Sydney, Australia:
We got a cheap airline to take us to Sydney , which was the equivalent of being on Easy Jet for 8 or so hours. When we landed we had no trouble going through it was very easy, unlike them TV shows you see back home. We walked off the plane, got our luggage and decided what was the best way ( or cheapest) to get to our hostel. We decided to get the local bus for only around 7 dollars each, In Sydney this is very cheap as we would soon find out. The journey to the hotel was easier than I had imagined, maybe this was because I was excited to finally make it to Australia. Last time we run out of money and couldn't go, so I
Beautiful View at Blue Mountains |
hungry and KFC was definitely calling. Now we are use to eating gourmet meals for 3 dollars each, we were about to get kfc with no thrills for a mere 10 dollars each, it soon became apparent that I would be chef George for the foreseeable future. Anyway after using kfcs free wifi and eating their delicious hot wings, we decided to go for a walk. We were very jet lagged and ended up walking around 4 miles or so to see the Famous Sydney Harbour and Bridge, before we knew it, it was 1 am and we were roaming the streets in Sydney , we weren't even drunk , which makes a change. We decided to eventually go back and try to sleep. We tried and almost failed, finally getting some shut eye at a silly time.
James at Sydney Harbour |
The next day we had to go to the bank, get a bank card in Australia for when we start working out here, we also managed to sort out of tax file numbers ( national insurance for all of you wondering, keeping it legit and all that), and last but no means least a Aussie Number. Once all that was sorted we decided to go food shopping, our hostel had a huge kitchen and we defo needed to make the most of it, saving up our dollar. We was shocked a packet of mushrooms is literally 3.50 English pounds, how is that even possible? More interestingly meat was so so cheap. A huge piece of steak for 6 dollars, so it soon became apparent that we was becoming raging meat eaters because we couldn't afford the veg. we saved some much money by cooking, When I say 'we cooked' that means I cook, James watches and don't offer to wash up at the end of it. He needs whipping into shape. James's reply to him not helping out is usually along the lines of 'When your my wife in a couple of years time, you'll be a good one with all the practice I'm giving you now' , speechless. Thinking about it, I don't think anyone eats out in Sydney when they are backpacking it literally is far too expensive and I personally ain't paying 6 dollars for a bit of garlic bread that I could make better ( rant over haha). After shopping we got some lunch 3 slices of pizza for 10 dollars, so one and half each, I'm definitely going to be loosing weight out here haha. We headed back to the hostel feeling accomplished because we had sorted out most things in an afternoon, good team work!
Sydney Harbour |
We were still so jet lagged, I ended up making us dinner, as always I have no control on portion sizes and James get fed a feast enough for two men haha. The night our hostel held a trivia Tuesday Night, we teamed up with 5 of us from the UK and one Canadian boy, who was overly excited, but a laugh. We came a impressive third in total and won lots of free drink vouchers , so we didn't spend hardly anything having a few beverages or two in the evening. Our hostel ran a free walking coastal beach tour the next day, so we had a relatively early night and got up to do the Beach tour.
The beach tour saw us all take a bus to Coggee Beach and walk along stopping at a few beaches on the way and finally ending up in Bondi Beach. The walk was really nice and I enjoyed the walk, the weather was a nice temperature and the beaches were some of the best I have seen. This took up most of our day, a girl we met on a quiz team suggested we do the Sydney Walking Tour the next day, we was definitely going to do that. The next day we turned up to the tour, its a free tour but you pay a tip if your enjoyed it or not. The tour saw us go to all the historic sights in Sydney and explained the Aussies History of their convict past. We got to see so much of Sydney and got to
Three Sisters Rock |
That famous huge steak |
The next day we got a ferry over to a place called Manley ,which was good. The ferry was the best way to see the sights in Sydney . Manley itself is very good and relaxed a typical beach town. All you ever see in Australia is Beaches, and look another beach. So we decided to go back on the ferry. On the ferry the sky was orange , as if the sky was on fire. Unbeknown to us we didn't know there was bush fires close by and this was the reason why the skies were such a bright orange. You can see a theme through this blog :we aren't drinking or eating too much haha, maybe this is why we are doing so many excursions. We read up about a place called 'The Blue Mountains' , and decided that we was going to go there the next morning. The bush fires were still ongoing and it was very close to the Blue
The effect of the bush fires from the years before |
Blue Mountains |
We made our way back and decided to check out. A few days previous we had tried to extend our stay but because it was the weekend everywhere was full, so we had to settle on a 14 bed dorm in Bondi Beach. We got a confirmation that said we were being placed in the resort down the other beach. I gave them a ring and they said that because its the weekend , everywhere was full and we had no choice but to go to their other hostel that was down the other beach. Being annoyed already, we didn't have much expectations , we just thought its only two nights, what's the worse that could happen!? We made our way on Friday night to the hostel, checked in and had to pay 3 dollars for dirty stained sheets, so you can imagine we was not impressed.The hostel was full of long term people, who basically live there so was really clicky and people weren't so friendly. We got two top bunk beds that had no ladders to on to the top, so annoying and full of people's clothes and stuff everywhere, One of the worse place I have ever been to. That night was 'oktoberfest' and the hostel gave our free entry tickets, they had however ran out by the time we had arrived. We asked a man if he had a spare ticket, seeing as he wasn't going, he said 'yes' and he went to get us it, upon his return he decided to act like the knob he was and said he will give it to us if we pay him. This made no sense, I told him no. He said if you really want it, then you will beg me for it. I literally didn't know whether to laugh or slap him haha. I decided to laugh and told him,. I'd rather pay 100 dollars
Steepest Train |
Beach |
Note to anybody who wants to stay in Sydney avoid 'Cogge beach surfside backpackers' it is filthy, dirty, a cold showers and the staff literally do not know what they are doing.
Our time in Sydney had come to a end, and what a busy few days we had. Sydney is such a good place and we definitely want to come back sometime soon :))
Until Next Time...
Georgia and James.
Katoomba |
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