would involve slightly less travel in case of rain etc and also knowing we were probably going to have a
large dinner on thursday this was the better day for fish and chips! In typical fashion as soon as it was too late to go to Palm Beach i.e. 11am the sun came out shining!! Still Manly's better in the sun! We got the ferry across there, dived straight to the first fish and chip shop and ate on the grass overlooking the beach before getting an ice cream and walking down to the point and a smaller bay where we attempted a costal walk before seeing massive spiders in their webs everywhere we looked!!! After catching the ferry back to circular quay and competing with tourists for photos we got a ferry to Cremorne Point where i had stayed when we came here when i was 4. We returned to Lou's to pack up and have dinner with her and her brother as it was our last night.
Wednesday after doing yet more washing we headed to meet Reader's Digest for lunch, they took us to the fish market near Darling Harbor where we went to Doyles. Oyster's and muscles to start, despite not being a big fan we both politely swallowed our share of them!! Salmon with
basil and tomatoes was the main course all accompanyed by a glass of wine! fish was a good call since it's not something we can afford for ourselves too often! They dropped us off at the harbour so we walked up through the park to catch a bus back so we could put on the tumble dryer before anyone came home!! Then we went back out looking for warm clothes to take to NZ but were unsuccessful! We were swapping locations that night as we headed over to one of mum's old school friends and her family. So after being promised a lift at 630 ish we weren't happy to be told after 7 we'd have to get the bus! Luckily Phil picked us up from Central station but still...... We arrived to a feast of food, meat was particularly appreciated as we hadn't eaten it at all since arriving in Sydney. We went to bed on a real matteress for the first time in 4nights which was restful!!
Thursday morning we once again failed to get to Palm Beach choosing instead to go down to Paddy's Market where i had to buy a replacement bag after the Cambodian
Zip finally gave up the ghost! The scene was cahotic as everyone frantically sold and brought, the fruit and veg section was endless! Then we hopped on a bus to Cogee Beach which was about half an hour away, the beach was nice and quiet so we walked along it before ascending upon the cliff walk which we then never left! We started walking and kept passing beach after beach bay after bay before we reached Bronte where it was decision time to get a bus back or go the whole way to Bondi, we choose the latter suprisingly and arrived literally as night time darkness began! By this point we were tired and hungry so not the happiest when we then had to get a bus to bondi junction wait for hours before getting another bus to railway square and walking back from there! We arrived back about 7pm so after tea and biscuits began to get ready for the evening. We were meeting up with some Olaves school friends, Bear, Simon and Fidel who are coaching sport over here. Bear and Simon left the UK in July so know Sydney really well which in combination with the knowledge
Bear's girlfriend Sophie (which ensured much name confusion!) we were taken to the right places!! Pancake on the Rocks was our first port of call as we were starving from our walk so off we went and shared nachos and pancakes which was lush and filling! We headed down to the Sydney Opera House Bar which gave us the view of the glistening water! We left when we realised we were the only people left in their and everything was being packed away, so walked up to the town hall before getting a bus and walking home! It was lovely to see people from home and get a small taste of sydney at night! It's definatley a city i could live in!
Friday morning we decided we finally had to head down to Palm Beach so full of expectation that since it was sunny and so on that they just must be filming home and away there today we hopped on a bus for an hour and a half to discover a beautiful beach and lovely weather but no cameras! We walked along the red sanded beach before stopping for our picnic, half a snadwhich of cheese and one
pickle- we are on a budget. We sat on the bench where many a moving scene has happened before heading back. When we arrived back to face the impossible task of packing, leading to a few items being thrown away! Libby and I joined Annie and Phil at the pub before the boys went to see a rugby game at the cricket ground. We were then treated to a lovely italian meal, a rareity for us since our own culinary skills haven't come on much. We went back to their house, aready slightly worse for wear and went back out with the boys to a different pub but since we had an early flight the next morning we left fairly soon after (again walking home so active!).
Saturday's early wake wasn't as early as it should've been as i just awoke at half 6, we were leaving at 7 and neither of us had time to shower and wash our hair!! We were not at our best to travel but pressed on into the airport where i tried to spend my last 7 dollars decideding upon Honey and a little notebook- random as. The other big news from the
airport has to be that everytime i weigh in my rucksack gets heavier and i swear im throwing stuff away! Libby's has got down to 15kilos while mine's climbed up to 19!! The flight was all to plan, no delays and an amazing tailwind or so i'm told! We arrived tense due to customs as i was carrying salt, pepper, oil, flour, seasoning and also had to tick the 'animal' box on the form due to the honey. Luckily we weren't stopped for taking in everything except the honey which they ruthlessly stole from me. Arriving to an array of free guides (love NZ!) we hopped on a bus into the centre and went to Base Backpackers hostel where the only dorms left where in the girls 'sanctury' which i wasn't going to complain about as it's pink and you get better duvets and are given free Aveda shampoo and conditioner as well as a fluffy white towel and a glass of bubbly! All for 1pound more! We headed out to do the shopping and book our bus tickets for the rest of NZ which set us back 160pounds, so libby reached her daily withdrawal limit, luckily it would appear
there's nothing stopping me! There's a sick girl staying in our room coughing and sneezing so both of us now have sore throats and blocked noses- aint communal living grand. We had sausage and mash for dinner except we think we made a rookie error and came away with something that looks like potato but isnt.....so it was BRIGHT YELLOW! Anyway the sausages were good!
Sunday (today) we set out trying to burn our photo disks which ensured much money spent and various internet cafes used but they're finally done and ready to be sent. We're going to wonder around the city taking in the old sites and possibly buying a thermal top for myself before we attempt cauliflower cheese for dinner!! It's not too cold thank god and also no rain yet!! All the buses in NZ especially the south island take FOREVER and more annoyingly they're all day time.......so books will be read, ipods listened to and boredom reached!
Anyway till next time... xxxxxxx
Advertisement
Tot: 0.049s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 8; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0296s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1mb
George Thompson
non-member comment
Got that mention :-) haha safe travels sophie xxx