A new week began with a trip to Taronga Zoo which meant a train into central Sydney and then a ferry to the zoo. It was tiring walking around the zoo as it was hilly and bloody hot, as evidenced by the fact that most of the animals were asleep in the shade…I wish I could have done the same! The gorillas were awesome, a baby one tried to go outside but its mother grabbed it and pulled it back inside, then the baby sat with its back to its mum having a strop like a little kid, it was hilarious. Watching the seals swimming underwater was also incredible. The best bit of the day was having my photo taken with a diamond-back python round my neck, the way it moved was so weird, I could feel it on my skin for an hour afterwards. The gripe of the day was a guy throwing a stick at a sleeping bear to wake it up, its not there for your amusement you f****** nob!!!! Sorry about that but had to let some steam off.

Back in the city went to the Opera House before heading to the Museum of Contemporary Arts, typically only one floor was open, with two new exhibits opening later in the week. There was a good exhibition though by an aboriginal artist called Fiona Foley, the theme was how racism works both ways (it shared my thoughts exactly) not just white people oppressing non-white's, particularly photos of African people in Ku-Klux clan style outfits in tribal colours called 'Hedonistic Honkey Haters'!

Uncle Kev had the rest of the week off and so today he decided to take me north to see one of their investment properties/future retirement home in Cove Beach. Well what a beautiful place and a quiet deserted beach. We had piping hot fish and chips for lunch and then went surf swimming in the sea which was great fun. On the way back stopped off at Brooklyn which was a quaint little fishing harbour. Had a really nice day all round, something your usual backpacker wouldn't get to do.

Had a quiet daytime as I had had arranged to go for dinner and to the Moonlight outdoor cinema with Liv who I had met at Emma's wedding reception. Well we got on really well all night. Went for dinner in Darling Harbour which was a great view but the food wasn't that nice and overpriced I thought. Afterwards we got a taxi to Centennial Park where the outdoor cinema was. The set-up in the park was great (apart from the bats constantly flying around) and we hired beanbag beds and sat on the hill. The film was Coco Avant Chanel which was good, particularly the music, it was a shame it didn't document her whole life, only up until she got famous. Gripe of the day was two women wittering and rustling crisps behind us. I was keen to go for a drink afterwards (obviously) but Liv wasn't and so we headed back to Epping. Some Kiwi bloke in the station saw my Maori pendant and asked, "are you Maori?", do I look bloody Maori, idiot.

Back in Epping I went off to meet Steve and his friends Alf (a girl just to clarify) and Glen for the famed student night in Trax. Well it felt like I was in a bleeding crèche how young everyone was. The highlight of the evening was meeting chatting to a girl called Tori, who also had noticed my Maori pendant, and after a while she revealed she had a Maori boyfriend who actually lived opposite to Steve! She did say, "Well now you know I've got a boyfriend I guess you will stop speaking to me?", usually yes that would be the case if I'm honest. We stayed until it closed and head to head home as Steve was smashed and so got to bed at 4am. Not good when Uncle Kev was taking me golfing and to the Blue Mountains at 8:30am….