18th - Wooooo! so we finally made it to Australia. we managed to grab a train from the airport to Kings Cross which is where we had booked a hostel. We didnt arrive at the hostel until 9pm, by which point we were really hungry, we dumped our bags, went and had a meal and then on the way back into the hostel and speaking to T one of the guys who works there, we got chatting to a Scottish guy called Lewis who was from Stirling, then in walked a second Scottish guy called Dave and he was from Edinburgh! So in being at the hostel all of 30mins we had ourselves some friends! We sat up chatting to Dave about Edinburgh for a while and then hit the sack as travelling really takes it out of you.

19th - We had decided to let ourselvs lie in as we had had so many early starts recently, however we were rudly awoken by cleaning staff at 11am who came in turned on the lighe and start hoovering. However i was in denial, pulled the coers over my head and went back to sleep until 12.30.Got chatting to Dave again over breakfast and he said he would tag along with us for the day - worked out well as he became our tour guide. He showed us the best way to walk into town, the museums, the Botanical Gardens. We then headed down to the harbour where we saw the Harbour Bridge and then all of a sudden the Opera House popped into view - it totally took us by suprise - it sounds silly but i wasnt expecting to see it and then suddenly it was there, right in front of you. We sat in awe for a wee while and then headed over to the Opera house for a closer look. We then walked back throught he Botanical Gardens on our way back to the hostel. We decorated our bunk beds with tinsel and baubels in order to get into the festive spirit. After tea we started drinking as the hsotel had a night out planned. We ended up in Madame Debiers as it was an I love Indie night - had a greatnight and got home aroun 2.30ish.

20th dec - Woken up by cleaners again - thinking this is going to become the norm and as we are on the first floor we are one of the earlier rooms to be cleaned -typical. Neither of us were feeling up to much today so we wandered down to the shops, it was really chilly out and even started to rain - we were not impressed, so we headed back. Dave had invited us up to his room to have somepre going out drinks and to meet his roomies - 5 girls who were all really lovely. The hostel had a xmas themed night and an Hour of Power at a bar which meant that beer and wine were unlimited and free for one hour - as im sure you can imagine people were pretty drunk. Im ashamed to say we were home by 12.

21st - today we were on amission to buy Gill a mobile and as it was a lovely sunny day with blue skies we also headed back to harbour to take some bridge and opera house pictures! We spent the afternoon in Rush Cutters Park, chilling listening to music and reading. The park was so cute as it overlooked a harbour so you could just sit and watch all the goings on. We just watched tv in the hostel after tea.

22nd - We were up before the cleaners came into day - nice change. We were going to the beach today so needed to be up earlyish. We had to catch a ferry from the main habour (Circular Quay). The ferry took 30mins to get to Manly Beach. On arriving at Manly, the beach the ferry pulled up near was quite small and the sea was very calm - we wanted to see some surf action so walked through a cute row of shops to another beach where there were waves. We found a nice spot and settled down but it was really windy and sand was gettin everywhere. We put up with it for a couple of hours and then headed back to the other side. We sat on the beach having an ice cream - i then went for a swim to cool down and that is exactly what it did - the sea was absolutely freezing - i had expected it to be warm like in Asia. I lasted a little over 5mins before i got out! That evening we headed over to the bar nextdoor called Empire as there was a pool competition and free alcohol - we didnt enter but watched a few people from the hostel.

23rd - Didnt really do too much today, we visited the national gallery and checked out the Bondi Jitterbug exhibition which was really cool - loads of 1940s black and white pics of the beach. Spent the rest of the day chilled out, also got a new roomie today - Marta from Finland, we could never remember her name so always referred to her as Finland, but not too her face obviously!

24th - Christmas Eve, woke up very excited as its almost xmas day - we did some final xmas shopping today and the wrapping of presents, we decided to spend ten pounds on each other (just silly little things, most of which came from Asia). We went on a xmas themed pub crawl with the hostel, we had xmas earings on, baubels and tinsel. The club we ended up in (the Gaff) gave everyone santa hats so that was fun. We celebrated as the clock turned to midnight and the club played xmasy tunes, and headed back to the hostel soon after midnight saving ourselves for xmas day.

25th - CHRISTMAS DAY!!! woke up at 9am, Gill and I sat on my bed and opened all our presents, it was sooo much fun, we had stockings to open, each others presents and then prezzies from people back home. After speaking to the parentals and seeing everyone in the hostel, a group of us headed to Coogee Beach for the day (we didnt go to Bondi as you cant drink there, and you could on Coogee). Anyway Coogee was beautiful, the day started off a bit cloudy but by 1pm there was not a cloud in the sky! everyone had santa hats on, we had a xmas tree in the middle of our group and we had a bbq for lunch (we had to wait 2.5hours to get access to the bbq - apparently a few other people had had the same idea!). It was such a hote day, so it was lovely to be able to jump in the sea to cool down, however it did feel a little weird wandering around in bikins on xmas day! The beach was absolutely heaving and the atmosphere was festive! we had a chilled out evening back at the hostel as we couldnt face anymore alcohol after all the drink we had had during the day! Spending xmas day on the beach was fab and as there was a group of about 25 of us from the hostel it was great fun.

26th - Slept in this morning and by the time we got up it had turned into a beautiful day, so we headed to the botanical gardens and spent the day sunbathing. WE only lasted a few hours before we got too hot so we took a wander to Darling Harbour - so many people had told us how beautiful it was so we went to check it out. It was really cute, loads of boats in the harbour and lots of people walking up and down the pier. all the bars were full with people enjoying a drink in the sunshine.

27th - Today it was cloudy when we got up so we headed to the Art Gallery to check out the Aboriginal Art - it was so impressive i just love it. Every piece has a story or a meaning behind it, and all the colours used tend to be black, white and oranges and reds - my favourtie colours. In the afternoon we headed down to Paddys Market - a big weekly indoor market full of souvenirs. In the evening the hostel was holding a 'games night' i.e. drinking games so we had an action packed night.

28th - Today the hsotel was holding World Cup Sunday! It took place in Rush Cutters Park, i was representing the Scotland/Ireland team and Gill was a cheerleader! Lots of people from the hostel turned out to support. Other teams included Euroasia, France, Rent Dodgers, Sweeden/Canada and England. All the games played were real friendly until we played England - one of our players had to be carried off the pitch! Cutting a long story short, some cheating went on on Englands behalf and a goal was allowed that shouldnt have been resulting in a draw at full time. This game was the semi final so golden goal was played and still no one scored so it went down to penalties and England won :( this also meant they won the $200 bar tab as the other finalists were the rent dodgers (ie people who used to stay at the hostel and still come on nights out) and they were not allowed to win the bar tab. By the the time we were all back at hostel and showered it was time to get the free shuttle bus down to Darling Harbour where we had a bbq and some good drinks offers. Ended up in the Gaff (again) but it was such a fantastic day.

29th - Felt a little worse for wear today so pretty much did nothing. In the evening was somehow talked into going to a pub quiz at O'malleys and we didnt do too bad, but didnt win, then went across to the Empire for the pool competition with the new roomies from NZ (Danielle and Leighanne) and other roomie Sarah. sarah didnt last long whereas Danielle and Leighanne and I were out until 3!

30th - Yesterday we decided time was rapidly disappearing so we should do something today. We went to Bondi Beach with Sarah - there was a bit of a chill in the air but it was fun. Bondi is so cute - all the little surf shops along the promenade and the beach is beautful(if not a little busy but it was school holidays so that is to be expected). We spent a good fwew hours on the beach before returning to the hostel for tea. Aftert tea we did the final preperations to our room for the 'Pimp Yo Room' competition the hostel was holding. Our beds looked fab, covered in red and green tinsel, we had a little xmas tree, come baubels, reindeers and some decorations from Germany! we played xmas music and wore xmas hats and let off party poppers when the judges came in. About an hour later they came to us with a box of prizes as we were joint winners! we were over the moon, we won beer, 3 pizzas, beer coolers, keyrings, oz flags and other bits and bobs! After our scuccess we headed to the supermarket to buy supplies for tomorrow!

31st - NYEWe had an early start, up at 8 so we could make our packed lunches and be outside hostel for 9.15 - there was about 30 or 40 of us all going to the botanical gardens from the hostel. When we reached the botanics the que was massive (they only let 22000 people into the botanics so people get there ridiculously early to guarantee entry). There was no shade what so ever and the sun was shining. We had to que for over 4hours before we finally got into the park and as ur not allowed to take alcohol in, it was a bit of a mission....we had ours in plastic bags in a massive yoghurt pot with yoghurt on top (Gills idea) and we smuggled successfully, others had stuff taped to their body and others had cut out the middle of a loaf of bread, put a bottle of vodka init and put the end of the loaf on the end so it looked normal (ps we were going to such extreme measures as you were not alloed to take unsealed bottles into the park). We found ourselves a nice spot under a tree with a good view of harbour bridge and opera house. We spent the afternoon listening to music, playing giant jenga and drinking. The first set of fireeworks went off at 9pma dn got everyone in the party spirit! the time between them and the midnight fireworks disappeared real quick thanks to drinking games! the midnight fireworks were out of this world - there was a massive countdown as midnight approached and then they errupted! they lasted about 20mins with everyone cheering as they finished, was such an incredible atmosphere.We then had a little auld lang syne session with kieren kate sarah and a coulle of random europeans who thought we were off our rockers! it was so funny as they had no idea what to do! We let off party poppers once everyone was reunited and then made the walk hom and continued drinking back at the hostel - was such an incredible NYE - one we will never forget thats for sure!

1st Jan - Woke up in the afternoon and then headed out for a wander. We got the tram across the harbour bridge as we wanted a view of the city from the other side. The bay on teh otherside is called Lavander Bay and it was really cute, we also took a walk around Luna Park, a small theme park beside Lavander Bay. We got the tram back across the bridge at stopped off at the Rocks - a small colonial area of Sydney with cobbled streets - there wasnt much open though cos it was new years day. We then started to feel the effects of NYE so headed back to the hostel and lounged around for the rest of the day.

2nd - woke up to cleaners again this morning but successfully managed to turn over and get back to sleep. We went to Paddys market again but this time with Sarah, Lewis and two other guys. The only thing we really bought was an austrlian badge for out rucksack. We had planned to have a dvd and pizza night but ended up going out instead as Leighanne and Danielle were out, we went to madame debiers, Gill left early and i stayed out with roomies, got home about 2am and had a really good night.

3rd - today was really an admin day buying train/bus tickets etc. in the evening we had a room party with some of the people we had met at the hostel - was really sad to b saying bye to them all as had made ourselves right at home at this hostel.