Mercure Hotel Sydney Airport

... there has been a change of shift, and an officious young woman is now running it, and she refuses to take responsibility for the gear. Loaded down with extra gear, we walk the shore through the market area to the south end, where we ask some cruise passengers to keep an eye on our gear while we snorkel together for half an hour. There are some good anemones this end ...

... trees and plants including Moreton Bay Fig Trees that have aerial root systems that draw water from the air. The gardens are home to flying foxes (cat-sized bats) that live noisily in the trees. They are harmless, fruit-eating bats but are a little unsettling due to their size and massive numbers. The gardens are also active places for locals to meet with their personal trainers and pick-up "footie ...

... head to Manley, really pretty island off Sydbney, The water is still frezzing but I go for a swim, I get shouted out by the lifeguard patrol on loud speaker from the esplanade for going in the sea where there was no flags (I thought it seemed a bit choppy!) Now for Andrea's final night (how flippin quickly had the last 3 weeks gone??) we check into a boutique hotel in Kings Cross, it is heaven, we have our own bathroom with luxury toiletries and not to be shared with 15 ...

... that the doors on the subway would close on me, luckily it never happened. We went down to Bondi Beach only it was the day of the City to Surf marathon, and it was crazy busy. Did some shopping, then walked back up the hill towards the train station, which instead we found a 7 story mall. That involved 2 blocks and was divided into sides, lets say that let to confusion. Did a couple floors before heading back to Kings ...

... and just giving us advice - ill be getting a phone from them and will pdate you all with the number and what the process is to call - also as far as ive been told if you call or text me it will be free for you - but ill verify that :)<br><br>after that we have a meeting with the Commonwealth bank to finalize our bank accounts :) then its partytime haha not literally i promise<br><br>i cant say this enough - i love you all so much - youre always in my thoughts<br><br>jess x

... Get-out-my-face" kind of way, which I did...very hastily), wallabies (which are small kangaroos), and an echidna (a very weird hedgehog-like creature that looks sort of like a Furby). I didn't unfortunately see a Platypus because apparently they're shy. Other exotic creatures that were present were the red panda, snow leopard and Egyptian cobra but there were the usual array of giraffes, lions, tigers, bears it was a real animal fest. <br><br>We then went home via Town Hall ...

... as a train, which was kind of like a rainforest roller coaster, took us back up the mountain. I then decided I'd had enough of sight seeing and when out to the beach suburb of Manly for three days of nothing but relaxing and sunbathing. Luckily the weather stayed good for those three days, before raining for the next week. Coming to Australia, I think I thought I would just turn up at a hostel, meet people and off we'd go travelling together.....it ...

... so the the best tour was the train ride to the end of the world Ushuaia and the national park. 6. Not the best tour, being polite as I wouldnt say the worst tour, but the Tigre River delta cruise was not what I was expecting so it was disapointing. 6. Best money spent, Thorlo socks, if you dont have some buy some they are fantastic I am still wearing them now I am home (I have washed them!!) 7. Worst money spent ...

... through a temperate rainforest, saw The Three Sisters, photographed wild kangaroos.<br><br>I met some great people at the hostels. Backpackers from Canada, Britain, Germany...well mostly just Canada and Britain. The only other person I met from the USA was this awesome girl from Oregon with hot pink hair. I hung out with Serena, who lived in Sydney at surf camp. <br><br>An Awakening in My Life: The Sydney Harbour Bridge<br><br>I love nighttime. My best ...