Yacht Party

Cos I'm all sophisticated and stuff now we chartered about with other Irish people from around Sydney to take us out into the bay for drinks and a BBQ as well as a dip in the bay.

After a long speech by Captain Tim on the dangers and hazards of water travel (don't get sucked under another boat, don't fall into the propeller, etc.) a certain blonde almost fell in to the propeller.

After the boat everyone gathered back at ours for drinks before hitting the town. I, um.. did not make it to town... Amazing day out all in all though!

To the Races

I think it's fair to say that I was underdressed. I was not advised that I should be bringing a 3-piece suit along with me to Oz but we make do!

 Way underdressed...

My first bet (ever) won me $120. Go Soviet Courage! Vodkas for all!!

After the races Shannon was.. *ahem*.. a little tired.. so she took a nap. The rest of us went to dinner out in town and saw the fireworks show. There was toffee for dessert which has since mysteriously vanished (Nicole Walsh)...

Kev in the City

Kev goes to the Chinese Garden of Friendship

The Chinese Garden of Friendship is in the middle of the city surrounded by skyscrapers. Unfortunately, Kev's friends we all working that day so Kev went to the Chinese Garden of Friendship with no friends...

Kev Goes to the Zoo

The aviary in Taronga zoo is all open so the birds are flying all around. There are great views out over the city from up there aswell.

What Goes Down, Must Come Up

I'd travelled out to Katoomba, which is about a 2 hour train ride, to see the Blue Mountains. Just FYI I ran out battery and was in a rush half way down so I didn't get many photos.

The amount of flies, mosquitos, an tourists at the park was absolutely unbearable. I've battle scars all down my legs from the adventure.

I'd gotten to the hostel about 12 or one and the lady said I could come back between 2 and 9 to collect the key but other than that I'd be locked out. That sounded like enough time to reach the bottom and catch the cable car back up so I headed off to the mountains.
It was not enough time...
I think each problem I face on this trip has come from the fact that I constantly underestimate how big this country is. That and lack of common sense and any sort of proper planning.

I wandered around the start of the trail trying to take some photos but it wasn't a great day so nothing really turned out very well.
After a while I came to the top of some stone steps that a couple had just finished climbing. The girl was visibly out of breath and let out a deep sigh as she got to the top. In my naivety, I thought "Come on, now, pull yourself together!".

Another hour or so and a few thousand steps later I'd reached the bottom and took a break. They have information posted all round giving the history of the area, etc. "This place founded in 1928", "Such and such lived here at one point", "Last cable car departs 16.50".
Now, some of that information, I believe, should be sign-posted at the TOP of the ridiculously high mountain with the 10 billion steps, on giant neon billboards.

At this point I realised I wouldn't have time to make it all the back if I did the loop so I'd have to turn around. Which began the expletive-laden journey back uphill. At one point I thought I hallucinated some turkey like this walking down the stairs towards me and stopping to look straight at me before passing me by. I didn't want to take a photo in case there was no turkey. I'm sure there was... I think...

The First Few Days

Day 1

So I arrived in the door at about 11.30 on Sunday after getting a taxi with a man who clearly saw me coming a long way away since the price was apparently "waaaay too much, Kevin!"

Greeted with a SUPER fancy breakfast.

Poached egg with peppers on toast with avocado spread and sweet potato on the side. I think they keep Jamie Oliver in the cupboard under the stairs.

Everyone was really excited to meet me, naturally! There's 4 girls and 2 guys living here (3 including the freeloader (me)).

 Laura & Paddy - Laura I know from home and Paddy's her college friend

 Shannon & Nicole - Shannon's Tyronian.. Tyronese… she's from Tyrone

 Look how excited she looks! Bless

After that was a verrrrry long day of various activities, some of which I hope to remember someday.

Day 2

Day 2 started with a trip in to see the city and Sydney Opera House.

This is a bridge that is apparently a very important bridge due to it's ability to transport vehicles from one side of the water to the other. Otherwise the vehicles would get wet, you see. I'm sure it has a name. I call it "That big bridge we saw" but someone feel free to give it a google and correct me.

I was real pumped to get to see the Opera House

I mean honestly, like, REAL super pumped!

Nicole was less enthusiastic. But I think walking me around Sydney in sweltering heat, and a tiny (barely worth mentioning) slight lil hangover was just the pick up she needed. I am a delight, after all!

We found our way to a beach nearby. All the restaurants outside the centre of the city (and I think in Oz in general) seem to close mid afternoon at around 2/3 but we'd got in just before they closed.

Day 3

The girls were working so Paddy and I had the plan of going to Blue Mountains for a hike/adventure.

However, without Nicole's (surprisingly) pigeon-like sense of direction, we (unsurprisingly) got on the wrong train and got lost.

We ended up in Woy Woy, which I still feel silly typing/saying, and rather than getting the train back to blue mountains (a 2 and a half hour journey since we'd got the complete opposite direction) we said we'd make the most of it and explore the beaches.

We got pretty lucky I think because the beaches were really nice, the water was warm, and there was a pathway around the cliffs which sported some really incredible scenery.

That's more or less the goss for now. I may go to Blue Mountains myself tomorrow and stay the night but I'll see how things work out.

See ya'll for now! :)

- Kev