Day 19 Today I spend most of the day on the computer catching up with emails and organising. I'm relieved when my roommates force me to accompany them to the bar. The night entertainment is karaoke which seems to be dominated by a man called Ken. He's originally from Tokoyo but now is a business man in Sydney. He likes to relax after work by working himself round the karaoke bars in the city and singing Beetles medleys.

Day 18 In the morning I decide to find out more about Sydney's historical roots so I take a trip to Hyde Park Barracks Museum. It was built between 1817 and 1819 to provide secure night lodging for government assigned male convicts. The central building served as a dormitory for an average of 600 mean sleeping in hammocks in 12 rooms. During the day the inmates would go out to various work places in Sydney, returning for their meals and at night for sleep. The m...

Day 17 Today I go on a day trip into the Blue Mountains that surround Sydney. This mountain range is called the Blue Mountains because they are covered in a blue haze that comes from the oil produced by eucalyptus trees. The view from Echo Point into the heart of the Blue Mountains is really spectacular. There are gorges, waterfalls, canyons and plenty of gum trees to look at. On a walk through the bush we walk pass a waterfall called Witches Falls. The rock is ...

Day 16 Back to the harbour I take a short ferry ride to Manly Beach. It's hard to believe that Manly is part of Sydney. Compared to the centre of city with is tall buildings and busy roads, Manly seems like a quiet seaside town with its many beach shops and cafés. It's nice to hang out on the beach and relax.

Day 15 A day to explore the Sydney clothes shops. Too busy to write my blog as there are too many shops to explore.