Goodbye Australia

Wednesday 10^th November 2010

MP3 track of the day: Sunrise – Rolf Harris

Weather: Sydney was hot, sunny and humid … until 4pm when a storm came in.

Going back to last night, I did head out to the harbor and what a brilliant decision that was. As you would expect, Sydney Bridge, and the Opera House, looked fantastic at night, however it was looking back towards the city where I found the best shots. I spend around forty-five minutes taking photos before heading back to the hostel. Once back I packed my bags for tomorrows flight to Tokyo and, in the process, I managed to trip my trousers.

I couldn't believe it, all I did was pull them down a little and a great big whole appeared on my left trouser leg. I have to say that normally, back at home, I would be rather peeved at this, but whilst traveling I've mellowed and my initial reaction was that, if I could put a rip in the right leg at the same height, I might look a bit 'hip' and 'cool'. To be honest in two weeks time I'll be heading to South East Asia where I'll be wearing shorts all the time, so then they can go in the bin.

As I continued to get ready for tomorrow, I also noticed that the shirt I was wearing had a whole in the left sleeve … what is going on today? Camera, trousers and now my shirt … not a good day in terms of damaging my stuff … maybe this was a sign to say that I should have stayed in New Zealand. The only positive is that bad stuff always happens in three's, so I should be okay from now on.

After packing up I went to sleep pretty early to awake at around 7am. I was checked-out of the hostel, with luggage stored ($6 for the day!!!), by 8:30am and so I headed straight to the harbor to board the ferry to Mainly. The trip was about thirty minutes and the waters were pretty calm; the ferry ride was very pretty, however I was too busy eating my breakfast to notice a great opportunity to photograph the Opera House from the water … I will have to make sure I get that photo on the way back.

Once I arrived in Mainly I immediately headed for the north beach where I found people surfing (don't they have jobs!). To my right was a pathway that went around the shoreline towards 'cabbage beach' (called that due to the amount of cabbage trees that used to grow there). The beach was very nice and, after a couple of photographs, I head up some stairs to the cliff tops. I then spent the next couple of hours walking around the cliff tops with fantastic views of the sea, the town of Mainly and a side profile of the sheer vertical sides of the cliffs. Also along the cliffs I found old World War two gun emplacements that were erected in fear of a Japanese invasion. It was all very interesting, but the weather was boiling hot and I was getting through my final 1.5lts of coke rather quickly.

I saw signs for a tourist office where, I presumed, they might sell drinks and, if I was very lucky, an ice cream … they didn't. The tourist office didn't sell any food or drink products but they did have a very interesting aerial shot of the area. As I was getting my bearings an elderly man (who works at the tourist office and I don't think gets many visitors) began to explain all about the area including it's military background; he provided me of a map which guided me through an hour long walk … well it would be rude not to do the walk after all the effort he went through.

The walk was very pleasant however there weren't as many 'good views' as I was lead to believe. The most interesting bit was seeing an old army training ground covered by a woodland; this is where the soldiers would have trained for possible invasion.

After finishing the walk I was tired and out of liquid, but I wasn't very hungry. I decided to head to the McDonalds at the harbor front to have an iced coke (I wanted the iced fanta but I couldn't see it on the menu … more coke wasn't good), a sit down and a review of the map. I was joined by a Chinese family who asked if they could sit with me (no problem), as there was a shortage of seats, and then asked if I was going to go … not likely pal until I've finished my drink.

Eventually I did go and I headed on the Mainly trail; a 9km trail that I knew I couldn't complete but I could have a good look around. The trail followed the coastal edge of Mainly and it was all very pleasant; about half way around a guy asked if I could take a photo of him and his new fiancee. I say new because he had just asked his girlfriend to marry him (I know someone else how did this in Sydney) and he wanted a photo to remind him of the moment … no pressure then. Firstly I don't take photos of people and secondly his camera was rubbish, but I tried my best.

I continued my walk around the cost, seeing the beautiful turquoise waters and boats in the harbor; eventually I turned around and headed back to the harbor to get my ferry back to the mainland. I sat on the outside deck, camera poised, to take even more photos of the Opera House on my return journey.

This ferry trip was a lot more crowded that the one going to Mainly and I had to fight for a space to get the photo I wanted of the Opera House … but I got it. Once back on the mainland I headed, once more, to a McDonald's to purchase an ice cream (50 cents … bargain) to help with cooling me down. Once out the weather had turned and massive black clouds appeared over the business center of Sydney. I decided to head back to my hostel and, just as I got back, the heavens opened and the rain poured down. I was amazed at how lucky I had been with the weather, I had arrived at the end of a storm, had two beautiful (if a little hot) days to look around and now I'll be leaving at the start of a storm.

Once back at the hostel I had a very early tea before waiting for my pick-up to the airport (a shuttle service as it was cheaper than the train, though this does mean that I didn't get to ride on the top level of the double-decker train :( ) for my flight to Tokyo. So today marks the end of 'part one' of my second trip, which I name, my Australasian tour. I have enjoyed Fiji, New Zealand especially and Australia (for all two days that I've been here) but I am really looking forward to Japan, but also quite nervous. Most of the countries I've traveled in so far are originally from British decent so I'm looking forward to a completely different cultural experience. I shall be traveling mostly in huge cities which will be the complete opposite to New Zealand. I'm looking forward to trying the food, hopefully seeing a Karate class (maybe even take part, and I would love a proper Karate suite), taking in the city life, seeing the cultural historic side of Japan, including the Samurai, and hopefully staying a night in a monastery and a 'pod'. I am also looking forward to hopefully getting free of this 'global gossip' internet rubbish that all of Australasia use (At times it has nearly killed me). It's going to be a strange experience of the old surrounded by the new in a culture I have no idea about. Crime is very low in Japan and personnel safety isn't what I'm worried about; actually being able to travel around is something that I am worried about. I think once I have found my hostel in Tokyo, taken the train to Hiroshima and found my hostel there then I'll be okay.

Getting back to Sydney; I set myself a budget of £75.00 for the two days which would have just been about enough, if it wasn't for the fact that I forgot about internet charges. You see I withdrew £75.00 from the airport and I've pretty much spent it all (and that doesn't include accommodation because I had paid for that before I had left the UK … I told you Australia is expensive), then, once at my hostel, I realized that I had to pay for the internet online, and so I'm about £7.50 over my budget … never mind.

Tokyo here I come!

Toodle Pip!

It's only a flesh wound!

Tuesday 9th November 2010

MP3 track of the day: - Tie me kangaroo down sport - Rolf Harris

Weather: Hot, humid and cloudy

I was out of the hostel pretty early, as I knew my time in Sydney was limited. My plan was to do the important things first; number one being SydneyOpera House, number two being Sydney Harbor Bridge, number three being the Botanical Gardens and number four being taking a ferry across to Manly. I decided that for today I would concentrate on the top three as the Opera House, bridge and Botanical Gardens were close together.

First though I had to find a post office to send home my New Zealand guidebook (sob) which was found easily. I found the bloke, in the post office, a little rude as he tried to rush me through posting my parcel. I presumed it was because I was back in the city where time is short and the queues are long ... I miss the small towns. After this I popped up onto the main street to see the mono-rail runing by above my head. Sydney is a little like Vancouver in regards to its public transport; it seems Sydney town council couldn't decide which type of public transport to opt for and so it decided to have all the types it could think of.

I decided to take a couple of snaps of the urban area with the train as the centre piece. The photo was taken, but there was something wrong with my camera. I couldn't work out what it was; at first I thought it might have been the battery running flat, however after a change ,the problem remained. I couldn't really fiddle with my camera as, yet again, the streets were full of people and I'm still trying to get used to it after New Zealand. I decided to stick to my plan and head for the park where there would be benches and I could sit down and have a look at my camera.

Well basically the problem is that I have an option button, on the back of my camera, stuck down. The offending option button is the 'up' button on the little circular joy pad. I can still take photos but I can't look at them, on the camera, because as soon as I click on that menu, my camera thinks I am pressing the up button continually and so it just flicks through my photos at an alarming speed. It isn't a massive problem but I cannot, say, select timer (and put the camera on a tri-pod and take a photo of myself) as I cannot highlight the option without it moving off timer of it's own accord.

This was all very annoying; I reckon the problem occured when my hand luggage was in the luggage compartments ... it must have moved, maybe in the rough landing. I decided that I had to try and do something to fix my camera; I reluctantly headed back to my hostel to get my penknife to see if I could prise the button free. No suck luck as a) all the blades on my pen knife were too thick and 2) it's not the button that you press that is jammed, it's the bit it connects with inside the camera. This was all abit of a pain as all I could see is $ in getting it fixed. I wanted to get an idea as to how much it would cost to repair and so I went to reception to see if they could tell me where the closest camera repair shop was.

Luckily it was only two blocks away and so I headed out; thinking about it more, my next destination is Japan and trying to get it fixed there would be expensive and difficult due to the language barrier. Then again Nikon are a Japanese company so maybe it would be a better idea to wait.

I found a repair shop and went in to see the man who, after I explained the problem took in a deep breath and started with the word well (why do all people in the repair business do this?). The upshot was that he wanted $100 dollars and a week so that he could strip it down and have a look. Firstly I thought it was very expensive, secondly I thought that the solution was a little over the top but most importantly I'm leaving tomorrow evening and so I don't have a week. As soon as I mentioned that I was leaving tomorrow night he changed his evaluation and said that he could possibly fix it within that period of time. I didn't really trust him and so I decided to leave it. So my camera had taken a flesh wound, I hope this wasn't the start of things to come.

It had taken me an hour to investigate my camera issue and time wasn't on my side in Sydney; as I could still take photos I decided get back onto my original plan and head back to the Botanical Gardens where I should be able to get a good shot of the Opera House. On the way I past other beautiful buildings which I stopped to photograph (but I couldn't see how good the photo was).

I arrived at the Botanical Gardens but walked straight past them to the end of the peninsular to get a great view of the Opera House, with the harbor bridge in the background. I took loads of photos as I took the harbor path towards to the Opera House. On the way I saw thousands (well maybe a hundred ... but it felt like thousands) of Chinese tourists all getting in my way. It was particularly annoying as I had no prior warning, I hadn't seen their huge battle buses lining the streets before the park ... maybe they have started to camouflage them.

As I approached the Opera House I noticed that the front of it was cordoned off due to some structure being erected on there. I immediately recognised the Opera House stairs as the ones in a photo of Alex and Sarah's wedding (they got married in Sydney). Moving on I went towards the harbour bridge and the other side of the opera house.

The weather was humid and even though I had brought 1.5ltr of coke with me I was almost out and still thirsty. The other important factor was that it was dinner time and so I headed into town to get something to eat before returning to the harbor front. So Sydney Opera House seen and photographed - check, Sydney Harbor Bridge seen and photographed - check. Next was to head back to the Botanical Gardens, but before then I found a spot which over looked both the bridge and the opera house and I decided there and then that I would return at night to take a few more photos.

I didn't actually realized I was in the Botanical Gardens due to there being no signs saying 'you are entering the Botanical Gardens'. Instead, I saw loads of signs for the individual gardens themselves and so I just wandered around them. The gardens were beautiful and I loved just walking around, photographing and looking at all the different colours.

It was only 2:30pm however I had been on my feet for nearly six hours and, due to the humidity, I was pretty tired. As I had decided that I wanted to be at the harbor tonight I decided to return to the hostel via photographing the city centre. I got quite a few good photos of the city centre which is a mix of European and American design, American with it's tall buildings and European in the way it's roads are laid out.

Once back at the hostel I went through my photos (150 in all) before emailing my insurance company to see if they will pay for the camera repair (worth a try). I think I'm just going to chill for abit, possibly heading into town just for a wonder, before having an early tea and then heading to the waterfront tonight.

Tomorrow I shall take the Ferry to Mainly before getting my plane to Tokyo.

Toodle Pip

Hello Australia

Monday 8^th November 2010 - (the blog is now up to date with the last three days just been uploaded. To view the other two, scroll down)

MP3 track of the day: - Time to say goodbye - Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli

Weather: Auckland was beautiful and sunny / Sydney was thundery and humid

I woke up pretty early today and immediately felt sad; just like at the end of my Canadian tour I did not want to take this flight. I said goodbye to Alex and Sarah as they left the house for work and I sat down to watch the Brazilian GP.

Not a great result for Lewis Hamilton, as all his title rivals finished ahead of him, but he's still in the flight. I checked the house to make sure I hadn't left anything (and that all the doors were locked) and then said goodbye to the cats. I left through the garage door and waited to make sure that it closed.

Yesterday I went through my journey to the airport, with Alex and Sarah, and I was a little surprised to see that it would take around two hours to get there. Therefore I left the house around 10:00am for a 3pm flight. I got on the first bus I needed to take (Alex and Sarah's local bus to the city) and the driver said that he would let me know when we were near an 'airport shuttle' bus stop.

It didn't take as long as the bus timetable predicted to get into town and I was there within an hour; the bus driver stopped and told me to head right, up Victoria Street towards the Skytower. Now, looking on the internet yesterday, I wasn't convinced of this as Alex and I reckoned I needed to be near the harbor. However I followed his instructions and made it to the Skytower where, just as I thought, there was no sign for an 'airport shuttle' bus service. Luckily there was an information center close by and so I asked them where the nearest 'airport shuttle' bus stop was; it appears the way I came, back down Victoria Street and onto Queens Street, was where I needed to be. I wasn't that annoyed with the bus driver as a) I was a lot earlier than I expected and b) it was only a five minute walk.

I got on the 'airport shuttle' and paid my $16! for a 45 minute trip (my one hour bus trip to town only cost $6). I arrived at the airport and checked in immediately; it was now midday and, just before going through security, I had a look for a place to eat lunch. There was a small food court but nothing took my fancy; a little confrontation occurred within my tiny brain … do I eat here, when there could be more choice of restaurants after I've gone through security, or do I wait until I'm through security and run the risk of there being no where to eat . I decided to ask a member of staff if there were plenty of places to eat after going through security; he said “...yes, about 20 places...” and so I happily went through security...

Two … not twenty, but two places to eat. One Burger King and a coffee shop was the choice I had and if I find that employee again I'll tell him exactly what I think of his advice. I sighed and went to Burger King which, was actually quite nice (not as nice as Furgburger)and filled a whole. I then spent the $7.00 I had left in change on some expensive Cadbury's chocolate (and this is meant to be tax free … think I prefer the prices when I have to pay tax) before heading to a currency exchange office.

Now I don't normally use the currency exchange offices within airports (usually I either wait until I'm home) however I had fifty dollars left and I didn't fancy spending the little time I had in Sydney comparing exchange rates; therefore I changed my money … to Singapore Dollars. Why Singapore Dollars? Well two reasons actually; firstly I thought that the rate given at the exchange office was better for the Singapore Dollar than the Australian and secondly I shall be arriving in Singapore, in three weeks time, at 2am in the morning. I therefore need a little bit of currency to pay for taxis, hostels etc and so forty-two dollars (I lost four pounds exchanging the money) was going to help. After this I was going to sit down and use the free wireless internet within the airport … however it wasn't free, and so I just waited to board my flight by reading my Sydney guidebook.

The flight was pretty good, I had a look at the films on offer and wasn't bothered about with any of them. I then switched onto the TV section and was pleased to see 'the best of Bean' in the comedy section (top tip: if you like Bean, book yourself onto a flight). After that I began to watch top gear, however I wasn't really paying any attention, I was just hoping the pilot would either get lost, or have to return to New Zealand. As we approached Sydney I opened my blind to see very dark clouds all around us; far in the distance I could see lighting strike the ground. It all seemed very cool, until I realized I was in a metal object 10,000 ft above the ground … I was hoping for a quick landing.

The landing wasn't perfect; it seems that it was quite windy in Sydney and we landed with one side of the plane slightly up in the air … still we had no problems and we got to our gate safely. This is the first time I've flown with Quantas and I have to say, overall, I was very impressed with the level of service, the meal and the in-flight entertainment. As I left the plane I saw a big 'Welcome to Sydney' sign and just sighed, not a 'Welcome to Auckland / Wellington / Christchurch / Queenstown' sign then.

Immigration control was a breeze and, not only did they not scan my bag, but I didn't have to produce half the paper work I had printed out ready. I then got some cash out and went for the train that would take me, almost, to the door of my hostel within twenty minutes. The train was a 'double-decker', which I'm sad to say, I was pretty excited about. You see, when I was going my 'European Tour' over a year ago (where did that year go?) I saw these 'double-decker' trains for the first time and I wanted to have a go on one … sadly if never happened. I decided to sit in the bottom of the train however, on my way back to the airport, I shall sit upstairs. Whilst traveling to my hostel I did see the Sydney Opera House and Bridge and my 'traveling instinct' started to bubble and I wanted to go out and have a look.

When I arrived at my train stop I could not believe the amount of people at the station; within twenty minutes I reckon I had seen more people, in Sydney, than on the entire south island of New Zealand. I left the train station and I found my hostel with relative ease. I went to my dorm to unload my stuff and, unluckily for me, it seems my ten bed dorm is full of women … which means it's a total mess. I wouldn't have minded if it had the three British ladies I met in Christchurch, or the lady I tried to get a phone number off in Queenstown … lets just say the girls here weren't first inline when looks were given out.

I didn't stay long in my hostel and I headed along the street for a little while. Even though Sydney's sky looked like it was going to tip it down any second, it was very humid and so no need for a coat. I was out only long enough not to find a library (looks like I'll have to pay for the internet again) but to find a small supermarket where I purchased 2.5ltr of coke, because it was on offer. I then returned to my hostel and planned for tomorrow; firstly I'm going to head to the Botanical Gardens which, both Alex and Sarah and Moose and Chris, have told me are a must. It also appears from my map that, from the edge of the gardens, I could get a good shot of the Opera House, we shall have to see.

For now it's good night.

Toodle Pip!

P.S. Happy 4^th Anniversary Alex and Sarah

P.P.S. Loads of people have told me how expensive Australia is … and they aren't joking. Only been here three hours and spent a fortune on nothing.