Rain rain go away…come back another day

Wednesday 20th December

OMG its pissing it down with rain, it feels like winter, have i woken up in London? Rain crashing down on my door, is someone trying to break in? Blissful sleep though and free breakfast this morning, consisting of small buffet style, and ample supplies of toast, all i wanted was toast, toast toast toast and tea. Today i was to do something that I missed out on some 5 years ago – the Sydney Harbour bridge climb, one of my ambitions. I was dreading going up in the pouring rain but luckily it eased off as I caught the ferry 2 minutes to circular quay and wandered around for a while before making my way to the climb centre. The climb was definately an experience of a lifetime, fantastic. It took a while for the induction, getting geared up, we all looked like spacemen, (Bowie song at the ready). Although it was still a little cloudy the climb was magnificent, up ladders and many steps for panaromic views of the harbour. A little windy but this made it more refreshing. There were ample photo stops taken by the leader only (no cameras, watches or anything else dangly were allowed they even provided scrunchies for those of us with long hair) At the top of the bridge we admired the view, although it was a shame there were not blue skies all around it was still a fantastic experience which i would recommend to anyone to do who is reasonably fit. Each Climber receives a complimentary group photograph at the end (wooohoo!) plus other photographs can be purchased after the Climb. I bought a couple of myself but they are on disk and my PC has no CD rom. I also received the commemorative personalised Climber Certificate (another wooohoo!) I did really feel woohoo’d when I had returned though. Brilliant! I was citied out after Hong Kong so avoided the main drag instead took a walk around circular quay and through the botonic gardens which was very refreshing, included in my journey was a proper cup of tea, some english guy infront of me also purchasing a pot of tea, see us english like our tea. Due to having been here before I had seen much of Sydney before, so after a brief wander around I was to head back to the accomodation, anyhow it was pissing it down again so best home and dry. I was enjoying the peace and tranquility of the guesthouse, watching TV with a couple of others (cricket doco amongst other stuff given it was the Ashes) whilist drinking tea – of course. What i have noticed is that the austrlaians dont go big on christmas decorations, no lights, just the odd christmas tree here and there. Quite refreshing really. The guesthouse had a tree in the corner and a bit of tinsle but its not quite as in your face as in the UK. It doesnt feel as commercial which I like the feeling of, though it doesnt feel christmasy either!

G’day Sheila

Tuesday 19th December

As the plane flew low over Sydney out came my camera, unfortantly I was over the wing so the pictures are not that good, but the breathtaking views of the harbour bridge, Opera house and central business distict makes this place somewhat special. I arrived in sydney with a sense of desva-vous – hadnt i been here before some 5 or so years ago? Same airport, same coffee shop still standing, but not the same cup of tea as I had before. The journey to the accomodation was adventurous, first by train to circular quay (the ferry terminal), that bit was easy, myself and my rucksack got onto the ferry, but then it went a bit wrong. I had misread the instructions: by ferry take neutral bay service from wharf no 4 at circular quay to kirribilli wharf then its a 1 min walk. I read as “take the ferry to neutral bay and its a 1 min walk”. So I ended up ferry hopping around sydney for the rest of the afternoon. Fun. By the time i finally arrived at the lodge – such a sweet guesthouse rather than a hostel, I found I had been upgraded, initially booked into a dorm room (x4 beds) they put me in a private twin which was lovely, a whole room to myself for the first time since leaving Sheffield with added bonus of a fridge and a TV. After a very needy shower I checked out the lounge with “free tea and coffee” and collapsed into a big heap with a cup of tea or 10 in hand. Night was drawing in, although only 3 hours time difference I was shattered, a microwave meant i was able to cook some soup though the take aways that the others were getting were looking tempting but i resisted incase of the return of that evil acid indigestion.