Sydney

Leaving Thailand was strange and hard. Had a pleasant last day in Bangkok posting Christmas presents (so organised for once) and getting CDs of pictures burned and so on.

Had the most hilarious waxing experience ever (I think she thought I wanted to be a porn star) and a lovely foot massage.

The trip to the airport was a nightmare. Horribly I saw a teenager get run over. He was crossing the freeway from the central reservation and a group of boys ran out across the road. This boy almost made it but was clipped by a car and went hurtling up into the air, crashing down on the road and rolling several times. Like something from a film. Not one person got out to help.

His friends had to pick him up and carry him to the reservation and the driver just sat in his car. Vehicles behind stopped but no one helped. I was ina minibus on a sliproad next to where it happened - not much I could do not speaking the language, having all my luggage and so on. Luckily it was right next to a hospital but I don't know if he was even alive still.

Boarding the plane I met John and Steven - an aussie guy from Sydney and a British chap who'd lived here for some time. They took me under their wing and, knowing about the media, were excellent people to run into.

At Sydney, they bought me coffee and suggested I stay at Manly - a beach resort a half hour ferry ride (across Sydney harbour) from the centre. They gave me a lift and Steven took me around the backpackers there and bought me lunch next to the beach with its rough surf and golden sands.

The weather here is a coolish 23C - cold after Bangkok's 35C minimum at the moment. But it will soon be sweltering. Everything seems horribly expensive after Thailand. A big shock.

The hostel I'm staying in is ok. Have been out with Steven and John and their swimming/life guarding friends and Steven took me up the coast to Palm Beach where Home and Away is filmed.

Last night I went out with people from the hostel - great fun. But I am looking forward to getting into an apartment or travelling up the coast. Not sure whether to try and settle somewhere or keep moving while I still have a few funds.

It's a hard life eh.