I’m pretty far behind with my posts so I’m covering all five days in Australia in this one – it’s pretty long, but read to the end – that’s where the photo links are!
As mentioned in my last post, I was met by Adele and Trish (Cymbeline and Trisharooni), fellow Blippers, outside Sydney International Airport. Once our introductions were done, we had a fun drive back to Leichardt where Trish was putting me up for two days. I had a quick shower and a shave and after ninety minutes, we were on the road with our cameras to see what Sydney had to offer in the form of Blips. It was an absolutely stunning day, weather-wise.
Among the many places we visited was Balmain, a former working class neighbourhood with old boatyards etc, which has now become one of the most expensive places in Sydney to live. It’s very beautiful there. Coffee and a snack at Adrian Zumbo’s followed. Zumbo’s is unique in my experience as one can sit and drink coffee and see right into their bakery/factory while doing so. It was a hive of activity and a great experience – lovely friendly staff. Next up was the Sydney Fish Market, for lunch of crab, squid, cod (I think) and chips – lovely too.
Bondi Beach next! My expectation of Bondi was way off. I had expected a very long straight beach like those we have at home. This one was a smallish bay, surrounded by buildings – mostly bars, hotels, guest houses and apartments – no less beautiful for that, but a little unexpected. We decided that we would take the Bondi Cliff Walk and headed off past the Bondi Icebergs Club which is where members take a dip in their ocean pool every day of the year, no matter what the weather is doing – nutters!
While passing, the sea was fairly rough. Indeed when we were at the fish markets, the trawler guys said they weren’t going out as it was unsafe. Many of the larger waves were crashing against the ocean pool and we managed to captured a few of these, some 15ft high in my opinion.
The Bondi Cliff Walk was pretty well populated with couple, joggers, a film crew and a few other people using the exercise equipment provided by the council along the way. There were some really stunning views to be had, not least of which was Tanarama Bay, which was having some additional sand added.
I think we had walked around 5-6km by the time we arrived back at Adele’s car, from where we drove to Watsons Bay, Watsons Gap, Doyles (for a wee drinkie) and a few other places. We finished off the excellent day with a  Thai meal near Sydney Harbour Bridge, a very striking structure up close!
A very long day for me, but a very exciting and enjoyable one too, in the company of my lovely Aussie pals. Thanks ladies!
[Next Day]
I slept like a rock at the bottom of a lake, as you might expect after a thirty-six hour day. Trish and I were up around 08:30 to get ready for a wander around the city centre. The trains on the local line were  not running due to some track work, so we had to get the bus into Central Station. While waiting for the train to King’s Cross, we got chatting to a guy with a forty-seven tiled (7×7 on each of the six sides!) Rubik cube. He was very friendly and his hands blurred while he talked. From there we trained it to King’s Cross, a once seedy and dodgy district which looked like it might provide endless Blip opportunities. However, it was raining incessantly the whole time we were in the city so opportunities were a little limited.
Harry’s Cafe De Wheels started off as a hot food van/cart in the ’30s and is best known for it’s pies. Trish and I sampled them and can vouch for their tastiness! This is also Russell Crowe’s local pie shop and he’s known to regularly been seen partaking of their wares, as he has a home nearby in Woolamaroo. The small pies are served with a layer of mash, peas and gravy on top – scrum my! The outside of the diner is covered in dozens of shots of celebrities from all over the world eating at Harry’s – these included Elton John and many more.
Next up was The Domain – a park area which includes the National Art Gallery and is on the edge of Sydney Hospital, another attractive building, dating from the Crimean War. There is a very beautiful fountain in the grounds of the hospital but it was too wet to get a decent shot of it without soaking my trusty X100. We crossed the main road and made our way toward the Australian Commonwealth Bank, a really nice ornate building that gives a real sense of what (our) money can buy! Trish and I both put our lenses directly onto the glass to get a shot of the remarkable inside, as it was closed, but as usual, hers turned out much better than mine. When we finished there, we walked around snapping at the wet buildings and ended up in the Apple Store.
Central Sydney is a real mixture of the very old and the very new, with great sights in every direction, even in the rain. Trish then had to attend a function, so I stayed to have a potter around in the rain, usually moving from one sheltered spot to another. In Pitt Street, I watched a fairly good and popular local band Set Sail, perform to a growing crowd, some of whom were brave enough to dance in the rain. I also managed to find some painkillers for my knee and buy a shirt and two books (the price of books in Japan and Australia is a scandal, btw). Lunch at Wagamama was followed by coffee at Starbucks (I’m told by a number of people that I should have tried some local coffee shops instead, as they’re very proud of their coffee here in Australia and they frown on Starbucks, and their bland attempts at coffee making!)
The bus journey home to Leichardt was an adventure in itself! Everyone I spoke to for directions and as to where to get the right bus were very friendly and patient. When I got the 413 bus, the driver and an older lady sitting behind me kept me right as to when to get off and were very friendly. Two things I noticed when sitting on the bus were, firstly, the happy and chatty atmosphere between strangers and secondly, that everyone getting off the bus thanked the bus driver, even the younger people! Nice. I made it back to Leichardt but needed help to find the Tebbutt Street. A chap in the local off licence helped out by checking his maps app on his HTC thingy – turned out it was the  street opposite where I was standing – result!
Tomorrow is a big day! We’re driving up to Blackheath in the Blue Mountains, where I’ll stay for the next two nights at Chez Adele, and where Adele and Trish have organised an International (that’s me!) Blipmeet of around 17 Blippers. It promises to be a full day and I’m really looking forward to it!
[Next Day]
Blackheath was all I thought it would be and more. The journey from Sydney to Blackheath took a couple of hours I think, possibly marginally delayed by a fatal RTA, which we managed to skirt around. I cannot remember what time we arrived at Adele’s stunning home but I do remember being a little awestruck at what they had done with their 1920s-built house. Blippers started arriving fairly soon after us and in pretty short order, there were twenty or so Blippers as well as some Blip partners, chatting away. These included Trish and Carl, Adele and Bob, David Hobbs and his wife Norma, Jenny, Geoff, El, Christine, Andrea and Kevin, Davey, Joshua, Penny, Linda and Raphael.
The spread was amazing – roast lamb, dhal, root vegetable curry, beef curry and loads of salads etc. It was delicious and the company was superb. Lovely people, one and all! cameras were clicking all afternoon and indeed, quite a few Blips were taken. Eventually, a really enjoyable day came to an end. It was fantastic to meet some old online friends and make a few new ones too, and put a few voices and faces to them. There were a few glasses of wine before bed and some great chat with Bob, Carl, Trish and Adele.
[Next Day]
On Monday morning, Adele, Trish, myself and Carl had coffee at the Victoria Cafe before heading off to see some of the sights of Blackheath and environs. We trekked to a number of marvellous vantage points including Govatts Leap, before leaving Carl back home. Then it was off to Scenic World to try the world’s steepest train journey (Pampers needed!), the Skyway and the Cableway out across the valley floor, where mining took place over the last 150 years or so.
A drink at the beautiful Carrington Hotel in Katoomba followed, along with a quick trip to Coles, the supermarket, for some dinner supplies before returning to Bob and Adele’s home to try my first experience of eating an artichoke (tasty with mayo), and then a really nice roast chicken dinner with Adele, Trish, Bob and Carl. A reasonably early night was needed as my train back to Sydney was at 07:09 the following morning! When I awoke at 06:00, it was bitterly cold. Even the windscreen on Adele’s car needed defrosting! In Australia! Who knew?
The two hour train journey into Sydney was pretty uneventful although I was chilly the whole day into the city. I’m in Sydney airport now awaiting my flight to San Francisco and I’ve bought two more books with my last 15 Australian dollars – Penguin 2 for $15 specials – Falconer by John Cheever and The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux.
I must say that my experience in Australia was something I’ll always remember and that it was so enjoyable was completely due to my two hostesses/Blipchums, Adele and Trish. Right from the outset, they put me at ease and welcomed me into their homes, and I am very grateful for their trust and friendship, and especially for the time and effort they put into ensuring that my stay was perfect in every way. Thank you very much indeed!
Photo links below; please have a look through them – there are some goodies!
Australia Day One
Australia Day Two
Australia Day Three
Australia Day Four
I’ll be writing another blog post about my flight to San Francisco and my first couple of days there, later. Stay tuned!
Me And Mr Fuji 