Finally...
Ok so people are actually thinking I am dead or something because of the lack of posts since I got to Australia.
So no I haven't dropped off the face of the planet despite being upside down here. I keep meaning to post stunning pictures of Manly, the friends I have met, views of Sydney harbour etc, my new wavy haircut...
But sadly every time I think - ah I have time to write my blog, I don't have my camera or uploading cables. Fate conspires against me again.
Still, I have been having a ball here. Manly Backpackers is very noisy and very lively and very fun. I have made some awesome friends here, particularly Danielle, a Scottish chick with as much energy to party as me, and Dani (confusing hey), a South African girl with a huge heart and a loud voice.
Being right next to the beach has been wonderful - runs along it to neighbouring coves, sunning myself on it and yes, even having barbies on it! I'm a true Oz now, right?!
Manly is like a little town all unto itself so there are plenty of shops and bars there and good places to eat. Been doing plenty of shopping to try and make myself look presentable after the horrors of Thai wear. Impossible to miss Thai food because so many restaurants here - but of course at ten times the price.
They love their food here and the food courts in the city are an awesome array of sushi, sandwiches of every shape, size and flavour, Italian etc etc and all really good. I am not getting any thinner unfortunately - will have to step up the running!
I have been into the city a few times. Wandered around the Opera House and Circular Quay next to the harbour bridge, visited the 'historic' rocks area (their history basically runs 'There were some aborigine folk here but we don't know much about them' so talks mostly about convicts arriving a few years ago and that's it), went to the Museum of Contemporary Arts. And shopped quite a lot.
Last weekend a group of us had a night out at the city at Chinese Laundry (awesome name) and this weekend, Danielle and I decided to get out of the small world of Manly Backpackers and came to Funk House hostel in Kings Cross.
It's true what they say about this area - walking around there are prosititutes available at ANY time of day, plenty of adult shops and peep shows. But also some wicked bars - one of which OPENS at 7am on a Sunday. Hilarious. Haven't made it quite that far yet but pretty close!
This weekend we have managed to do some touristy things like walk around Potts Point and to the Botanical Gardens, sitting by the harbour with views over the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Can't quite believe I'm here still and I never get tired of that view.
We pottered around Darling Harbour - a wharf with bars, cafes, shops and restaurants, an Imax cinema, aquarium etc and went to Chinatown. Everywhere here sounds familiar - Hyde Park, Gloucester Road, Paddington, Kings Cross, St James this and Queen Victoria that.
But it seems Sydney is a lot more compact than London and I'm constantly surprised how quick it is to walk from one side of the central area to the other (not so good in heels mind). Chinatown is virtually nonexistent, King's Cross merges into area around it - it is not like London where each suburb is a small town. Here, each area has its own character but it's just far far smaller.
It makes me appreciate the size and diversity of London, but I love the atmosphere here. If you grow up in the sunshine, next to the beach, how can you not have a sunny outlook on life?
Job hunting has proved to be a little nightmare. The Daily Telegraph interview seemed really positive and the managing editor was a friendly chap. But they decided to give casual reporting shifts to someone with more local knowledge - which is fair enough - but a little disappointing.
So job hunting went on hold for a bit. Still, got a few options and I am 'marketing' for a real estate agency on a casual basis. Very excitingly this involves printing out leaflets, folding them and posting them through people's doors. Taxing. But hey, it's seven pounds an hour.
Also handed out leaflets for some raving loony DVD presentation about how to make your life whole and find inner peace - we had to chase people virtually yelling 'Don't you want inner peace? Can't you find some room for it?!'
Also got a few proper options ticking over and doing a course tomorrow which means I can work in bars and restaurants - it's not what I was imagining but it could be fun and pay well. I am realising that this is truly the first time in my life I don't have to be studying or doing work experience or something like that and it is nice to be able to kick back a bit.
Until I see people in the city with their nice pencil skirts and hot little handbags and I long to join the rat race and feel human again! Plenty of time for that though methinks.
Have also caught up with Steven Lewis a few times, my lifeguarding, blogging, real conversation friend - Danielle and I get a bit stir crazy with hormonally charged 18-year-olds running around the hostel all the time.
It's great to go to better bars and drink proper wine instead of goon (wine in a bag - you have to slap it, it's obligatory).
Had a cold the last few days but I have chased it off with ginger and fruit juices, sudafed capsules and a few nights in. Luckily for my bank balance the fun of going out virtually every night and coming home to dance in room 17 (party central) has definately lost its gloss. An apartment would definately be good!
Thinking about Christmas and New Year now. It's so odd to be wandering around Sydney with all these shops that look and feel like home, with weather like the best British summer days and then to hear Jingle Bells, see Christmas wreaths and wonder where to have a turkey dinner in 80 degree heat in a few weeks time. It's just all wrong.
Still, it was the coldest November day in Sydney since 1905 on Thursday. We spent the miserable day curled up on sofas watching The Notebook and other movies with blankets and hot chocolate. The following day was a scorcher!
Anyway, I think that's pretty much the update from this end. Summary for those who skim read to here (you've done well if you reached the bottom mind!): no job, not much sleep, a lot of fun, a lot of sunbathing, but a realisation responsibility is just around the corner...
So no I haven't dropped off the face of the planet despite being upside down here. I keep meaning to post stunning pictures of Manly, the friends I have met, views of Sydney harbour etc, my new wavy haircut...
But sadly every time I think - ah I have time to write my blog, I don't have my camera or uploading cables. Fate conspires against me again.
Still, I have been having a ball here. Manly Backpackers is very noisy and very lively and very fun. I have made some awesome friends here, particularly Danielle, a Scottish chick with as much energy to party as me, and Dani (confusing hey), a South African girl with a huge heart and a loud voice.
Being right next to the beach has been wonderful - runs along it to neighbouring coves, sunning myself on it and yes, even having barbies on it! I'm a true Oz now, right?!
Manly is like a little town all unto itself so there are plenty of shops and bars there and good places to eat. Been doing plenty of shopping to try and make myself look presentable after the horrors of Thai wear. Impossible to miss Thai food because so many restaurants here - but of course at ten times the price.
They love their food here and the food courts in the city are an awesome array of sushi, sandwiches of every shape, size and flavour, Italian etc etc and all really good. I am not getting any thinner unfortunately - will have to step up the running!
I have been into the city a few times. Wandered around the Opera House and Circular Quay next to the harbour bridge, visited the 'historic' rocks area (their history basically runs 'There were some aborigine folk here but we don't know much about them' so talks mostly about convicts arriving a few years ago and that's it), went to the Museum of Contemporary Arts. And shopped quite a lot.
Last weekend a group of us had a night out at the city at Chinese Laundry (awesome name) and this weekend, Danielle and I decided to get out of the small world of Manly Backpackers and came to Funk House hostel in Kings Cross.
It's true what they say about this area - walking around there are prosititutes available at ANY time of day, plenty of adult shops and peep shows. But also some wicked bars - one of which OPENS at 7am on a Sunday. Hilarious. Haven't made it quite that far yet but pretty close!
This weekend we have managed to do some touristy things like walk around Potts Point and to the Botanical Gardens, sitting by the harbour with views over the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Can't quite believe I'm here still and I never get tired of that view.
We pottered around Darling Harbour - a wharf with bars, cafes, shops and restaurants, an Imax cinema, aquarium etc and went to Chinatown. Everywhere here sounds familiar - Hyde Park, Gloucester Road, Paddington, Kings Cross, St James this and Queen Victoria that.
But it seems Sydney is a lot more compact than London and I'm constantly surprised how quick it is to walk from one side of the central area to the other (not so good in heels mind). Chinatown is virtually nonexistent, King's Cross merges into area around it - it is not like London where each suburb is a small town. Here, each area has its own character but it's just far far smaller.
It makes me appreciate the size and diversity of London, but I love the atmosphere here. If you grow up in the sunshine, next to the beach, how can you not have a sunny outlook on life?
Job hunting has proved to be a little nightmare. The Daily Telegraph interview seemed really positive and the managing editor was a friendly chap. But they decided to give casual reporting shifts to someone with more local knowledge - which is fair enough - but a little disappointing.
So job hunting went on hold for a bit. Still, got a few options and I am 'marketing' for a real estate agency on a casual basis. Very excitingly this involves printing out leaflets, folding them and posting them through people's doors. Taxing. But hey, it's seven pounds an hour.
Also handed out leaflets for some raving loony DVD presentation about how to make your life whole and find inner peace - we had to chase people virtually yelling 'Don't you want inner peace? Can't you find some room for it?!'
Also got a few proper options ticking over and doing a course tomorrow which means I can work in bars and restaurants - it's not what I was imagining but it could be fun and pay well. I am realising that this is truly the first time in my life I don't have to be studying or doing work experience or something like that and it is nice to be able to kick back a bit.
Until I see people in the city with their nice pencil skirts and hot little handbags and I long to join the rat race and feel human again! Plenty of time for that though methinks.
Have also caught up with Steven Lewis a few times, my lifeguarding, blogging, real conversation friend - Danielle and I get a bit stir crazy with hormonally charged 18-year-olds running around the hostel all the time.
It's great to go to better bars and drink proper wine instead of goon (wine in a bag - you have to slap it, it's obligatory).
Had a cold the last few days but I have chased it off with ginger and fruit juices, sudafed capsules and a few nights in. Luckily for my bank balance the fun of going out virtually every night and coming home to dance in room 17 (party central) has definately lost its gloss. An apartment would definately be good!
Thinking about Christmas and New Year now. It's so odd to be wandering around Sydney with all these shops that look and feel like home, with weather like the best British summer days and then to hear Jingle Bells, see Christmas wreaths and wonder where to have a turkey dinner in 80 degree heat in a few weeks time. It's just all wrong.
Still, it was the coldest November day in Sydney since 1905 on Thursday. We spent the miserable day curled up on sofas watching The Notebook and other movies with blankets and hot chocolate. The following day was a scorcher!
Anyway, I think that's pretty much the update from this end. Summary for those who skim read to here (you've done well if you reached the bottom mind!): no job, not much sleep, a lot of fun, a lot of sunbathing, but a realisation responsibility is just around the corner...
posted by charlie at 2:09 pm
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