Sydney - Australia

The most predictable picture in the world!
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Arrived in Sydney shattered after 2 days of travel from Kathmandu, through Delhi and Hong Kong only to find all of the Sydney's accommodation was full. Our preferred location of Manly was all full. So plan B was to Coogee - a lovely little beach suburb of Sydney.

Day 1

Its hot and the people here are too beautiful

First day we just spent in a fuzz in Coogee on the beach and wandering along the lovely coastal path to Clovelly.

The opera house, amazing from afar, but not as good up close
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Day 2

After a good nights sleep (in our dorm room) we spent 2 days exploring Syndey - 30mins away on bus. Our first view of Circular Quay, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House was, well - triumphant. We were just so completely chuffed that we'd stuck with our travel plans and had arrived at somewhere that seemed a distant dream for so long. it was all a bit surreal - or was it just sleep deprivation? The Opera House is quite different from somewhere like the Taj Mahal. The Opera House actually looks better the further you are from it, up close is difficult to read and actually looks quite different. We were lucky enough that there was a free exhibition on the design of the building inside - which was excellent.

We had a long walk through the nearby Botanical Gardens and Hyde Park and had had a lovely picninc in the sun overlooking the Harbour. The Cityscape behind the parkland was impressive with huge skyscrapers towering above bat filled trees in the park.

From there we walked to the Rocks - a heritage area of the City almost bulldozed to make way for the skyscrapers that form the rest of the City.

Day 3

Back into the City and had a good look around Darling Harbour - a recent addition to Sydney and like Cardiff Bay - somewhere that is only starting to become established and popular. It was full of life and people eating in nice cafes. (We had a packed lunch on the Harbourside!)

We caught the ferry across the Harbour to the affluent and lovely beachside suburb of Manly. The surf was pumping (although a little messy) and we sat in a fishmongers that served the most amazing fish box with chips!

Day 4

A day off sightseeing. Took a long walk from Coogee around the coast to Bondi. Loads of surf and lots of activity in the Surf Life Saving Clubs as kids messed about in the waves whilst adults had barbies on the council maintained beachside BBQ's or in the Club houses. We felt like we caught a real glimpse of Aussie life - and loved it. Realised that the surf in Coogee was pretty dire and found a cheaper double room in Bondi (where the surf is much better) so immediately checked in!

Day 5

Caught the bus to Bondi and checked into new hostel. Could see the surf smashing the beach from reception. Even though the conditions werent good, hired a board and went in becuase I was desperate. Got a kicking, got stung by some nasty blue jellyfish and didnt do much surfing today!

Day 6

On Bondi Beach. A place that is so famous it disappoints many, but has now got such a bad rep, that we were actually quite impressed by it! There are so many really nice cafes and restaurants. The beach is huge and can accommodate the hundreds of Sydneysiders and tourists that flock to it and the surf is pretty good too. The surf was excellent, but every wave was hotly contested by some am

First impressions of Syndey...

A bright, fresh world City. Everyone here is gorgeous and young. We're sure that the old and not so pretty aren't allowed to stay! We've never seen so many joggers!! There isn't really a drinking culture, but there seems to be a Manhattan-esque cafe culture. Its also difficult getting used to not living like Royalty in Asia. We've started buying cheepo food and shopping like students again!!

Restaurants and cafes are full all times of the day - especially weekend nights and Sunday mornings. The centre of life in the beach suburbs is obvioulsy the beach! People flock to it to walk, skate, relax, have BBQ's, drink eat, swim, surf. Everybody surfs! (Or so it seems) The people seem to be pretty aware of how lucky they are to live in such an amazing City!