Sydney 29th Dec - 14th Jan 2008

I Loved Sydney more than any place i have been so far,
I was Staying in the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour a nice hotel in a good location but a complete rip off (and I'm still trying to forget how much i paid to be there over the New Year)
29th Dec
Met Emma (Stewart) a friend from London Underground she will be working in Sydney for a year or 2 and is busy flat hunting, it is lovely to see her again,we go to Darling Harbour and have a meal, discussing our plans for New Years Eve, the view is spectacular! and at the end of the meal we have decided we will meet at 11 o'clock to buy a picnic, and to get a place at Mrs McGrorrys Point, The Place to Be at New Year, (and Emma assures me that we need to be there that early)

30th Dec
Had a look around the Shops and spotted Woolworth's, in Aus its mostly a food shop, but there was lots of fold up Chairs in a bag, easy for us to carry to Mrs McGorrys Point, as i wasn't too comfortable with sitting on the ground for for 10 hours, and this would be a great place to get our picnic.
Met Emma at a bar under the Opera House for a drink and a meal, another spectacular view, and we decided we would meet at Woolworth tomorrow at 11am,

31st Dec
New Years Eve
Met Emma at Woolworth's, got the picnic and chairs, and made our way to Mrs McGorrys Point, as we got there we couldn't believe the Que, it was never ending! and we made a snap decision, we jumped into a cab and made are way to Milsoms point a place Emma had been while flat hunting, and had a very good view of the Harbour bridge where some of the main fireworks would be, and a good view of the Opera House, we arrived there at about 12:30 and it was packed, but we were lucky to find a place with a good view, so there we were until 12 midnight, quite happy eating our picnic getting cups of tea and glasses of wine and chatting to our neighbours,
at 11:30, I was getting so excited, that i drove Emma mad asking what time it was every 5 minuets (as i had forgotten to bring my watch) then the countdown to the best fireworks I have ever seen!! the photos do not do it Justice.
getting back to the hotel was a bit of an experience, but due to not being in a Pub I was the most sober I have been on New Years eve, Ever!

1st Jan 2008
Had a lie-in, went to Paddy's Market for Breakfast and a look around then to the Cinema and watched National Treasure 2

2nd Jan
Emma and I went to the Cinema to See The Golden Compass something we both wanted to see, then to China Town for a meal.

4th Jan
For Christmas I had been given a present by Tom & Gill of $100 gift Voucher For Doyle's, one of Sydney's top fish Restaurant, What a treat!
so, i invited Emma to come along, we met at Circular Quay to make our way by Ferry to Doyle's, when we got there we saw the most beautiful sandy bay with a great view of the city, and we had pick a lovely day for it, so we sat outside.
we had a lovely fish meal with a couple of bottles of Ausie wine, just the ticket.
after the meal we caught the ferry back to town,where we started a bit of a pub crawl, Emma noticed the oldest pub in Sydney, so we had to go there, then to another pub on the waterfront then to a Poncy pub/bar where we were chatted up by a couple of fellas, Emma and i went back to our hotel/flat in a taxi (due to being drunk) but a great time was had by all.

5th Jan
Hungover! Went to the cinema again

7th Jan
Moved out of the Holiday Inn and into the Maze Backpackers, Oh My God talk about going from the sublime to the ridiculous, it was grim !! but i thought it would save some money.

8th Jan
To the Chinese Embassy for my visa, then to the Aquarium and a posh dinner at Darling harbour

9th Jan
Collect Visa, then to Double bay for lunch,Fish & Chips(the best battered fish i have ever had )met Emma for a drink at the pump house then to darling Harbour for a meal (stopping for a ride on the Ferris wheel )

10th Jan
Blue Mountains tour.
We stopped in a nearby field for a cup of tea & cake and a chance to learn how to throw a boomerang, i did ok but not as good as some others who nearly got it to return to them, it was great fun.
The blue Mountains were Beautiful, we had lunch at a posh golf course,and had a chat to my fellow travellers,
then a walk through a forest to the steepest railway in the world (nearly vertical)
then we took a gondola down the mountain. and back to our hotel, a very enjoyable tour.

11th Jan
Couldn't stand the Maze backpackers any longer so i changed to the Stamford hotel, (a bit too posh but it was only for 2 nights) what a fabulous hotel and my room was the best, with a balcony and everything , but most importantly it was right near the Opera house and had bought a ticket for Cinderella the Opera (because when you're in Sydney you have to go to the Opera House), i got all Poshed up and walked the Short distance from my hotel to the opera house,it is the most Beautiful sight at night and i was so excited to think i was going inside. inside, it was a lot plainer than i had imagined but it had a great buzz about it, bought myself a glass of wine then sat in my seat , got chatting to 2 Americans sitting next to me.
the Opera was lighthearted with sumptuous costumes, afterwards i took another long look at the opera house and walked back to my hotel, a night to remember

13th Jan
Took a ferry to Manley beach for a swim, afterwards, back to Circular Quay for coffee and cake.

14th Jan
Fly to Cairns.