This will the the final post in this Xmas's blog.
For those of you who have been reading it, thank you. I had no intention on writing anything like this until it was mentioned it to me the day I left... it was a great idea. Writing this has more or less negated any homesickness on my part; I've enjoyed writing for you guys. I hope it has at least provided some little entertainment!
The last few days I've been conspicuously quiet... for some of you who've spoken to me, I've come out with grand plans... caving in the blue mountains, swimming in the olympic pool etc etc... all great touristy things, which are musts on any trip here. I've subsequently done none of them =). Since my last post, at the cricket, I've spent the last two days doing absolutely nothing... and loving it.
Again, those that know me, know that family is very much paramount; despite how little I actually see them! Without making it sound too clinical, I took a little bit of a step back and realised, I'd hate leaving here, let met correct myself, hate leaving here even more, if i felt I could have spent more time with my cousins and nieces.
Since coming here, I've had innumerable 'deep' chats with the cousin I've been staying with, joked with her hubby and carried on where we left off with my newly migrated cousin. Above all the skydiving, shark diving, bridge climbing and beach lounging... this has been the best part of my holiday. I could have run around for the last few days, doing everything and anything... but it'd be a waste.. instead, i've spent every minute with one of the above, or the kids. I would change nothing.
Mentioning the kids; I've done my very best to spoil them rotten on this trip, with varying degrees of success. The last holiday to Oz up until this one was my 'favorite' holiday, I went with parents and did nothing for 4 weeks... loved it because of my then 8 month old niece. She has matured into an opinionated 5 year old whom I adore and has been joined by the cutest bi-lingual 2.5 year old I've ever had the pleasure to meet! Once again, they've made my trip and it genuinely upsets me to have to leave them. The next time I come here, my cousins will not have changed, we'll pick up where we left off... my nieces may have become brand new people. I only hope they dont change too much! More so than this country, I will miss them; from the 'Tharshaaaaaaan *anna*, watchu doing?" from the little one, to the genuine affection the elder one shows toward me.
Australia is a huge place, with countless more things to do... Ayres rock ' Ularu', Cairns and the Barrier reef, Bungee jumping, Caving in blue moutains, Visiting Adelaide and the mountain passes... just to mention a few. This will not be my last trip.
As my blog hopefully illustrates.. I've had an incredible time, fitting more 'activities' and seeing more sights in this trip than I'd expect to in 10. I said it before, I was very young; this place is the place I want to be. Australia is my utopia; if I don't end up living here at some point, I've made a serious mistake, or lost perspective along the way!
Anyway, I think i'm done. All that is left is to once again thank you for reading, it's been fun blogging... and I've had a blast.
See you all very soon, come and give me a shout if you wanna see photos of any of the described =)
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(Also, for the record.... Skippy tasted fantastic... that makes it Skippy, Thumper & Pumba =) )
Sunday, 6 January 2008
Wednesday, 2 January 2008
The SCG
Apparently these Australians are alright at cricket on their day. I thought i'd go and check it out...
Now firstly, I bring you sad news... my camera appears to have met an untimely end at the game.. so there shall be no more photos... a blessing in disguise, I wont be seeing the end of this trip through a camera lens.. anyway, today...
Bloody hot.
I know this will amuse a great proportion of you... but if i thought I was tanned before this... I am well and truely burnt as of today. It was 35degrees and I had no hat... at least for the first session anyway. I officially look Trinidadian.... but never mind... I'll deal with all of y'all when i get back no doubt...!
Aside from the boiling heat, the cricket was fantastic. As those of you that follow it will know, it was quite a first day... I wanted to see Tendulkar bat, so the lack of a collapse was something of a disappointment, then again, I did see Ponting play some imperious shots, and Symonds was above average... Hogg punched well above his weight, and 'Arpy' Singh bowled very very well...
Enough cricket... I suppose if you're counting, thats another 'Ozzie' thing i've done that can be ticked off the list... its not so much a list than a couple of words scrawled on a redundant napkin as of now.... what is left is for another trip...
It will be soon.
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Now firstly, I bring you sad news... my camera appears to have met an untimely end at the game.. so there shall be no more photos... a blessing in disguise, I wont be seeing the end of this trip through a camera lens.. anyway, today...
Bloody hot.
I know this will amuse a great proportion of you... but if i thought I was tanned before this... I am well and truely burnt as of today. It was 35degrees and I had no hat... at least for the first session anyway. I officially look Trinidadian.... but never mind... I'll deal with all of y'all when i get back no doubt...!
Aside from the boiling heat, the cricket was fantastic. As those of you that follow it will know, it was quite a first day... I wanted to see Tendulkar bat, so the lack of a collapse was something of a disappointment, then again, I did see Ponting play some imperious shots, and Symonds was above average... Hogg punched well above his weight, and 'Arpy' Singh bowled very very well...
Enough cricket... I suppose if you're counting, thats another 'Ozzie' thing i've done that can be ticked off the list... its not so much a list than a couple of words scrawled on a redundant napkin as of now.... what is left is for another trip...
It will be soon.
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Tuesday, 1 January 2008
364 left
Today was a day of reflection... reflection and extreme tiredness. Looking back, its kinda counter productive spending a day of your holiday musing about how little of your holiday is left... but lets be honest... we've all done it. I clearly just have....
To say I don't wanna come back is a bit of an understatement, I actually miss the family, I miss you guys... but its not really relative. When I leave here its going to be a huge wrench, both my nieces are now sticking to me, as the only remaining visitor..! Which is going to make it really tough to go...
Figuring out what i'm going to be doing with the next few days... booked tickets for the cricket tomorrow.... here is hoping Tendulkar gets 100, Lee grabs a 5 for, India get knocked over for 150 and I get to watch Ponting, Clarke et al wrack up 300+... it would not be a bad days play =p
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ooooo resolutions, before I forget... i'm at a bit of a loss this year... any *constructive* recommendations will be gratefully received.
To say I don't wanna come back is a bit of an understatement, I actually miss the family, I miss you guys... but its not really relative. When I leave here its going to be a huge wrench, both my nieces are now sticking to me, as the only remaining visitor..! Which is going to make it really tough to go...
Figuring out what i'm going to be doing with the next few days... booked tickets for the cricket tomorrow.... here is hoping Tendulkar gets 100, Lee grabs a 5 for, India get knocked over for 150 and I get to watch Ponting, Clarke et al wrack up 300+... it would not be a bad days play =p
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ooooo resolutions, before I forget... i'm at a bit of a loss this year... any *constructive* recommendations will be gratefully received.
NYE & The Turn Of 2008
Its a lil weird to think technically i'm writing this in a different year to the one you guys are currently in. Besides which, i'm glad i'll get the chance to wish you guys a happy NYE, and a prosperous NY before you actually get to experience it.
My cousins from Canada that were also visiting left NYE morning, very sad... i expect to see them at some point again in the near future, be that at the end of the Summer or next Xmas, but even so, seeing them off was emotional. I'm beginning to develop a love hate relationship with airports...
Back home... obviously i'd had the obligatory 3hours of sleep, and was dying in the 30degree heat... so passed out on the sofa... only for the lil niece to proceed to either, kiss me on the cheek, slap me silly or just jump on me.... I wasn't asleep for long.
Around 6-7 me and my cousin (the immigrant) set off for Darling Harbor and then Circular Quay (to get a view of the Harbour Bridge). Now, I don't know about you, but i've always watched the fireworks on tv given the chance... and Sydney's are always the best. I was quite excited to see it for myself. Obviously by the time we got there... every popular vantage point was closed and patrolled with excessive levels of security. After satisfying ourselves that the view of the bridge from between two levels of overpass was good enough... we slipped through an un-guarded fence into the docks. What followed was probably one of the most testing 3hours of my entire life.
If Zak is reading this, or any London football fan... they'll know the pain of the tube on match morning. Imagine that... then apply it to around 1,000,000 people, in a dock... all jostling for the best view.... and when i say jostling... i lie, they were straight out fighting. I saw cat fights, punches, the whole load. We saw the 9pm introductory fireworks quite serenely, nobody really caused too much of a fuss. As it approached midnight... the situation changed.
11:50pm... the police cordon which had been in place for about an hour finally breaks (they were trying to control the crowd)... they all decide to find their own places.
11:50pm 5seconds... PUSH!... en masse! .... I cannot explain just how painful the next 10minutes were. I'm currently not an insubstantial figure.... some would say 'Rohan-esq'... a series of buffets and lazyness has ensured that... and for swathes of time i was actually lifted off the floor as people pushed from side to side and forwards and backwards. Naturally, I knocked over a few idiots, and managed to manoeuvre myself into a position to see the whole show. When it kicked off, it was worth waiting for.
The Australians know how to put on a show.
Watch it all on tv... seriously, it was incredible. I seem to be using that adjective a lot in this blog... I make no apologies. Again, I have video... very good video.
Anyway, once again, wanna take the chance to wish all of you guys a fantastic new year, i hopee 2008 will be a great one for you =)
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My cousins from Canada that were also visiting left NYE morning, very sad... i expect to see them at some point again in the near future, be that at the end of the Summer or next Xmas, but even so, seeing them off was emotional. I'm beginning to develop a love hate relationship with airports...
Back home... obviously i'd had the obligatory 3hours of sleep, and was dying in the 30degree heat... so passed out on the sofa... only for the lil niece to proceed to either, kiss me on the cheek, slap me silly or just jump on me.... I wasn't asleep for long.
Around 6-7 me and my cousin (the immigrant) set off for Darling Harbor and then Circular Quay (to get a view of the Harbour Bridge). Now, I don't know about you, but i've always watched the fireworks on tv given the chance... and Sydney's are always the best. I was quite excited to see it for myself. Obviously by the time we got there... every popular vantage point was closed and patrolled with excessive levels of security. After satisfying ourselves that the view of the bridge from between two levels of overpass was good enough... we slipped through an un-guarded fence into the docks. What followed was probably one of the most testing 3hours of my entire life.
If Zak is reading this, or any London football fan... they'll know the pain of the tube on match morning. Imagine that... then apply it to around 1,000,000 people, in a dock... all jostling for the best view.... and when i say jostling... i lie, they were straight out fighting. I saw cat fights, punches, the whole load. We saw the 9pm introductory fireworks quite serenely, nobody really caused too much of a fuss. As it approached midnight... the situation changed.
11:50pm... the police cordon which had been in place for about an hour finally breaks (they were trying to control the crowd)... they all decide to find their own places.
11:50pm 5seconds... PUSH!... en masse! .... I cannot explain just how painful the next 10minutes were. I'm currently not an insubstantial figure.... some would say 'Rohan-esq'... a series of buffets and lazyness has ensured that... and for swathes of time i was actually lifted off the floor as people pushed from side to side and forwards and backwards. Naturally, I knocked over a few idiots, and managed to manoeuvre myself into a position to see the whole show. When it kicked off, it was worth waiting for.
The Australians know how to put on a show.
Watch it all on tv... seriously, it was incredible. I seem to be using that adjective a lot in this blog... I make no apologies. Again, I have video... very good video.
Anyway, once again, wanna take the chance to wish all of you guys a fantastic new year, i hopee 2008 will be a great one for you =)
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