The Opera House and reflections

‘Sydney is one of the 3 most beautiful ports in the world’, we were told by our eccentric cruise director Naosan. We docked in Clarke Quay, prime real estate. To my right was the Sydney Opera house, on the left the Sydney harbour bridge. The day was not entirely mine; I’d volunteered for the GET challenge tour, basically a day round Sydney with students. I made the most of a few free hours in the morning though, and saw the central sights with Risa. With the students, the idea was we cruise the city with a check list of things to do and find, and speak only in English. My lads did well and although it wasn’t free time, we made our own fun. We finished up in the late afternoon at Coojie beach and we had a bit of free time before beer and burgers with the others. I seized the chance to have a swim and was loving it for all of 30 seconds. I felt a sharp, stinging pain shoot through my left arm. I was shocked to see a blue bottle wrapped completely around it. I pulled the bugger’s tentacles off with my other hand and swam in. Some people say pee on it, others say ice. The ice didn’t work, but some gels that the restaurant had on hand cooled the burning feeling. (more…)

What a sweet way to start travelling. Dropping into Melbourne for the weekend before the madness of Asia was probably the best thing I could’ve done. Jules you’ve done well mate, a great little set up you’ve got going for yourself here. Melbournes got a great vibe going for it, probably helped by the ease in getting around. Jump on the tram, jump off the tram. Auckland get out of your cars and do something about that!! So yes the sights and sounds: Friday night we hit the town kicking out at Laundry bar (house beats). Saturday meant sunshine, late breakfasts, cruising the inner city suburbs and St Kilda beach come evening. Stella Artois tastes nice with all meals. Some stonking drum and bass at Revolver in Prahran was a pretty interesting happening. D&B in Auckland is so much more ’set up’. In fashion the ‘distressed’ look is pretty much everywhere - rip, shred, misprint, tack on. Nice description Jules.
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