Flag Hotel Sovereign Inn Sydney

I climbed to the top of the Tyne-bridge replica in Sydney today. Well, I say climb but that would be something of a misnomer as in reality the only climbing was about 70ft of ladders – the rest of it was a very gentle incline. Well worth the trip though as it was a clear, warm but not meltingly hot day with views stretching at least 34 miles all around. The whole operation is the epitome of excellent process design (sorry ...

... met all sorts of people that week, most of whom wanted to help us in any way they could. Thats probably my Australia highlight,<br><br>I also climbed mountains guided by only moonlight, body flat to the floor, dragging upwards with my elbows through a barrage of leafless hedges. We were in fits of giggles the whole time. (during them 2 hours my friend lost my wallet and it still rests somewhere within that mountain). The X on our map was the fire we set ...

... the park. We left the bats and sporty people behind and walked around to the Opera House and took lots of photos and had a good mouch around. Had a quick look inside but didn't pay for the full tour cause were tight. From here we headed to the base of the Harbour Bridge and wandered around for half hour trying to find where we had to go to get up onto the bridge and walk up one of the pylons to get a good view of the bridge and city without forking out over ...

... on 9 October. I then plan to spend 4 days looking around Vancouver before flying to Winnipeg on 14 October to join a Polar Bear tour to Churchill.<br><br>Back from Winnipeg on 18 October and a little bit of shopping time in Vancouver before flying back to Sydney on 20 October.<br><br>So that's the plan. Next update from Vancouver (if everything works). Take care, look after each other and I'll see you in a couple of months.<br>

... was a cockatoo, a similar bird to the Cockatiel we had as a pet when I was about 8 but at least 10 times the size. These things are native to Australia and actually quite common, proven when we started feeding it and 3 of his mates turned up, awesome site just seeing 4 of these monsters chilling outside the window waiting to mange down on bread rolls practically whole.<br>Next day we headed out with some friends on a coastal walk from a place called the spit to Manly beach and it was ...

... already 10.10pm. Thanks to GPS, it was pretty easy to find the hotel!<br><br>We had 2 rooms, Room 225 and 227, as 1 of the room was supposed to be booked for 1 of the families, due to promotional rate, it was not allowed to cancelled or change of date, so Daddy slept alone in Room 225. The hotel's review was posted on Trip Advisor under the same user name above.<br><br>We had a good rest and looking forward to our next day!<br><br>

... for the other Inka Trail guy's birthday dinner and I met up with him on my last night as well to give him back his Lonely Planet Sydney book (my Sydney Bible) and to try the chicken schnitzel at this restaurant called Una's which is a bit of an institution in Sydney apparently.<br><br>What else did I do in Sydney?? I shopped a bit as I was unprepared for cold rainy weather. I think I lucked out in South America and had very ...

... but we soon got into a routine & actually found the van quite cozy. Marching off to the shower rooms in the morning was the social highlight of the campsite, my voice got hoarse saying "G'day Mate" to everyone. Rodney managed to mend the gas leak (it's useful having an expert with you), so we set off to see the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains are covered with Eucalyptus trees which give off a fine oily mist, creating the blue haze which gives ...

... with two half day groups of the same size... So no, it did not feel like I was doing it myself. So you simply have to be ready and aware that sometimes you have to put your chances for enjoyment into someone elses hands, which some people, ahem Mom and Dad ahem, may not want to do. Haha, I think the last time Mom and Dad were on a bus for a hike was back in Glacier National Park with me when I was 8 though, and it was one of the best hikes we ...

... to ensure we reach "Leura Falls" within the hour - but when we reach the falls there are 4 paths that might take us to the road and (in true Thai style) there are no signs! Next - to our surprise - it starts raining (really raining) - we're not dressed for this! We speed up and down the paths asking strangers where the road is and being sent in every direction but the one we need, eventually missing the bus comfortably, and we're both soaked through. The next ...