Alright, You've Seen Sydney, Now Move On!

I have been back in Sydney now for almost two weeks, and in two days I will be leaving (for the third and final time). I have had the best time in Sydney, it is a great city. Somehow, once again on this visit, I missed out doing all the tourist stuff that I said I would. The problem is, if you are at the beach, and it is sunny and beautiful and you are able to burry your friends in the sand, you really can't be asked to leave.



So what have I been doing the past two weeks, if I never actually made it into Sydney...a lot of time spent on the beach, hanging out with friends, sitting in the pub, on the patio at the Steyne or the Ivanho, drinking goon, singing such classics as the 'o' and the riree songs along to Alex's master guitar skills, mostly just relaxing with cool people.


We had a few barbq's, thank you to the Norwegian girls for letting us hangout at your places, especially Ingvil (I know that isn't spelt right) for feeding us great food. She let us come over to her place and eat as much as we possibly could. As if that wasn't enough organized us so the next day we all met at Little Manly for a left over party. We watched the sunset, the guys played football, and Chris and Alex hung out on the swing set. Not sure if Chris is still there, stuck in that swing.

I went dancing a few nights, one Friday with George and TJ and some guys that George works with. We went to the Base Bar, and danced for ages. It was really fun, I have tried to go dancing here as much as I can, but it isn't too often. Here is a pic of me and George the night before my birthday. We went to Shark Bar to hear a live band and dance.


On Saturdays, we headed to Shark Bar for free champagne. I only really started drinking wine and champagne in Exmouth, and then moved onto the goon. But it seems that champagne has powers that other alcohol does not, and the first night we went there I couldn't see straight after about half and hour. We must have been pretty drunk, Steve even forgot to throw up his gangster sign. It was fun to hang out up there though, the patio overlooks the ocean and the corso. I don't think the ocean was what Chris was looking at, you can see he looks a bit confused here, sitting between me and the lovely Kaia.

One day Averil took me to the larger beer gardens in the southern
hemisphere, the Arms in Newport. It is impressive, they even have several playgrounds so you can bring your kids and they'll have something to do while mom and dad get pissed all day. It overlooks the water, and on the day we were there we got a pretty cool thunder and lightning show.


One day we went to see Walk the Line at a theater that has a seating area upstairs with normal seats, and a special one downstairs where you have to pay something like $30 and you get these huge comfy recliners to sit it. Although I disagree with this separation of the have and have-nots, I got over it when we snuck downstairs and enjyoed the really comfy seats.

Even though we had such a busy schedule, Alex spent a little time showing me how to play guitar. In Exmouth Linda taught me the beginning of Redemption Song by Bob Marley, and Alex showed me Come As You Are by Nirvana. I'm not sure if my musical career is going to take off when I get home, I'll be impressed if I remember that much. But both of them were really good teachers, and besides, I just think I look good holding a guitar.

It was not just boys that made Manly fun, here are Nicole and Faye, two wikked Scottish girls. And of course, there were all the Norwegian girls, who live in Manly and go to school there. One night they had their beginning of the year ice breaker and we got to go check out their school, which was stunning old building on top of a hill. I think it used to be a monestary, or something related to the church. I only got a photo of it at night.. We went up there and drank outside, went in to play some pool, and then headed down to the bar.

Going out in Sydney was always fun, but when ever I think of Manly, I will think of sitting on the patio at the Steyne. Alex, thanks for always making that fun with your guitar, and that one time with that banjo. I know that some nights you played until your fingers killed and your hair went all crazy, but I will always laugh when I hear 500 miles, and when I think of you guys rhyming dirty lyrics. Ross, you ruled at that game, sorry I always brought it to a screaming halt when it was my turn.

Chris, I hope that your love of plastic will carry you through the tough times. I bet that this look on your face in the picture is the same look of unbridaled extasy that you wear all day at work.

Steve, thanks for helping me when I was homeless. When ever anyone at home throws up the devil horns, I will think of you. You are like, totally the best, and I will be smiling for ever when I think of you guys and Manly.

Well, I guess that I am done with Sydney, and its time to move on. After I left Sydney, I came to Brisbane to stay with Nerida for a week. She was a great hostess, thank you heaps!! She rented a car on the weekend, so we could go to the Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise. It was a little cloudy, but I laid on the beach anyway, because I have just realized it's going to be a good long while before I can walk out my door and hit sand.

On Friday night we went to Australia's largest electronic music festival, which was a lot of fun. There were so many huge djs there, although a lot of house music that didn't do it for me, there was good breaks. I got to see Ali B, which was the most exciting to me. It was at a pavillion outside, and we danced until 5 in the morning. Everyone was really nice, the vibe reminded me of home.

The next day we went to the Sunshine Coast, which had no sunshine, but the drive was beautiful. It looked like BC to me. We saw the Glass House 'Mountains' and did hang out on Coolum beach for a little while. We stopped at the side of the road to buy some seafood, and the guy said welcome to Australia and gave me a crab. So I did get to eat crab here.

And now I really have to go, cause my flight to Christchurch is in a few hours. Nerida, thanks again for the hospitality, we will party it up when you make it home this summer!

I'm feeling really sad to leave Australia, especially after working on this and thinking of all the phenomenal people that I have met, both on the east and west cost of this country. Goodbye Australia, I love you and I will see you again one day!!