G'Day Mates

Bonza Mate it's Sydney and it's hot!!!

I arrived on Tuesday morning after an absolute killer of a flight! I flew from LA to Auckland (12.5 hours) then transfered to Sydney. I had to declare my Hershey Bars through customs but I had no hassle there!

I got my shuttle to my hostel (Base Backpackers) on Kent Street and checked in. I got a really nice room and practically ran into the shower! Although I hadn't slept for about 16 hours I went for a walk to get myself acquainted with Sydney.

I walked down to Circular Quay and wow there they were - the opera house and the harbour bridge! I started to walk to Macqaurries point and it started pissing it down! But it was still really hot and sunny! Weird! I jumped under a tree for some shade and decided to walk back to the hostel when the rain died off!

The opera house and harbour bridge were massive - way bigger than I expected. The opera house is actually kinda pink!

The only bad thing about Sydney is the flies, there are hundreds of them and they fly into your face, ears and nose - eugh! Apparently the weather was crap last week and only changed the day that I arrived so all the flies cam out with the weather change!

WEDNESDAY

Today I checked out of my single room and checked into a dorm room - I'm really slumming it now! The room is really nice though, I met Catherine (well I woke her up) who is just leaving Oz and has just come down with Hayfever!

I went to Manly today, the ferry is excellent it takes you past the opera house, I was one of the first on so I got to the back of the boat and a prime spot for photos! We crossed the harbour entrance and it got a bit choppy but we arrived in one piece! Manly was great, the beach was not safe for swimming but there were loads of surfers and body boarders! Yum! I went for a paddle and it was a bit rough so I came back in a bit and this wave came up to my thighs - I have a salt line on my shorts now! I then walked back down and got some fish and chips, well nice! I know that Quiksilver etc is cheaper here but I set myself a task that I was not to shop as I can't fit anything extra in my case! Well the Quiksilver shop in Manly was too much to resist! I was good though - I got some wristbands for 5 pounds and a camera strap for 6 pounds! I didn't buy a handbag I saw for a fiver though! Apparently Melbourne is even cheaper for Quiksilver!

I got the ferry back to Circular Quay and went for a stroll through the Rocks and found the BridgeClimb office for My climb on Saturday!

When I got back I met my other dorm mate Peggy from Hanover and we decided to go for a drink, we went down to Darling Harbour which is 5 minutes from the hostel. It was lovely going down to the harbour at night with all the lights!