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Monday 21st April -Monday 28th April 2008

I'm now three days into my Australia trip, and today is the start of a week where I meet loads of people, do some great trips and just have a blast really on Oz Intro.

Monday, in the morning I was moving out of my dorm into a new one where the people on oz intro share. This is the main room which looks directly across the beach. There were 23 of us in the group, pretty much the max they do. After getting to know peeps we were out and headed towards the city. We went for a wonder around the park which is really nice, full of bats and cockatoo's, plus loads of massive spiders which wouldnt do you any good should one bite you! We headed towards the harbour where we went jet boating. That was a great do, we got soaked but thats the whole idea! Later in the afternoon we went back to the hostel and went to get some grub out. It was a chilled out sort of day as quiet a few peeps only arrived on the Monday morning so they were understandly shattered. But still, most of us went out that night

Tuesday was an early start as we were heading out of the city to the outskirts to learn to surf. It took around an hour or so to get to the beach. We were kitted out with wetsuits, which looked amusing on some of us, and then shown the tricks of surfing. After a brief talk we were out in the water. The waves didnt look too bad from the shaw but they just seemed to grow hugely once we got in there which was funny seen as we couldnt get past the breaking point of the wave without getting swept right back to the shore with a gob full of water to go with it. After a while we realised its best to catch the smaller waves and not to throw ourselves in at the deep end. I managed to stand up brielfy a few times but I wasnt the best, but a few more lessons I'm sure ill be riding the big ones

On Wednesday we went to the Aquarium which was really cool, much better than the one in London! They have this huge walkway tunnel where you can walk under the sharks and all the nasties the ocean has the offer. We also sorted out all the serious stuff such as bank accounts, working details, tax files, medical care and jazz. That night we had a quiet one as we had an early start the next day.

We were up at 7am on Thursday ready for a day at the blue mountains. The weather was crap again so we stopped off along the way to pic up some of those waterproof macks. This was probably the best day of the week I think. We got up close with wild Kangaroos, saw spectacular waterfalls and just generally the scenery was stunning. The view points were crap as the clouds were low so couldnt see anything so I would definately go back to see it during the summer I recon. We also saw the Three Sisters and rode up the steepest railway in the world which was crazy. We did plenty of walking around in the mud and got soaked but I loved it! At the end of the day though after taking some amazing pics I saw the camera hadnt saved them as the memory card wasnt inserted properly so I had lost everything I took which really miffed me off but there wasnt anything I could do apart from stamp my feet and sulk haha.

On Friday we were due to go on a walk to Bondi along the coast and have a beach bbq but it was Anzac day which is basically a bank holiday and the oz intro guys forgot to buy the food beforehand, but it worked out quite good we headed to Taranga Zoo (i think thats what its called). To get there we jetted out on the ferry from the harbour. When we arrive you get on some cable cars which takes you into the zoo, this gives you a great view back into the city. When we got into the zoo some guys thought they saw Leona Lewis but werent sure if it was her. I got in with it and had a gander and we were pretty much certain it was her but to make sure one of the girls went up to her and said excuse me are you leona lewis. She just replied yeh and looked at the floor and stormed off with her boyfriend and we were like what! She could of said hi or something the silly b****. So one of the other girls shouted out to her "you are sooooo rude" which she had no choice but to hear. It was quite suprising given when all the press say she is really nice and later in the night she was on the MTV Australia awards and they were like shes so friendly. So anyway we followed her around and got a few snaps with her in the background. But other than that the zoo was really cool! That night a few of us headed out as some of the group went on this party boat but it costed quite abit so the ones that didnt go there went out in Coogee instead.

Come Saturday the weather switched and the sun came out which was great some we all hit the beach in the morning. I rented a body board with another guy and today the waves were huge so we thought we could have some fun with them. We got in along with other guys and were bobbing around waiting to see how best we could ride the waves, always knowing we would end up flying off. And thats just what we did in spectacular style haha. I was with this dude and on the right brink to catch the waves, just as it came we were like this is the one, so we were on top of it and just ended up rolling inside with it which was painful, then when we got some air another one broke on top of us which just bashed us in completely. We decided to call it a day as we were like where the hell are we hah The other guy on the body board also came back in as he thought he was gunna drown and getting slapped around. All fun though. That afternoon some of us took the walk on to bondi which was nice. If you walk it straight through it takes around and hour, instead in took us 2 & a half being the plodders we are.

On Saturday night we headed out on the Route 69 Party bus. This was a quality night out. The bus was probably the best part about it as you can dance around the aisles and everyone's in the party mood and talking to everyone it was a top atmosphere, plus you get a free drink in every bar you visit so was well worth it.

The final day of Oz intro was again another chilled out day where we hit the beach after the heavy night the day before. That Sunday evening we went up Sydney Tower for a farewell dinner which is an all you can eat buffet in the rotating restaurant, on top of the city looking out over everything which was immense. I tried Kangaroo which is really nice meat. It's abit like steak but sweeter, its good stuff!

That Monday Oz Intro was over and the group split ways and people went their different ways in their groups. During the week I made some quality friends who I will meet up with later in the year after I've done what I wanna do in the camper. I also met some great people in the hostel who I will also keep in touch with and meet up with throughout the year ahead.

All in all it was a top opening week in Oz. The oz intro guys are great fun and help you out with anything you need. We had a cracking leader who was a great laugh and always getting us the best deals and bargains and free stuff when around. Big up to her! Next stop, moving into Wake Up hostel with some of the guys Ive met from this week.