Leaving Thredbo and travelling up the coast.

My last day in Thredbo was a sad one, having to say goodbye to all the friends that I had met and packing up and moving on again. Taken for lunch by my housemate Adan to a beautiful restaurant halfway between Thredbo and Jindabyne called Crackenback farm. After Emma and I started the journey to Wollongong. We went via Canberra just so that I could see it, the city is not worth stopping in with only a few parliament buildings to have a look at. A short train journey from Wollongong saw me in the centre of Sydney for the evening.

The next day I spend organizing bits and pieces before I could enjoy Sydney like filling my tax return and shopping for stuff that I wasn't able to get in Thredbo. I then met Jess for dinner and cocktails in the evening. It was great to see jess after not seeing each other for 7 months. We had so much to catch up on and didn't stop talking for the entire evening.

The next day was tourist day. I got up early and spend the day walking, I started at Darling harbour but was too early for the tourist information centre to open. I then headed round the corner to the Sydney harbour bridge as I came round the corner the Manchester United bus was in the way of the view of the bridge. I wasn't sure I was in the right place because it was a big bridge but I thought the Opera house was near by. I turned around and the opera house is staring in my face. I had to sit down and take it all in, this is the view that I had been dreaming about my whole life. Being in Sydney had always been on my list of things that I wanted to do, I had forgotten where I was and how good life was until I sat down and took in that view. I walked up to the opera house and had a wonder through the ferries. I then walked through the business district and the rocks to have a look at the market. Before going to have a look at a car…that I didn't buy. That evening Niamh came into town to see me. We went out in the evening to meet jess and go for a few drinks at the harbour and then to side bar. But an early evening so that we could have a productive day the following day.

The following day I met Jess at 9am because I know she loves the early starts really. We went to look at another car for me but again didn't buy anything. Back in the city just in time for the Opera at the Sydney Opera House. Yes I went to the opera in jeans and my DC high tops J bringing class to the opera. I got a few stares but I didn't have time to go home and change after the morning looking for a car so the opera had to endure the high tops. The opera was surprisingly brilliant. Never having been to an opera before I wasn't sure what to expect. We went to see Tosca which is in Italian and set in the 1800's. We had tickets that meant we couldn't see subtitles but I wouldn't have wanted to anyway. We had the synopsis in front of us which helped us to understand what was going on but the singing and expressions told the story very well. I cant say that I am going to run out and buy a CD of opera (sorry mum) but I would definitely consider going back again. The evening was spent having dinner at Jess's like civilized people and then out to Kings cross which is the red light district in Sydney but also the best place to go clubbing in Sydney.

The next day was another early start to make sure that I was getting the most out of my time in Sydney. First stop was to move my things to Jess's house, my next home for the next few night. Then on to a coffee festival at the rocks, there were many people but the coffee was cheap and was very nice. Niamh and I then got the bus to Coodgee so that we could do the coastal walk back to Bondi beach. It was amazing to see that just a short bus ride outside of Sydney was all these beautiful beaches and views.

Monday was a chilled morning, followed by climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, just a normal afternoon in Sydney J The walk took about 3 hours and there are over 1700 steps apparently but was an amazing view from the top of the bridge. No pictures unfortunately because they make you leave your camera behind then charge you $25 for each picture that they take of you. Ha ha, I think not. Met Jess after work and we went to a beautiful Asian tapas restaurant for dinner. Just one reason I love Sydney, random amazing restaurants.

Tuesday was Manly day, I got the boat across and walked along the beach. Had lunch and a glass of wine at a random restaurant on the beach front and made my way back to Sydney. Manly was really nice, I preferred the vibe there than in Bondi, apparently you like one or the other better. Tonight was my night to cook for Jess. A small way to say thank-you for letting me stay and yes Buxton girlies I did cook roast vegetable pasta bake, I may have been away for a while but you never forget the old favourites.

Wednesday was meant to be my chill out day before heading down to Byron bay and Splendour in the grass but I cant sit still for long in a city where there is so much to do. I went for a walk with an aim to get lost and find something new of the city. I stumbled across the Paddy markets, which are full of tourist tat and bits and pieces. I then found the mint museum, me being the geeky girl that I am had to have a look, it was free after all, after an hour I now feel I am adequately knowledgeable about the Australian currency. I continued my walk to the botanical gardens and looked at the Sydney opera house and the harbour bridge from across the water. In the evening I met with Jess and we went to a secret 1920's bar. A bar that has only a girl stood outside in 1920's clothing for advertisement. You head downstairs and you enter a new world, a world where cocktails are expensive and amazing and all the staff are dressed in 1920's clothes. It is escapism in the middle of the city. It works so well and as the evening goes on the bar gets busier and busier. I loved it. We then got on the train and went to Newtown to experience another part of the city. We went to a Vietnamese restaurant which was beautiful, after spending so much time in Thailand I refuse to eat Thai but any other Asian food is good. There is no better place than Sydney as there are an abundance of Asians working and living in the city.

Thursday I got up early and met with the people I would be travelling down to Splendour with. A great group of people which was lucky as I would be spending the next few days with them, camping and working together. The drive was long and we ended up getting there at about 8pm to set up the tent in the dark and rain.

Friday was the start of the festival, I signed up for my shift first thing in the morning and wasn't working until 5pm this meant I had time to have a wonder around the festival and see what it was all about. The food was amazing and the energy and vibe was great with hundreds and hundreds of people just there to have a good time and enjoy the music. I was working on a Bundy rum bar near the mclennon stage and loved every minute, we were busy but I was lucky with the group of people that were also working. I enjoyed it so much I signed up for a double shift for the day after.

Saturday past in a blur of work but I did get to visit the wine bar afterwards for a well deserved sit down and a glass of wine with the girls on the bar.

Sunday was leaving day. Pam and I packed up the tent and the car and were ready to head off. Pam was nice enough to take me into Byron and drop me off at the hostel that I would be staying at but not before we stopped for a nice spot of lunch. I was so happy to have a warm bed and a shower that was not in a portaloo.