3 hours sleep and no breakfast is not enough to climb one of Australia's most recognised landmarks... well, it is, but its not the best way of preparing for it.
This compared to some of the things to do around Oz is quite a sedate thing to do... the amount of 'training'... i doubt Australians train for anything really.... is ridiculous. The kit, so unnecessary, i mean... if you're looking to jump off the bridge, surely you'd just take the main belt off (the safety harness is just fastened onto the main belt)... but they banned bungee a while back, so i didn't intend to jump off... safety precautions were a waste of time is all.
Anyway, the climb... very easy, amazing structure. 6,000,000 bolts all put in by hand apparently... or something. Either way, even with the tour guide (d9n't you hate tour guides) the walk was serene. Its cool being so high up, 5.2 seconds to hit the water apparently... The views are amazing, its criminal they don't let you take a camera up there *enjoy the irony there*... Apparently they closed the bridge off to public after they found a shopping trolley full of empty beer cans up there one morning... right at the summit... now that, i'd like to have done!
Anyway, so yes, the bridge was climbed, the photos will be up soon... before i come back.... honestly!
More importantly than our little climb though... It was my cousin's bday...no, not that cousin, or that cousin... 'that' cousin... the one im staying with. She's been every bit the genial host whilst i've been here and even though im clearly a joy to live with, she deserves many thanks. Especially today. It goes without saying, I bought her donuts (ever the thoughtful gift), gave her a card that insulted her age... and we all went out for an Indian this evening... good times...
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
The day with all the fish
Day.... something...
I'm getting used to the outrageously early starts. I think its something to do with religion, or culture, or having a non-student body clock, but my cousins love to start their day before noon.
Crawling off the mattress in the living room into my 'day clothes' we went off to Sydney Aquarium (they love their water things over here). The amount of animals they cram in there is fantastic, fish as far as the eyes wanted to see. In truth, there are only so many 'nemo's and 'dorey's you can find before it gets tiresome though... although, i've decided, i want to dive on the great barrier reef within a few years... it just... needs to be done.
As well as the Disney animated characters, there were freshwater, and saltwater aligators (i'll revel in that photo)... and seals, and of course, the sharks, Irwin killing rays (sorry if thats in bad taste!) and other nasties that everyone pays to see...
From Sydney aquarium, I embarked on a mad rush on the public transport system (which is just as simple as London's... albeit with the additional fun of ferrys and 'jet cats'.... onto my next adventure.
Diving with sharks
Oceanworld Manly was the place, quite a small aquarium with a donut shaped main tank. From my hazy memory, 8 full sized sharks (around 3-4 meters), 2 giant turtles, 2 giant rays (barbs still attached and able, as i was reassuringly informed) and a bunch of other random fish that were not 'that' interesting.
As i've never dived/done anything particularly sub-subterranean, the website informed me i'd go through an hour long scuba skills session... as it transpired, we put all the kit on, ensured i'd be able to breath, take away the oxgen thing...!!!!! and put it back, spat in my goggles, and underwater i went. Whilst running through the 'ok' signal underwater in the swimming pool, or training pool, i noticed something behind the guy's back... naturally it was a baby shark, about a meter big... i dont know if he noticed i was distracted slightly... but training continued. Turns out, scuba aint hard, so we went on into the main tank after approx 8minutes of messing around at the bottom of the training pool.
Walking under water with lead weights strapped to your back makes you walk more ridiculously than any amount of vodka red-bull ever will. Trying to stand up... impossible. Apparently, I was told by my instructor, its like walking on the moon.... go figure. Anyway, superman diving across the perspex viewing window (big cylindrical thing that people walk through, the tank is all around/above them) i landed in shark territory.
The rest is just... well, its on a dvd again, only 3mins long, those who want it, give me a shout and i'll show you it. The sharks are huge, 4m as it turns out, when it culminates in rows and rows of sharp teeth and beady eyes, is quite intimidating. The eyes... obviously.
Anyway, I ended up with a lil souvenir, I got a shark tooth. Now again, hazy memory, I either plucked it from the jaws of an onrushing shark, struggling valiantly and overcoming said beastie. Or. I rummaged around and picked it up from the floor. Either way. I have a shark tooth =D
Then we all went and got burgers.
Much love as always.
Stay safe!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'm getting used to the outrageously early starts. I think its something to do with religion, or culture, or having a non-student body clock, but my cousins love to start their day before noon.
Crawling off the mattress in the living room into my 'day clothes' we went off to Sydney Aquarium (they love their water things over here). The amount of animals they cram in there is fantastic, fish as far as the eyes wanted to see. In truth, there are only so many 'nemo's and 'dorey's you can find before it gets tiresome though... although, i've decided, i want to dive on the great barrier reef within a few years... it just... needs to be done.
As well as the Disney animated characters, there were freshwater, and saltwater aligators (i'll revel in that photo)... and seals, and of course, the sharks, Irwin killing rays (sorry if thats in bad taste!) and other nasties that everyone pays to see...
From Sydney aquarium, I embarked on a mad rush on the public transport system (which is just as simple as London's... albeit with the additional fun of ferrys and 'jet cats'.... onto my next adventure.
Diving with sharks
Oceanworld Manly was the place, quite a small aquarium with a donut shaped main tank. From my hazy memory, 8 full sized sharks (around 3-4 meters), 2 giant turtles, 2 giant rays (barbs still attached and able, as i was reassuringly informed) and a bunch of other random fish that were not 'that' interesting.
As i've never dived/done anything particularly sub-subterranean, the website informed me i'd go through an hour long scuba skills session... as it transpired, we put all the kit on, ensured i'd be able to breath, take away the oxgen thing...!!!!! and put it back, spat in my goggles, and underwater i went. Whilst running through the 'ok' signal underwater in the swimming pool, or training pool, i noticed something behind the guy's back... naturally it was a baby shark, about a meter big... i dont know if he noticed i was distracted slightly... but training continued. Turns out, scuba aint hard, so we went on into the main tank after approx 8minutes of messing around at the bottom of the training pool.
Walking under water with lead weights strapped to your back makes you walk more ridiculously than any amount of vodka red-bull ever will. Trying to stand up... impossible. Apparently, I was told by my instructor, its like walking on the moon.... go figure. Anyway, superman diving across the perspex viewing window (big cylindrical thing that people walk through, the tank is all around/above them) i landed in shark territory.
The rest is just... well, its on a dvd again, only 3mins long, those who want it, give me a shout and i'll show you it. The sharks are huge, 4m as it turns out, when it culminates in rows and rows of sharp teeth and beady eyes, is quite intimidating. The eyes... obviously.
Anyway, I ended up with a lil souvenir, I got a shark tooth. Now again, hazy memory, I either plucked it from the jaws of an onrushing shark, struggling valiantly and overcoming said beastie. Or. I rummaged around and picked it up from the floor. Either way. I have a shark tooth =D
Then we all went and got burgers.
Much love as always.
Stay safe!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sunday, 16 December 2007
Back in Sydney
So the last couple of days... glorious relaxation.
Yesterday was burning sunshine, 27degrees, having driven for 14hours my cousins were shattered and having chatted shit for 14 hours i was pretty tired too... The end result was 2 hours sleep, which didn't serve well at the first family engagement of the trip. We went to lunch at my cousin's husband's brother's house.... It was good!
We chilled at home for the remainder of the day, babysitting as always, good fun, the kiddies are so cute... Ended up trying to watch a tamil movie at the end of the day (my bed was in the T.V room and my cousins are 'cultural')... lets just say approx 40seconds into it i was asleep =)
So today.... Casino buffet lunch. Most amazing lunch ever. Normally you get awful food, but lots of it at buffets, its very rare you get amazing food, and lots of it.... I'll be visiting there again! (with a camera in tow) ...
Photos are going to be uploaded this week... as well as my upcoming exploration of 'downtown Sydney' =)
missing everyone xxxxxxx (even my eldest niece has been asking me if i miss my friends, that'l make it hit home)
Yesterday was burning sunshine, 27degrees, having driven for 14hours my cousins were shattered and having chatted shit for 14 hours i was pretty tired too... The end result was 2 hours sleep, which didn't serve well at the first family engagement of the trip. We went to lunch at my cousin's husband's brother's house.... It was good!
We chilled at home for the remainder of the day, babysitting as always, good fun, the kiddies are so cute... Ended up trying to watch a tamil movie at the end of the day (my bed was in the T.V room and my cousins are 'cultural')... lets just say approx 40seconds into it i was asleep =)
So today.... Casino buffet lunch. Most amazing lunch ever. Normally you get awful food, but lots of it at buffets, its very rare you get amazing food, and lots of it.... I'll be visiting there again! (with a camera in tow) ...
Photos are going to be uploaded this week... as well as my upcoming exploration of 'downtown Sydney' =)
missing everyone xxxxxxx (even my eldest niece has been asking me if i miss my friends, that'l make it hit home)
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