Sydney is several degrees warmer than Melbourne at this time of year and there has been a lot of sunshine whilst we have been here, which has contributed to a general uplift in the Pugh family mood. Despite the eye watering prices from everything to travel tickets to beer (it cost us about £22 to play a game of ten pin bowling!) we have managed to have a good time in our couple of days in the city. Even Angus has cheered up and he seems to finally be getting over his jet-lag! We have mainly used the ferry system to get around. Yesterday we took the famous Manly ferry and took a walk around the Manly headland and saw a kookaburra and parrots and a very large snail thing. This had been preceded by a high-adrenaline jet boat ride round Sydney harbour wearing dashing purple ponchos. The driver’s health and safety talk consisted of a quick “hold on tight guys” and when asked by Oliver if there were any sharks in the harbour simply replied “yeah loads mate.” It was a great way to see all round the harbour and I took some good video footage of Angus beaming whilst getting very wet and Oliver whooping with excitement. Rare and vintage stuff.
The YHA we are staying in here is quite unusual. It is built over an “archaeological” dig site. I use the inverted commas because they are digging up the foundations of terraces from the turn of the 19th century i.e. like our house in Chapeltown. The sewerage pipes look very familiar. So every time we go downstairs to the reception lounge area we look down at some Victorian foundations. These people really have no sense of ancient history – no wonder they all come to the UK. I suppose to be fair their nod to ancient history is all the aboriginal artwork that fills every art gallery and souvenir shop.
I have enjoyed the two Aussie YHAs so far. The rooms have been big and warm and well equipped and the communal areas have been clean and well organised. It is preferable to staying in a hotel because you can cook for yourselves in the large kitchens and relax in the lounge areas and play board games etc. Tonight it is cluedo again - the grudge match. There have been loads of school trips (including a Newcastle school sports trip that appear to be stalking us as they were on our flight from Hong Kong too) but even the presence of teenagers has not ruined the relaxed atmosphere. The rooms in Sydney in particular are better than in some hotels I have stayed in.
Today we have been to the Sydney aquarium to look at platypus, dugongs and sharks and assorted colourful fish. My favourite creatures though were the weedy seahorses and the leafy seahorses - the latter reminded me of the soupdragon from the Clangers. From there we walked to the fish market as the rough guide gave it a good write up. Unfortunately it was quite disappointing with the auction areas not open to the public and the remaining areas just selling seafood around restaurant areas. The most exciting thing about the fish market was seeing a pelican fly low right over our heads and on to the roof of the market.
My absolute highlight of Sydney has been watching the flying foxes soar over the city towards the harbour at sunset from the edge of the botanic gardens. Impossible to take photos but it was quite incredible seeing so many of them flying about. They are huge and make a proper classic bat shape against the sky.
Last night in Sydney tonight – we’re indulging in $5 curry night at the YHA then more cluedo. Brisbane tomorrow and a few more degrees warmer!
Jo