after the party

now that the partying is over, its time to do a bit of sightseeing. No guesses to what commanded the most attention. The bridge and opera house are like huge camera magnets, demanding that photographs are taken from every angle at every opportunity wherever you go. No wonder they are reported to be the most photographed pair of locations in the world.

There are the most amazing views of the city from the top of the bridge, right up there where the flags are. Thankfully everyone is secured to the bridge and everything you wear is secured to you. Unfortunately no photographs, though i have got some on disc for later (if i remember to bring them out to the internet cafe with me sometime).

Spent a wonderful day wandering through the rejuvinated dock areas, packed with smart restaurants and bars and touristy attractions. Past amazing waterside appartments and through little back streets walled with arty gift shops and exotic eateries. China town was where we stopped to eat the most amazing dim sum. Plate after plate of amazing food arrived at our table, brought by waitresses steering trollies through the crowded restaurant, touting their particular dished to each table in turn. Four of us ate for ages and were completely stuffed by the time we left for just under $90.

On, under the bridge and round past the Opera house for the obligitory photo on the steps, it (my photo)was so awful i deleted it!! and throught the tranquility of the botanic gardens. More difficult to recognise many of the plants here, most of them that i did, giant examples of houseplants we have back in the UK. Even the guys from Honolulu were amazed at some of the sights and we had some great discussions about the diffenrences of our home countries. There were huge yellow white parrots squalking from tree to tree and thousands of bats hanging in the trees waiting for dusk and wierd duck, stork like birds with long curved beaks strutting about checking bits of litter to see what they tasted of. We saw the bats that evening, heading off over the city to their nighttime venue, black silhouettes against the darkening twilight sky.

My new friends are all heading off on their respective travels and i feel it is time to move on. A train ticket and a map of New South Wales and a few recommendations from the locals is all i need.

The beach beckoned, and i have headed up the coast on an 11hour train trip to Byron bay. A huge distance to travel and less than an inch on my map of australia. I shall return to Sydney to see some more of the sights later on in my journey, until then, the countryside and beaches beckon again. I can smell the surf........