Our instructions on entry to Sydney was to meet my cousin, Rakhee at a bar in Central Sydney where she would meet us. We arrived to the bar quite quickly and decided to enjoy a quick drink even though it was lunch time.

The locals were all dressed up with big hats and suits as it was Melboure Cup day and everyone had taken the afternoon off to drink, watch the race and place a little bet on the horses. The bar was lively and we met a couple of locals and one drink turned into 5!!

Rakhee and her hubby Sat, met us in the evening just as drunk as us and we went back to their apartment in Darling Harbour which was amazing, on the door step of the city and was much better then the trashy Kings Cross were we were originally going to stay!

We spent the whole of my birthday taking in the sights including Sydney Harbour bridge, Opera house, the wildlife park and the Aquarium and spent the night in a nice trendy bar on Darling Harbour with Rakhee and Sat. It was a nice day and i really enjoyed it. Thanks to everyone for all the happy birthday messages.

Rakhee and Sat where amazing hosts taking us to all the unknown vantage points and sights of Sydney at night, they washed our clothes, cooked our meals and made us feel comforble as possible and at night, got us drunk. Nice!

The weather in Sydney for the first 5 days was cloudy and rainey but it still didn't spoil our trip, especially as we knew we would get months of sunshine in SE Asia, however despite this we spent our last two days on Bondi beach as Rakhee's friends, Smiley and Priti were staying over at their flat from Perth.

As luck would have it the Sun started to shine on our last two days whilst we were on Bondi beach. Nims and I decided to take advantage of this and spent a lot of time outside and on the beach. BIG MISTAKE! On our last evening I felt a burning sensation on my face, arms and legs! I had never been sunburnt before, so it was both weird and funny looking like a red lobster.

I got a bit grumpy so decided to get some TLC from my sister, Rakhee but all i got from her was finger pointing and laughing! They (as in Rakhee, Sat, Smiley, Nim and Priti) decided it would be funny if we would go for a meal and drinks on Sydney Harbour and end up in the ICE bar, where i could cool down my skin. I obviously didn't find this funny!

We hardly got any sleep the night we before we were flying to NZ, so at the airport i was sunburnt, tired and still a bit drunk, so as you do i ended up losing my passport 2 hours before my flight. I ran around for 20 minutes retracing my steps until i was approached by a flight transfer clerk, who found my passport and boarding pass, i cuddled her, thanked her and promised i would name my first born after her, but problem is i've forgotten her name already!

In conclusion, the events of Sydney was quite eventful, I only hoped NZ would be more carefree and relaxing.

We landed in Christchuch on a sunny and windy day, just what i needed and everyone was friendly and helpful and no-one stared at my brown / red / pink / golden face. I knew NZ would be good.

Best Experience - The last night on Sydney harbour when the six of got hammered and listening to Smiley's stories (funniest bloke in the world) including when in Perth he tried to get rid of a bat in his house by sucking it into his hoover.

Worst Experience - Burning myself after two days on Bondi beach. (I am currently the darkest person in Christchurch - LOL)

Best Quote - Strewth, there's a stingray (Hims and Nims to each other, everytime we saw anything dangerous in Sydney Acquarium)

Most played IPOD song - All because of you - Neyo (I know i'm ashamed of myself also...stop laughing)