Sydney was surprisingly cold and wet and was the low point of the trip so far, we might as well have been at home. As it was such a big city it was that bit harder to make friends...though we did live in a backpacker house so did make some really good friends. There is just something Pa and I just didn`t enjoy about Sydney that we can`t really put my finger on...alot of other people felt the same too. Its brilliant for a short holiday though cos there is just so much to do there. When my parents came over we did the blue mountains which is like a green version of the grand canyon it was gorgeous. They have the steepest railway and cable car in and out of the canyon. We went skiing in perisher blue in the snowy mountains which I loved so much it was amazing. Pa, the family and 2 of my best friends Dee and Ni came too. None of us had tried it before so didn`t really know what to expect! Initially we all had jelly legs, try picturing 7 bambis falling around. After 2days of skiing dee, my sister and I were right at the top speeding down the slopes. Pa did snow boarding which he got the hang of straight away. Niamh injured herself a few times and my dad stayed with my mum who couldn`t master the turns. We were in some serious f**king pain after but was total worth it. I did all the tousisty things with my family...The Opera house, The Harbour bridge, The Sky tower, The Jet boat around the harbour, the art galleries and museums, The zoo (You get a ferry over and then a gondolla over the zoo to get into it, got a lovely photo with my mum with a koala!). Manly beach is stunning and a really nice area... I preferred it to Bondi. We also went to a place called Wollongong were there is a buddhist temple, the temple was huge and was gorgeous. Whilst my parents were over we went out to the Mercintile with my housemates as it was their last night out and had a blast. Niamh and I continued the party at Scruffy Murphys and got very drunk and ended up staying up drinking for 12hours in total. Needless to say we were dead to the world all day despite my familys effort to wake us up. Agh well. Then Edel, Eilis and Leonie came down to Sydney for a week. That was a good week. The girls snuck into my place and stayed in a spare room in the house, which we kinda got in trouble for doing but it all worked out in the end. The girls friends Steve stayed too. All of us went to Palm beach...ie Home and Away beach. We also went to the Ice bar...minus 5, which was HILARious...the entire bar was made of ice even the glasses!