Day 25 - Shopping Trip

Today was our last full day in Manly and our last opportunity to get the ferry and get the money shot of the opera house and harbour bridge. Unfortunately it wasn't the sunniest of days so had to settle on cloudy sky's as our backdrop.
The quay was busy, bustling with shoppers hoping to grab the last items in the sales. We wondered along the quay trying to spot the restaurant we would be dining in the next day, a birthday gift courtesy of Jules and Rach. The jetty was over shadowed by a billion dollar cruise liner, which had just docked that morning, adding to the crowds. By this point the sun had started to peak through, which made all the boats glisten and the sea sparkle.
Once we reccied the area we headed to George Street, which was the main shopping street in the CBD. The street was miles long and lined with a plethora of shops and sky scrapers. The architecture varied from the original Victorian era builds, based on London designs, to the more modern glass fronted, weird shaped designs of the 21st century. It was just like walking through London.
Our first stop was at a gift shop where we gathered some gifts for distribution once home. Lots of Aboriginal boomerangs and genuine Kangaroo scrotums on show, as well as cheaper stubbie holders and key rings. We visited lots of surf shops like Billabong and Quicksilver in search of bargains, and what bargains they were. Brand new hoodie and pumps for Holly at knock down prices left her very happy.
Sydney, much like Melbourne, boasted some of the most beautiful shopping Arcades we had seen. Small and intimate and decorated to the hilt for Christmas; everything was dripping with festivity.
By this time we were hungry and our guide book mentioned a Dim Sum joint in China town worth a visit. We made it just before the rush and were seated at a shared table, which was different but also nice. This particular restaurant had been awarded a Michelin Star, but the dumpling dish containing black truffle and oysters was slightly too extravagant even for Clarkey. This joint was run like clockwork, all waiters wore little head sets and served quickly and efficiently. The cooks looked like surgeons, full white coats and face masks gave the air of an operating theatre in action.
The food was great and spicy. It will go on record that the noodles Clarkey ordered were the spiciest thing Holly had ever eaten, so spicy she had pins and needles on the inside of her lips and it felt like she had Botox! After lunch we headed back along Pitt St, another shopping precinct, and finished at the Opera House. By this time it was sweltering so we stopped for an ice cream. Pooped out from the day of shopping we caught the ferry back to Manly for the last time and hit the beach for a short time. This would be the last time we frolicked in the water so we were brave and went in up to our knees (or crotch for Clarkey). We relaxed for around an hour before the sun hid and the beach emptied. We decided to eat on the walk back to the apartment, as it worked out cheaper then cooking ourselves, so stopped at a very quiet curry house off the beaten track.
We returned home and started pack, in order to leave early and drop Bruno back the other side of Sydney, which can take hours just to drive 30km. We watch the only DVD Gilly possessed (Captain Correlly's Mandolin) and drank some of the wine we bought from the Hunter Valley, before hitting the hay.