G'day from Sydney! Just a really quick message... I now have an Australian mobile number: +61 402523754

Arrived very early yesterday morning off a packed flight from Singapore - I did get to watch The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on the plane though which made me happy!

Got the train from the airport to Circular Quay to get the ferry over to Manly - I was beaming from ear to ear stepping off the train as there in front of me was the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge!!! Crazy how you can see a million photos of something and still be blown away. Despite being a bit chilly at 7am I sat outside on the ferry (on my own!) taking in the view. Coming into Manly a total "bogan" joined me outside - he then proceeded to totally freak me out telling me about how he broke his back in a fight (so he's now on disability allowance), a girl he knew who was murdered by her boyfriend recently and how he had lost his phone the night before which had some really important phone numbers in it (like his psychiatrists...) Anyway, he was still pretty chatty and left me alone when we disembarked!!!

After a bit of sleep in Manly Backpackers I went for a bit of an explore of the local area yesterday afternoon. Checked out the Manly beaches, Griffiths Street (had to be done...) and a few shops. Loving Manly's chilled vibe and there are about 10 houses up for sale that I am soooo tempted to go and view!

Today the sun was shining and the sky was blue. I made the most of the fab weather and did the 10km Manly Scenic Walk from Manly to The Spit through the Sydney Harbour National Park. Really Beautiful and a must do if you visit here! After a bite of lunch at a marina on the other side of the Spit bridge I took the bus over the Harbour Bridge (again the grin on my face was huge!) and had a wander around the Rocks and a closer look at the Bridge and the Opera House. There was an orchestra playing extracts from ballets outside of the Opera House and there was a large crowd watching from the steps. There was also a dance floor set up where there were loads of child Darcey Bussell and Carlos Acosta wannabes in tutus spinning around to Swan Lake and the Nutcracker!!!

In other news I have got a ride on a boat on Sunday for a Harbour Race. Really looking forward to it, especially as this beautiful weather is set to last!