Blog Day 208-215 Wed 30th Nov-Tues 6th Dec 2011

Sydney!!

So to summarise our week in Sydney…hmmm…well we have just worked for the last 2 weeks, so we now have a little bit of what we like to call 'fun' money. For the first time in 7 months we are going to treat ourselves & not worry 'too' much about a budget.

So here goes.

First Day: We found a Wagamama last night but it was shut hence the sandwiches for tea, so for our early afternoon meal it's a bit of Yaki Soba & Katsu Curry action. We have also caught up with the Canadian lads Curtis, Kyle & Mac so on our second but 1st proper night in Sydney it's a quiz at the hostel followed by a night out. The place we end up partying at has a live band & they proved to be very good, once they were finished the place turned into a nightclub. We had a great night boogying & enjoying a good few beers. The lads are great fun but by about 1 we are both done & disappear back to the hostel, leaving the 'young' ones to continue their partying & pulling!!

Second Day: Kyle & Mac are flying home so we are up early to say our goodbye's, it's always quite sad when you meet people & get to know them & then see them go. It's especially sad for Curtis as he still has 3 full days left before he fly's home. Good thing we are about to keep him company though. Dan has a mission today of getting to a magic shop called Hey Presto. When he went to the magic shop in Melbourne the people in there were complete tools and weren't interested in the slightest in talking let alone showing any tricks. Hey Presto's however is completely different and the guys in there are more than happy to chat and laugh and of course show some magic. Dan also has his earning in his pocket and it not long before he is purchasing a few DVDs and bits. The guy there was really good though and seeing as we had been there for about 2 hours he did give Dan a decent discount! Curtis also came to the magic shop with us and seemed pretty blown away with it all.

Third Day: Taking a trip to the outlet centre to grab a few new clothes & some trainers as the weather on our upcoming journey to New Zealand is meant to be slightly chilly. We actually had to get a bus & then walk about half hour to get to the outlet centre but we ended up walking an hour in the wrong direction then having to jump into a cab to get there. I think we were all just gossiping too much & took a wrong turning; we were certainly knackered after that pointless walk though. Later that evening Trish dragged both Dan & Curtis to see the new Twilight Saga Movie.

Fourth Day: Walking to the Harbour Bridge & going on a tour around & in the Sydney Opera house (which was amazing). Followed by walking through the botanical gardens to get some awesome pictures with the Harbour Bridge & Opera house in the background. After this we treated ourselves to dinner at the Hard Rock café, they had a small concert with some carol singers set up below us & at around 9pm there were fireworks in the Harbour, something they do every Saturday.

Fifth Day: A bad weather day & as none of us are feeling Christmassy yet a trip to the Worlds biggest Imax cinema to see Polar express. Dinner tonight was at a pub just up the road from our hostel called Maloney's & they did the best $10 steak with onion gravy & mash meal ever. This is also sadly Curtis's last night in Sydney with us so a few well deserved beers follow.

Sixth Day: We are up early for some of Curtis's yummy eggs breakfast & then we are on our own again. The rest of today we catch up with family on Skype & friends on Facebook & have a wander around the city of Sydney.

Seventh Day: Our last Day in Sydney, so some last minute souvenir Christmas shopping & posting home of some Christmas gifts for our loved ones. A quick catch up with Renee who has been putting all the Nomads hostels our way. And to top our last week in Australia off we go to a Tepenyaki for dinner. We reserved a table earlier on in the day & got talking to one of the waitresses, when we arrived later on in the evening it seemed that she had put us on a VIP list, so we had seats right in front of the Tepenyaki plate & they did lots of tricks for us. One being flicking omelette into at us that we were supposed to catch in our mouth first then in a bowl, the first bit hit Trish right smack bang in the middle of her forehead. We had a couple on a date next to us & as the guy flicked some omelette at the girl she promptly fell backwards off her chair, it was hilarious.

So that pretty much rounds of our time in Sydney & also finishes our time in Australia. We have had a great time & again have so many memories & pictures with tons of highlights. We have survived the confined space of sharing a camper van together & have had a taste of what it's going to be like to go back to the reality of work. But not for another 4 or so months yet!!

Goodbye Australia!!