18/04/09: We got taxi from bus station to hostel cos we didnt know where it was and it was late and raining. We had arranged late check-in at hostel cos reception was closed- we had been given the codes for the door and safe. Our hostel was in the centre of the party street and being a Saturday night it was really busy and there is about 100 other hostels and clubs nearby. We are in 4-bed dorm which has its own sink and fridge and couch, but only one toilet and shower on the floor! We crashed not long after and got woken up by the two other guys in the room coming back. They went out again and then the one under lil alex bought back a girl and kept him awake until 5am!! How ignorant!!!

19/04/09: Woke up about 8.30. Got up and headed out. Had Subway for breakfast. Then we walked to the Botanic Gardens in Sydney where we saw about 1000 bats hanging upside down in the trees- it was amazing! We could also see the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge from there. We walked along the river to the Opera House which it felt quite surreal to be standing beside because it is such an iconic feature. We walked along to The Rocks- the original settlement area- where they had a market going on- we walked around that. We went up and walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The weather was soooo changeable- it literally rained one minute and the sun was out the next all day!! We went to tourist info place and leaflets about trips to Blue Mountains. Then for tea we got an indian- it was $8 for rice and 3 curry dishes. Afterwards we walked back to the city to get a night time view. The Sydney Opera House and Bridge and all the skyscrapers looked cool at night. We went back to the hostel and crashed afterwards.

20/04/09: We got up about 9 and got ready then got breakfast- another Subway for me and pie for lil alex. Then we got $1 pack of 6 doughnuts for treats throughout the day. We walked around some of the shopping malls and main shopping streets. Then headed to the Wharf where we caught a ferry over to Manly which is across the harbour and somewhere lots of people had recommended. However, we were quite disappointed with it- there wasnt that much to do. We walked around the high street and went to the beach- which was cool but the weather was very cloudy and a bit chilly (who would of thought Australia would be cold??). There was loads of surfers though which were cool to watch. We walked around a bit more then got ferry back about 3- took 30 minutes and it was really choppy. But we had good views back onto the city. We have never seen so many tramps as we have seen here- almost every other person is wearing scruffy, dirty clothes and sipping out of a brown paper bag, sleeping under a tree or sitting begging. We are out tonight- we have found an Irish pub nearby that has got a quiz night and then an open mic night so that should be quite entertaining. We had pizza and salad for tea, then headed to the pub about 6.30. I had a couple of pints of Bulmers during the night and lil alex had a couple of jugs of beer which was enough to get him drunk. The quiz started at 7- it was really good- there were 10 rounds on different topics such as music & tv, sport, geography, pot luck, animals, etc, each with 10 questions. We were pretty rubbish but we were one of only a couple of teams of 2, most teams had big tables full of members. We got 10 out of 10 in the odd one out round but only got like 3 or 4 in most other rounds. We came 14th out of 16 in the end so missed out on the $50 bar tab. We were drunk enough and tired enough by the time that was over at 10 so we headed back to the hostel and missed the comedy.

21/04/09: I got up in time for breakfast- 7.30 til 9. SO I had toast with cheese and jam, a boiled egg and cereal for free in the hostel kitchen. Then we both got ready and headed out to explore the other side of the city. We went up the Sydney Sky Tower first because the weather was quite clear. It cost us $20 each to go up including the OZTrek experience at the end. Up the tower there was free binoculars and you could see the harbour bridge, Opera House, Olympic Park, etc, I never realised how much water there was in Sydney. We walked all round the top of the tower and then got the lift back down and went on the OzTrek- first we sat in a little theatre and had a little 3D virtual show about one part of Oz, then we moved around in our seats because we were obviously on a revolving platform to face another little stage set where there is another virtual show- there was 4 in total. Then we went to another room and sat in big chairs that had bars come down and hold you in and we went on another virtual tour of Oz and the chairs moved around so it felt like you were moving and actually there, it was quite cool. After that we went to Darling Harbour and went in the Maritime Museum which was cool for free- although we didnt pay to go on the Navy Ship or Submarine or old tallship. We walked around some shopping centres there. Then we went to Chinatown- it was really cool. Although I found out lil alex has a thing for the Asian Persuasion so not looking forward to Thailand!! We snacked on some spring rolls in one of the food courts there. Then we saw the IMAX entertainment centre which has 3D films but it was expensive. So we started the very very long walk back. We stopped back in the main part for dinner- we had jacket potatoes!! Then we walked the rest of the way back. The weather has been very mixed again with several heavy showers. We had two new room mates- two very very posh English girls, one of whom took a liking to lil alex!! We chatted to them for a while and read a bit- I have started the Da Vinci Code cos it was left in our hostel room and I havent got any other books at the mo and everyone seems to have read it! (By the way shall I keep Jodi Picoults 'Handle with Care'??)

22/4/09: We got up in time for the free breakfast then went out and booked our Blue Mountains trip for Friday!! The weather was bright so we decided to head to Bondi Beach. We got a train there but it only took us to the centre of Bondi and so we walked from there miles to the beach. It was a huge sandy beach but nothing special. We walked around it and up the rocks on the other side to get a good view back on the beach with the city behind. Then we walked a bit further to a golf course which has aboriginal carvings in the rocks there. Then we walked back to the beach and laid on the sand while the sun shone. Then it got really cloudy so we headed back. Maybe the beach would have been more impressive in the glorious sunshine. Back in the centre of Bondi was 100's more shops and a big shopping centre which we looked around before getting the train. We went back to the hostel and met the new English couple in our room. Then we headed out about 5 back to Chinatown. It looked really cool lit up at night and we got dinner in a chinese foodcourt which was an experience. I had sweet and sour prawns and rice. Then we walked around Darling Harbour which was all lit up before heading back to our area (which really is the red light district). As for what I think of Sydney- it is cool because there is more to do here but the weather has let us down. It is my favourite city in Oz though. We chilled in the room with the new couple all evening- we were exhausted. But people were playing drinking games in the corridor outside our room so it was loud until late.

23/04/09: We were up in time for the free breakfast again. Then we got all packed up and checked out. We walked to our new hostel which is literally two minutes from the old one but is better cos we get a double room! We were able to check in straight away- the room is really nice with its own fridge and tv. We dumped the stuff then went out on the internet where we booked the buses to Canberra and Melbourne and booked our hostels. Then we walked over to The Rocks where we went to the Rock Discovery Museum about the first settlers in Oz who settled there. We walked around the shops there. Then we went to get lunch but the city centre was absolutely packed with businessman and women on their lunch breaks and the food court was overflowing. So we gave up and went further out where we got fancy burgers which we ate in Hyde Park. Then we walked to the Botanic Gardens and laid chilling in there looking out onto the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Its probably been the nicest day today. We are goin to supermarket to get a few supplies then having an early night because we have the Blue Mountains trip early tomorrow! Got a tub of pasta salad and bag of spinach which I ate in room for tea. Watched some tv then read some of my book before crashing- a lot quieter than last hostel.

24/4/09: Set alarm for 6.45. Got ready and caught bus for Blue Mountains Trip at 7.45. A group of 24 mainly older people and a friendly and very knowledgeable driver. We started by driving to lake where we had breakfast picnic- juice and biscuits. Then we headed up into the mountains- first we stopped to look at aboriginal carvings in some rocks and learn a bit about the plants, etc. Then we went to Kings Table- which is a lookout point over all the rainforest and mountains- there are no barriers as its not a recognised viewpoint so it was a bit scary. Then we headed on to do a scenic tour- we got Australias steepest cable car down to the bottom of the mountain and rainforest floor where we did a walk around. Then we got the Worlds steepest train back up again- it goes through a dark tunnel and you feel like you are laying down but great views. We went for lunch in a small town up in the mountains called Leura. Then we went for a walk to a waterfall in the middle of the rainforest and saw evidence of where they used to do all the mining! Amazing views. Then we drove to a point in the rainforest to look for kangaroos, etc, but didnt find anything. We drove back through Sydneys Olympic Park and so saw all the stadiums and the olympic village, etc. We got dropped off at the ferry point there and got a ferry back to the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. We started walking back from there when I suddenly really nearly a wee- we finally found toilets in the park which I had to give 50cents to use and then I went in and shut the door but its all electric and mid-flow the electric door opened so the whole park could see me wee!! Very embarassing! I did manage to quickly shut door so I could finish in peace and I dont think anyone except lil alex could see the commotion. The weather was bright most of the day! We got Subway for tea and then went back to the hostel and watched tv and read for the rest of the night.

25/04/09: ANZAC DAY: It stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and is celebrated on April 25th every year to commemorate all those who fought and died in service. It is a really big day here- all but one of the states (NSW) has it as a national holiday. We got up at 8 and I went to have the free breakfast- no eggs in this hostel. Then we got ready and walked to the city centre- all the roads were closed off and 1000's of people lined the streets for a 9am parade. There was all the World War veterans- a lot of whom were transported in taxis at the start because they couldnt walk it but they were waving. Everyone on the streets were given Australian flags to wave and were clapping and shouting- it did feel a bit wrong waving an Australian flag. Then all parts of the Navy, Army and Airforce represented. There was all about 50 different marching bands who came in between different regiments and services- a lot of them played the bagpipes- I thought that was Scottish!? It was quite cool to experience such a big thing. It lasted 3 hours! Then we headed to Paddys Market- a huge market in the Rocks area. I got a new belly bar cos my last one fell out and I lost it. Then we went to Chinatown and had chinese for dinner- a bit too spicy for me though!! It was a lovely sunny day so we headed to the Botanic Gardens where we laid and read til the sun come down over the harbour bridge. Then we went to the supermarket for supplies and are chilling tonight- we have to get all packed and organised to leave tomorrow for Canberra. We watched tv- the Vicar of Dibley and Independence Day, plus I read my book.

26/04/09: I got up at 9 and had the free breakfast. Then we got ready and checked out before 10. We walked to the nearest Metro station and got the train to the bus station. But we were 2 hours early so we went to the park opposite and laid sunbathing and reading because it was a gorgeous, hot, sunny day. We caught the GreyHound at 12.30. Noone has had anything positive to say about Canberra so we wasn't too excited.