Saturday, 21 February 2009
29/12/08
Second day in Sydney; another gorgeous day with bright blue skies, hot temperatures and a cool breeze. I thought I would venture away from the tourist areas and look for record shops. I saw on the net that Spank Records is about a mile away from my hostel so up Campbell Street I went. I needed breakfast so I stopped in a small but stylish café called Food Game. Bacon and sausage on toast, just what I needed! While I was eating, I noticed a group of girls and two lads up the street walking my way. All of them oriental with their legs on show and other areas of their body too! As they came closer I realized it was a couple of gay guys with a group of girls with very masculine faces, it could only mean one thing: lady boys! They did well until they were close up, I’m just glad I hadn’t had a load of beer.
28/12/08
Not much sleep gained on the plane, its now daytime again which is really surreal, I feel like I’m in the Back to The Future movie. Not long to go now, just under one hour and although I’m tired, the excitement is enhancing more and more. Flying right across Australia’s Great Artesian Basin, the landscape is amazing. It looks like mostly desert with trees here and there. Very sandy looking with dried up rivers and no sign of humanity for miles apart from a lonely dirt track that the pilot has been following.
I got through customs nice and easy and headed straight to the hostel. It was very hot outside even though it was about 8am. It reminded me a lot of Florida, clean streets, similar cars, similar signs and huge buildings. Even road signs look the same. Once I got to the hostel, I quickly put my bags in my rooms to head out and explore. The room was pretty good for a hostel, it even had a beer fridge, which is always good news, I must remember to fill that up at some point.
So I was off, I no idea where I was going, apart from looking for the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Opera House. Following George Street for about 10 minutes, I then ventured left as I could see the water. I finally got there and it was amazing! The bridge is much bigger than I thought it would be. There were people walking over the top of it and they looked tiny. The sun is beaming down with clear blue skies, I am finally here!
I feel a bit weird, I have nothing to do apart from explore and do whatever I like which is a shock to the system as I was always on the go when I was back home in the UK.
After I had some lunch and wondered around the Royal Botanic Gardens then back into town and looked around some shops. I headed back to the hostel at about 4pm to get some sleep for just a couple of hours that ended up being 6. Still tired so I surfed the net in the hostel and went back to sleep.
I got through customs nice and easy and headed straight to the hostel. It was very hot outside even though it was about 8am. It reminded me a lot of Florida, clean streets, similar cars, similar signs and huge buildings. Even road signs look the same. Once I got to the hostel, I quickly put my bags in my rooms to head out and explore. The room was pretty good for a hostel, it even had a beer fridge, which is always good news, I must remember to fill that up at some point.
So I was off, I no idea where I was going, apart from looking for the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Opera House. Following George Street for about 10 minutes, I then ventured left as I could see the water. I finally got there and it was amazing! The bridge is much bigger than I thought it would be. There were people walking over the top of it and they looked tiny. The sun is beaming down with clear blue skies, I am finally here!
I feel a bit weird, I have nothing to do apart from explore and do whatever I like which is a shock to the system as I was always on the go when I was back home in the UK.
After I had some lunch and wondered around the Royal Botanic Gardens then back into town and looked around some shops. I headed back to the hostel at about 4pm to get some sleep for just a couple of hours that ended up being 6. Still tired so I surfed the net in the hostel and went back to sleep.
27/12/08
13 hours later I arrive at Singapore. Never been before but I’ve heard some good things about it. Unfortunately it was only for 30 minutes so I could only wonder around the airport. So first impressions; it smells funny, maybe a bit dirty, probably due to high humidity which can be felt even in the air conditioned airport. Loads of lovely goodies in the shops but I didn’t want to spend most of my traveling funds on a fancy watch so I wondered on. The best thing I noticed about Singapore (well the airport anyway) was the amount or gorgeous women walking around. Seems like they’re definitely not a rarity so I think I’ll be coming back here some time soon!
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
26/12/08
Welcome to my first post on this blog. Please excuse all spelling and grammar mistakes ;-) Enjoy!
Boxing Day, usually spent with a hang over and full of left over turkey but this year was very different - I was off to Australia for up to 12 months then maybe off to other countries around the world!
It was a very busy day still filled with Christmas excitement sorting out a bag I would live out of for a long time and making sure I wouldn't forget to pack the essentials (passport, visa, money, brain). A few tears started in my mums eyes every time we spoke about my trip which was about every 5 minutes.
Off to Heathrow Terminal 4 with my mum, dad, sister Sarah, sister Sami and her fiance Pete. BA0015 was my flight due to leave at 21:45, so after we chilled at the airport for a couple of hours and after a burger and chips, it was off to the departure lounge, the part of the day my mum had been dreading! It was great that my family came to see me off but very emotional at the same time. After living with my parents for the past 2 years since Uni, it was hard not to shed a few tears as I hugged them all and waved to them as I walked through to the departure lounge. Especially as they had started to cry and I was thinking this is probably the last time I will see them for the next year or so.
As I walk into the departure lounge the excitement starts to grow more and more with a bit of weirdness, who was I going to meet, what will I get up to when I arrive in Sydney?
After another couple of hours I was on the plane. They make you walk through first class to show you what you're missing for a chance to steal £5000 pounds from more people, those beds did look good though. 36K was my seat next to the window so I can take some nice photos. And what a great choice it was too with a 18 month old boy called Byron, full of life and loves to scream, shout and jump around. He also likes to hand me bits of paper along with "DERRRRR". He makes me laugh though. There was also another toddler bhind me who also likes to scream, shout and jump around so I'm glad Joey and Cat got me an iPod for my goodbye present!
To keep myself busy, I not only have my iPod but I have some new books to read, one of which is called “Yes Man” that was recommended by my mate Dan. Dan hasn’t read it yet but knows people who have and could not stop themselves from laughing out loud which I have experienced and that was only after page 9! While reading Byron would get agitated and cry as we were about to take off so his mum and dad quickly rustled in their bags and got a plastic syringe and a bottle of pink liquid. “Milky, milky, have some milky!” Said his mum as she pushed the syringe in his mouth. I didn’t know kids drank milk came from a syringe, maybe it’s a new trend? I also thought milk was white, not pink, suppose it could have been strawberry milkshake. Before I knew it the young aussie was fast asleep and I thought that’s some powerful milk, “Can I have some?”
I carry on reading, I couldn’t put the book down. Yes Man is about a guy (Dan McCall) who’s life turned boring after a relationship break up. He stopped going out and meeting up with friends etc. One evening on the way home from work, he got talking to a man on the bus who told him to “say yes more!” Dan took these words literally and apparently it changed his life, for the better.
As Dan is opening himself to every opportunity that comes his way, I thought I would give it a try. Not that I think my life is or was boring, I want to see where it takes me. Obviously this kind of thing could get you into a lot of trouble so I will proceed with care and have some limitations :-D.
Beef Lasangne for dinner cooked perfectly in a microwave. It did taste nice (must have been from M&S). “Red or white wine with your meal, sir?” Said the good looking oriental hostess, “beer please” I replied with a smile. Why does beer taste better when its free?
Boxing Day, usually spent with a hang over and full of left over turkey but this year was very different - I was off to Australia for up to 12 months then maybe off to other countries around the world!
It was a very busy day still filled with Christmas excitement sorting out a bag I would live out of for a long time and making sure I wouldn't forget to pack the essentials (passport, visa, money, brain). A few tears started in my mums eyes every time we spoke about my trip which was about every 5 minutes.
Off to Heathrow Terminal 4 with my mum, dad, sister Sarah, sister Sami and her fiance Pete. BA0015 was my flight due to leave at 21:45, so after we chilled at the airport for a couple of hours and after a burger and chips, it was off to the departure lounge, the part of the day my mum had been dreading! It was great that my family came to see me off but very emotional at the same time. After living with my parents for the past 2 years since Uni, it was hard not to shed a few tears as I hugged them all and waved to them as I walked through to the departure lounge. Especially as they had started to cry and I was thinking this is probably the last time I will see them for the next year or so.
As I walk into the departure lounge the excitement starts to grow more and more with a bit of weirdness, who was I going to meet, what will I get up to when I arrive in Sydney?
After another couple of hours I was on the plane. They make you walk through first class to show you what you're missing for a chance to steal £5000 pounds from more people, those beds did look good though. 36K was my seat next to the window so I can take some nice photos. And what a great choice it was too with a 18 month old boy called Byron, full of life and loves to scream, shout and jump around. He also likes to hand me bits of paper along with "DERRRRR". He makes me laugh though. There was also another toddler bhind me who also likes to scream, shout and jump around so I'm glad Joey and Cat got me an iPod for my goodbye present!
To keep myself busy, I not only have my iPod but I have some new books to read, one of which is called “Yes Man” that was recommended by my mate Dan. Dan hasn’t read it yet but knows people who have and could not stop themselves from laughing out loud which I have experienced and that was only after page 9! While reading Byron would get agitated and cry as we were about to take off so his mum and dad quickly rustled in their bags and got a plastic syringe and a bottle of pink liquid. “Milky, milky, have some milky!” Said his mum as she pushed the syringe in his mouth. I didn’t know kids drank milk came from a syringe, maybe it’s a new trend? I also thought milk was white, not pink, suppose it could have been strawberry milkshake. Before I knew it the young aussie was fast asleep and I thought that’s some powerful milk, “Can I have some?”
I carry on reading, I couldn’t put the book down. Yes Man is about a guy (Dan McCall) who’s life turned boring after a relationship break up. He stopped going out and meeting up with friends etc. One evening on the way home from work, he got talking to a man on the bus who told him to “say yes more!” Dan took these words literally and apparently it changed his life, for the better.
As Dan is opening himself to every opportunity that comes his way, I thought I would give it a try. Not that I think my life is or was boring, I want to see where it takes me. Obviously this kind of thing could get you into a lot of trouble so I will proceed with care and have some limitations :-D.
Beef Lasangne for dinner cooked perfectly in a microwave. It did taste nice (must have been from M&S). “Red or white wine with your meal, sir?” Said the good looking oriental hostess, “beer please” I replied with a smile. Why does beer taste better when its free?
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