Day 102 Monday 21st December 2009

Johno says

Today we arrived in Sydney, we wanted to explore straight away and get things done as soon as possible like we do in many of the places we have seen so far. But physically we were so tired from our sleepless coach journey from Melbourne we just had to hit the sack for some rest. Once we had been to the supermarket for some food, cooked and eaten the food (and played catch up with the girls we previously met in Thailand that are staying in the same hostel) it was the early evening. So, we were restricted to a walk down George Street which is one of the main streets in Sydney, it quite possibly was the longest street in the world…! Sydney seemed a bit more easier to navigate and looked pretty modern and developed compared to Melbourne. The 30 minute walk was made worthwhile when both the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge we have seen so many times on TV opened up for us to see at the end of the Street!! A few snaps later on the clapped out old Sony (just in case the landmarks disappear overnight) we made our way home for the hostel.

Day 103 Tuesday 22nd December 2009

Stacey says

We walked for miles around the city sightseeing today in the searing heat. Walked down a few main streets, ending back up at the harbour front. We walked through The Rocks, which is a historic little place where poor people used to live when Australia first began to become inhabited, and popped into The Rocks Museum. Then walked to the Botanical Gardens, eyeing up a possible spot for NYE fireworks. Through some of the paths, there were hundreds of fruit bats, called Flying Foxes, all hanging upside down in the trees and flying around squealing, making so much noise. They were awful! We sat down for 10 minutes, taking in some sunshine. We then came up by St Mary's Cathedral, which was one of the most modern clean looking cathedrals I've visited! It had a set up outside with Jesus in his manger with the three wise men. It did not look right in the blazing sun!! Continued walking through Hyde Park, very original, where I sat again with a nice cold ice cream. After 4/5 hours of walking around we headed back, for some rest and made some dinner. Then for a quick refreshing beer in Scruffy Murphy's pub down the road, before back home for bed.

Day 104 Wednesday 23rd December 2009

Stacey says

Christmas Eve eve…. We did a beach walk from Coogie to Bondi Beach today. Our hostel had a planned walk today so we joined onto that, since we'd heard it was a nice walk anyway. It was about 6km in all, with 50 minute bus ride there and back. Leaving at 11, and returning for about 5, a long day! We walked through Coogie, Tamarana, Bronte, and finally finishing up at the infamous Bondi. They were all fantastic beaches, with white sand and clear ocean water. We rested up on Bondi for an hour and half, was a lovely hot day! On return we were given a free beer. Then we rushed up for some showers, and got ready to head out, we were to meet a pal of mine who lives here, for a drink. So we met at 6.30 and went to Chinatown for some for dinner. Then off to the Opera Bar for some drinks for one of his friends birthday. Albeit an expensive bar, but it was perfectly situated for a view of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, especially as it was our first time around there during the evening. Finally heading back, shattered!

Day 105 Thursday 24th December 2009

Johno says

Christmas Eve has arrived and we were to celebrate it with a trip to Paddy's Market which has been going since 1830 (ish) so it is a big part of the Sydney life. Sydney was playing his part with the weather yet again and providing glorious sunshine for the whole day for us! The market was indoors so you could quite happily walk around without burning yourself. I spent an hour roaming around picking up a token boomerang gift for myself to remind me of Oz (even though I haven't personally seen any boomerangs since being here!) a couple of little Christmas gifts for Stacey and a peanut bar to keep me going until dinner. On the way back to the hostel to meet Stace I managed to find a tacky shop that sells tacky hats to wear for this evening and tomorrow. It was red, with a spiral piece that forms into a Christmas tree with a fluffy bit at the end to represent the angel - perfect! The night was spent drinking free beers on the hostel, both in silly hats. We did venture down the road to an Irish bar called Scruffy Murphy's which was playing Karaoke, Stace put her name down to sing along with two American girls that we had been speaking to in there only for her to get cold feet at the last minute which then meant we had to leg it out of the establishment and through the Sydney streets back to our hostel bar for some more drinks.

Day 106 Friday 25th December 2009

Merry Christmas!! We woke up today, feeling pretty hungover! It didn't feel like Christmas morning at all, but we both had stockings hanging up with presents. So we went for breakfast, to find out someone had taken our milk. No porridge for me today! So I made a banana sandwich. Then we went to open up our presents. I got some make-up, toiletry set, chocolate, and a cuddly toy! We then headed down the hostel bar for free Christmas cake and Bucks fizz. Then was on our way to Bondi beach on our party bus. We spent the day in the Bondi Pavillion, just in front of the beach. There were DJ'S playing over 3 stages throughout the day. It got pretty busy, and so we spent the day dancing and drinking, everyone wearing their Santa hats - was a funny sight. An Irish chap took a liking to Steve's Santa hat and joined us for the rest of the day providing lots of laughs, then Steve later on met a German group of people, including one German chap who he reminded every 5 minutes how much he loves Germans! Absolutely shattered, returning home for about 10 o'clock.

Day 107 Saturday 26th December 2009

Today was always going to spent mostly in bed nursing a hangover! Yes, we succeeded to do just that waking up at 2pm. We made the daily trip down George Street to Woolworths (of all places) and bought some food for dinner. We stopped by a travel agent and booked up some trips and made our way back to the hostel.

Day 108 Sunday 27th December 2009

Stacey says

We took a stroll to Darling Harbour today, passing the iMax, the Chinese Gardens, sat by the docks watching the seagulls fight each other as they took possession of people sitting, eating their food, was funny to watch. Making our way back through China Town and Paddy's Market picking up a bag of fruit for ourselves. I then took the afternoon to go off shopping, in search of a belt, I came back with 2 tops instead. We decided to go to the bar downstairs of the hostel for a Roast Lamb dinner, in time to watch some Pulp Fiction on the big screen. After 3 hours of watching this, we felt hungry again and decided to grab a KFC. Pigs!!! We walked off the food and went home early, as we have an early start tomorrow.

Day 109 Monday 27th December 2009

Johno says

An early start with a torrential downpour unknown for Sydney for 148 years!! Yes, we have well and truly arrived in Sydney. Today we were taking surfing lessons at Botany Bay just outside Sydney, this turned out to be a great location as we could drive the jeep and set up our marquee on the actual beach. The group consist of 8 of us, 7 of which were women - so, not only was I surrounded I also had a great chance of not being the only one not to stand on the board!! Luckily for us the downpour was over for today and the surf lesson began with our surfer dudes handing out our wet suits/surf boards and giving a quick demonstration on how to get on the board and belly surf to the shore. Both Stace and I managed this without too many problems so we progressed on to the next stage of trying to stand up too!! This wasn't as easy. There are four steps which consists of belly surfing (step 1) then feet up on tip toes (2) bottom up (3) and finally, standing with your legs in a squatting position! Easy right?! Apparently, it was to get better with practice so our group headed back into the water. YES, we both managed to stand on the board after waiting for a few waves, I can't say I actually managed any more than 3 seconds standing up but I was definitely surfing!! The waves were pretty big today so there were lots of surfing opportunities. After around about 90 minutes of practice, we headed for a bbq lunch under the marquee with some further practice in the surf afterwards. Unfortunately Stace sprained an ankle in the second half and wasn't able to participate any more, which was a shame as she was doing really well. What a great morning but it was great to get back to the hostel for a shower as the sand was everywhere.

Day 110 Tuesday 29th December 2009
Johno says
Stacey was nursing her ankle today so I decided to finally walk the bridge, it was a monster!! The views were really good and once I was on the over side it was nice to have a different angle on the Opera House for the camera!! I somehow thought it was a great idea to extend my walk around the harbour to the Opera House and then through the gardens back to the hostel … ouch, it did pretty hurt especially in the flip flops!! I met back with Stace and we went to Maloney's Hotel for an absolute banquet of a meal that makes you so full that you don't need to eat again for a few days… yes, it was a bargain at 3 dollars a piece so we filled our plates like there is no tomorrow!! Mmmm food.
Day 111 Wednesday 30th December 2009
Stacey says
With great sunny weather this morning, we decided to go over to Manly beach. We set off taking our beach bags and a picnic and got on a 30 minute ferry ride over from Circular Quay. It was a nice scenic sail around the bridge and past Sydney's skyline. Manly was another lovely Sydney beach, although really busy today. Steve had made a comment that he gets nervous when the seagulls fly over him, incase they poop on him. About 20 minutes later, low and behold, a seagull flies over and a great big warm dollop of bird s*** landed right on my hand, which was resting on my head!!! Of all the people lying on the beach, the b***** got me, some say its lucky!! The lifeguards were taking safety very seriously here, always on the tannoy warning people about the strong currents and rip tides. The seaside town was a really nice spot also. We got here at midday in time for some peak time sunshine sunbathing, leaving about 5 o'clock. Returning back with a 30 minute hobble up George Street. After showering and eating we headed out to Scruffy Murphys for a $8 jug of beer each whilst watching some terrible and some not so awful karaoke!
Day 112 Thursday 31st December 2009
Stacey says
After a lie in, we popped into the internet place for a bit, where the travel agent Madonna, who we booked some tours with, gave us a voucher for a free drink at Maloney's. So en route to Coles we stopped by for a freebie glass of wine and schooner of beer. Then continued to get our food in and alcohol for the party this evening. We were heading to a friends pals' house party in Point Piper, who had a view of the Harbour Bridge, perfect. We arrived for about 6.30pm, to see what a great view we actually had, to be able to see the fireworks later on. The guys whose house it was from London, Lewisham, and had grown up around all the same areas as Steve, so ended up getting on with the people really well. There was a good little crowd of us and we'd met a few of them on a previous night out with my friend Kelvin. We were right by the harbour, which had a mini beach spot, and a swimming pool, we had picnic rugs down with lots of food and drinks and some music. Very different to New Years Eve back home! 9 o'clock came and we watched the first set up fireworks go off. Then we had a few teasers going off every hour up to midnight. The midnight ones went off and were significantly bigger and better. They lasted for about 8 minutes. Everyone wished each other the best for 2010 and some champagne bottles were cracked open. Then a load of people jumped into the harbour straight after, including Steve! Partying on until 2.30 before heading off home, which was a little difficult with no taxis free, and about 10 packed buses whizzing past us. We eventually made it home for 5am.
Day 113 Friday 1st January 2010
Stacey says
Today was pretty much a nothing day, sleeping in till too late! But we went to the Supermarket and filled the basket with ingredients for fajitas, nachos, and cake and custard pudding. I could tell everyone was jealous in the kitchen this evening! Our eyes being too big for our bellies we had to go and walk it off for a bit. Not being able to get to sleep that night we watched a long drama on our TV called Fanny Hill. Keeping us awake till silly o'clock.