On Our Own Again, Down Under

We arrived in Sydney without much trouble, so we went off to find the hotel I'd booked. Our Lonely Planet had it listed, and it wasn't far from the train station, so we walked the 10 minute to get there. The only problem was that I hadn't booked that hotel, I'd booked the City South hotel which was about a 10 minute drive from there. And so, we got a taxi over to our “correct” hotel who knew that the Y hotel had two locations, one at each each of a train station. Though our taxi cab driver was very friendly and full of useful information such as we arrived in Sydney at the beginning of their summer festival. We took it really easy the first night as we were both exhausted and just walked down to a local pub and had some drinks and pub grub.

The next day we took the train over to Circle Quay area to see the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. We walked around and found a nice spot in the park to read our books and enjoy the view. The park gave me a little feel of Central Park. We stopped for some lunch, and Bill suggested pizza so I went right along with it as I'm usually the one suggesting it. The only problem was their pepperoni required a whole pitcher of water to get it down as it was so spicy.

The next day we took the train over to Circle Quay area to see the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. Our first goal was a stop for some lunch, and so, Bill suggested pizza so I went right along with it as I'm usually the one suggesting it. The only problem was their pepperoni required a whole pitcher of water to get it down as it was so spicy. We then walked around and found a nice spot in the park to read our books and enjoy the view. The park gave me a little feel of Central Park.

After the park, we decided to take another stroll to figure out what was going on for this opening night of the Sydney festival which was free. We headed in the are of the Domain walking first through some of the botanical gardens and saw a shrub shaped with the words “sex + death.” It caught my interest to realize that there was an exhibit going on that had plants during mating season and plants like the venus fly trap that eats things. But unfortunately the exhibit was already closed for day so we kept heading towards the domain area.

We finally made it to see all sorts of people already out with blankets and chairs waiting for the concert that starts at 7:00 even though it was only almost 5:00 by this point. So we decided to head back to our room get some sleeping bags to sit on and return to this area as it looked like the one that would be the most entertaining to us. As we arrived back a bit before 7:00, the place was now jammed packed. Though we still found a spot in the back towards the Mexican food stand that Bill was going to go towards to get some dinner.

We arranged our stuff and Bill headed off. The sun slowly started to set as the colors kept getting more and more brilliant, so I kept taking more pictures thinking that would be my final one. But it wasn't my final one until about 30 shots later. And by this time, I was wondering where the heck Bill was as 30 minutes had gone by and the opening band was into their set. I was starting to get worried as the time kept going and going, but I figured the line was just long, I'd just not expected it to be that long! And towards the end of this opening band is when Bill finally returned with nachos and some tacos as it took over an hour to get. Bill said only two people were working in the booth. At least we finally had dinner though Bill missed the sunset and the first band with me anyhow.

After the first set, the entire downtown area took a break from their activities to teach everyone “The Sydney.” Now, if you ask me the Sydney was similar to the Macarena and lots of people around us were trying to get this dance down. You could even win a trip to London for downloading the steps. And so, the music went on and the whole area of downtown was doing the Sydney, well, not us... And then Mr. Scruff came on, which we're still not sure quite who he is as the televisions never showed anyone on stage and it was hard to see, but we think it was someone playing instruments. And finally it was time for the headliner, Grace Jones, who we'd never heard of but figured for a headlines, she's probably be good. At first, I couldn't tell if she was a woman or a transvestite, but realized she was a woman who had a huge gay following explaining her choice of outfits. Though neither of us cared for her music nor did a lot of people in the park as the area started to thin out as she came on stage. We headed back for some sleep.

The next day we took the ferry out to Manly Beach. We didn't realize that on Sundays there was a special price for families to go, so it was crowded. We walked around the shopping area for a bit, and then headed to buy subway and stuff from the market so we could have a picnic lunch out by North head point as we didn't think there would be food out there. We took the bus towards the area and knew we had to get off at the last stop. Our bus driver went through a round about looking like he'd turn around, and so we got off realizing that we were one stop away from our destination. So we walked the 1.5 km to the stop we meant to get off at as we see the bus driver pass us going back the other way. We arrived at North head and took in the view of Sydney. It was a great view of the city almost like looking at New York from Jersey. We even saw a pirate ships (old sailing ship) out for a sail.

We enjoyed our picnic lunch on the ground as there weren't any benches in the shade without a blanket, right across the way from the cafe with a great view of the harbor. Live and learn. I knew we were walking back to town, but I hadn't realized how hot it would be and not that scenic. So I let Bill walk further as I walked towards the next bus stop and headed back to Sydney on my own. Bill did see more of the rocky coast and some of the main beach, as made my way back to Sydney and took a little break at Starbucks when I got off the ferry and read my book some more. That night we just took it easy and ate the rest of our picnic supplies for dinner.

Bill had an appointment with the consulate the next morning to add more pages to his passport as he didn't get them added when he renewed his passport, and wouldn't make it through Africa with all the pages each country requires. So he went to take care of that while I slept in, and when he returned, he made another appointment with the doctor to look at his ear and complete some vaccinations he'd started in the US. They were able to give one to him that afternoon, so we made our way towards that area.

While he went to the doctors, I found a spot to get my nails down as I was getting tired of the fake nails I got for the wedding and knew they had to come off before we went to Africa. I was done quicker that I expected, so I went in search of Bill. I found him walking down the street towards the nail salon although he didn't see me, so I waved my hand in front of him confusing him as a guy almost ran into me because I stopped. But we avoided all collusions, which is actually unusual for us. We grabbed a quick bit of kebabs, which turned out to be a huge meal.

As we navigated ourselves through the train system, we found that we could go the stop on the other side of the harbor bridge, so we could walk back over the bridge to Circular Quay where we wanted to buy some theater tickets for that night or Weds. So we walked across the bridge and realized in the middle, they're a look out tower that we could go up to. So we did and enjoyed the view as the pictures we were getting from the bridge weren't that good with all the fencing in them. As we were at the top, we were watching all the people walk the arch of the bridge which actually costs around $290 Australian dollars, and after watching, we determined it wasn't worth it unless you wanted to stay you walked across the arch of a bridge.

And so we made our way back to Circular Quay to hit the stand for the Sydney festival to find out if we could go see War of the Roses which was one of their performances. Though they didn't have much information, and at the other side of the bridge were we were just at is where the theater is. So we decided to call to find out that the performances for that night were just preview ones and Weds was opening night by invitation only. So it was a no go for that! The War of the Roses was a two part play that covered a few of Shakespeare's works put together, and Bill had said he'd go.

So plan B was to see what was at the Opera House. When I looked online, I thought there was only the Circus, as I hadn't realized they had different theaters. And so, there was a 90 min comedy of Shakespeare's plays abridged, the Circus, and Madam Butterfly. Now I had choices, so we went to see what was available though I was leaning towards Madam Butterfly. It was pretty booked so only premium seats were left, so we splurged, and we're going to the Opera on Weds.

The next day we headed out early to the Blue Mountains on a tour we booked. We were the first picked up as we were the furthest outside the center of the city. We had a very informative bus driver, John, who told us when to look out the bus, so I could still play games on my ipod without missing anything.

We arrived at the three sisters scenic area first, and walked around to look at the view as John got our ride tickets for the Blue Mountain area. The three sisters are three beautiful aboriginal woman who were turned into stone by a witch doctor. The witch doctor was trying to save them as a child who was in their care feel off the mountain. And to save them from being captured, he turned them into stone. But then he realized the people were after him so he used his bone to turn himself into the lyre bird to avoid capture. He dropped his bone and was never able to find it, so the sisters remained the three stones out on the hill. Or so the story goes.

After that, we headed towards the blue mountain area.  We had the opportunity to take three "rides" in the valley.  The first ride was the Sky Way Cable Car that actually let you walk over ground windows to feel like you are walking over the valley while looking straight down.  It's a weird perspective and definitely not to be done if you're afraid of heights.  Though all the windows on the side gave the normal view of the valley giving this Sky Way Cable Car a thumbs up for the "new view."  Our second ride that took us down to the bottom of the valley was the World's Steepest Scenic Railway.  Now when they say steep, they really mean it.  The seats are positioned at an angle that makes it hard to get in and when you finally do your back is scooped back into the seat and your legs are up a bit almost like you're in a really soft couch that sucks you in, the only problem was that these were hard as rock seats.  I can see why the seats need to be scooped like this because as the ride starts the theme song to Indian Jones comes on and the ride begins straight, I'm mean straight, downhill.  We are completely vertical at this point though the ride goes so fast that the scenery is a blur, but we are in a jungle.

We get let off on the bottom and get to walk around the jungle floor on a boardwalk as we explore all the trees. We take the long way around as we have plenty of time before having to be back at our bus to head off to the caves. As we walk along the boardwalk, we also get to see all the remnants of the mining operation that use to exist in these mountains. I don't think I'd ever be cut out to work in the mines, it looks like hard work. Though this area reminded me of the gold mine ride at Knotts Berry Farm, but the real life version. Our last "ride" was the scenic Gondola that took us back up to the top while viewing the valley as we rode. The car was the size of Star Tours cars at Disneyland as we were stuffed inside with all the Japanese taking millions of pictures. I stopped at the gift shop before heading out to buy a small koala with a boomerang to go with my tiny panda bear I got in China. I named the panda bear "Ba Wa" after Bill tried to order some of this beer in China to only find out it was Budweiser and asked for another one. The koala is names Fozzy after Fosters and Ozzy Land.

And so, it was time to head out to Jenolan Caves. There are all different caves in this area, and we thought we could pick between three caves, but actually we all went to one cave already chosen. Luckily, it was the one we had wanted to go to, Lucas Caves. Bill wanted to go there because it was the most strenuous cave of all of them, which, really only meant that there were lots of stairs to climb. Our tour took about one hour in half. The first bit was mostly up stairs until we reach the top and we able to come down into the first room. As we were inside, our guide asks, "Is anyone from the US?" We were the only ones to respond and then proceeded to ask if we were from New York, and I said that I had lived there. And his remark was, "This should make you a bit homesick, here's the Statue of Liberty." It was the smallest formation, but it sort of looked like her. The next room, the Cathedral, is pretty famous because of its beauty but it also attracts concerts shows and weddings due to the acoustics and it has the feel of a cathedral hence the name. Another one of the most famous features of this cave is the "broken column," where the top part of the cave particle almost meets the bottom looking just like a column had been broken. A stalgtight grew into a stalmight and then the ground shifted breaking the column and making it not aligned.

And before we knew it, it was time to head back to the bus. We had no idea it would take at least 3 hours to get to Sydney. Our driver did take a small detour to a field where kangaroos were found quite a bit. So we got out of the bus and got to run around with some for a bit as our driver showed us what you're not suppose to do with a boomerang as it wasn't flying very well. He's had bad experiences with letting tourists try, so to Bill's dismay, we couldn't try. And we had one other stop where we got some ice cream. But we were back in Sydney after 7, and got out at another couple's stop so we could get some grub at Darling Harbour. We enjoyed some duck as we watch the harbour and Bill had his photo taken with a pirate ship.

The next morning, I slept in a bit while Bill took care of all the laundry since he's an early bird. Later in the day, I walked to the closest target to have one last look before leaving for Africa, and I even found a swimsuit on clearance. Though target here just doesn't have a very good supply of bathroom stuff. I tried to bring back a milkshake for Bill, but from the 15 min walk and the heat, it was just a drink by the time I got it there. And we just spent the rest of the day trying to get ready for Africa and using the internet.

We had planned on seeing a Monet exhibit but just ran out of steam. And so, around 5 we headed out for dinner and the opera. We had dinner along the Sydney Harbour at Circular Quay and the duck sounded good that I had it once again. As we ate dinner, a huge cruise ship was in the harbour and had to be towed out, and it was taller than the bridge, it was strange to watch. But not as strange as the lady having dinner next to us have part of her salad taken by a bird that swooped down and back out with her food. And then it was time to head over to the Opera House. The outside is quite impressive, but I was a little disappointed with inside the concert hall as it was plainer than many I've seen. But Madam Butterfly was wonderful to watch and the first Act went by before I knew it. Though we did have an understudy that was called 90 minutes before the play as the director had to come out and tell us, but we would never had known if he didn't tell us. And now it's time to bid farewell to a great city...

Michelle