Australia Wrap-Up

Australia Wrap-Up

Summary

We knew we didn’t plan enough time in Australia—only two weeks for a country nearly as large as the United States, but we figured Australia is a country we can go back to at any point of our lives and explore thoroughly. We weren’t even going to try to cram too much stuff into the two weeks; instead we focused on Sydney and a quick trip up North to see the Great Barrier Reef.

Our experience in Sydney was different than any of our other locations to date. We were able to connect with Elise (Marc’s step-sister) and her two friends that live in Sydney. From the moment we arrived we saw the city from the locals’ perspective instead of the tourist. Don’t worry we did scout out several of the tourist spots to make sure we didn’t miss anything during our time in Sydney.

It didn’t take long to fall in love with a city that feels a lot like our own city, San Francisco. The water views, the Harbor Bridge and the runners enjoying the great weather and waterfront paths made me feel right at home after being gone for a few months.

We probably won’t pack our bags and move to Sydney (even though I wouldn’t mind), but we will plan another vacation in the near future.

Our quick trip to the Great Barrier Reef was incredible. We stayed in Port Douglas which is a small fishing village that is growing quickly. Four-Mile beach is walking distance from most hotels in the area and the food in the town was tasty. Also, the tour boat departs directly from Port Douglas taking tourists out to snorkel or dive the reef. If you snorkel, make sure you get on a boat that specializes in snorkeling.

Overall, we weren’t sure what to expect during our short time in Australia, but the time spent exceeded expectations. Part of this was due to hanging with the locals (Milo and Beno), but mostly it was the pure beauty of the country—at least the tiny piece we saw.

Top Sites in Australia

1. Great Barrier Reef—Port Douglas, Queensland is doing everything possible to preserve the reef. You can’t always fight Mother Nature, but I guess we can fight Global Climate Change. We did notice damage to the coral from a typhoon over the winter. I am glad we saw the reef now instead of during our next trip. Who knows, maybe we will see it then too.
2. Sydney Botanical Gardens—we walked through the Botanical Gardens at least three times and followed a different path each time. On each trip we saw something we hadn’t seen on the previous trips. The Gardens border the harbor providing wonderful views out to the water and is a perfect spot for a picnic. I can’t forget the thousands of fruit bats that live in the trees. They sleep during the day, hanging upside down, and then explore the city from dusk to dawn. They’re very creepy yet fun to watch knowing they won’t harm you.
3. Manly—the town of Manly has the best of both worlds—the Sydney Harbor and the Tasman Sea. A short ferry ride from the ferry terminal gets you away from the hustle and bustle of Sydney and into nature. The Sydney Harbor National Park, located in Manly, several walking trails provide spectacular views of the harbor and the Tasman Sea. This is a great place to come and relax on the beach and dip your toes into the Tasman Sea.
4. Sydney Opera House—almost everyone has seen the Opera House in pictures, but to see it up close and personal is amazing. The sun illuminates the copper colored roof at certain parts of the day making it a perfect photo opportunity. Also, head over the Sydney Harbor Bridge near dusk, look across the harbor and capture the Sydney skyline with the silhouetted Opera House.
5. Harbor Bridge—take a walk across the bridge to experience the city views. It’s possible to walk on the ridge of the bridge for a $100 or so, but the free tour, similar to the Golden Gate, is plenty unless you are a thrill-seeker looking for a rush.

Top Meals in Australia (in chronological order of visit)

1. Bill’s—Darlinghurst, New South Wales. Bill is a renowned chef frequently featured in Bon Appetite and Gourmet Magazines. Many people consider Bill’s Restaurant a must-do when in Sydney. We felt the food was good, but nothing memorable. The night we were there the restaurant was fairly empty. I am afraid a recent remodel (and subsequent price hikes) drove away a lot of the local regulars.
2. Port O’Call Restaurant—Port Douglas, Queensland. This restaurant is connected to a clean backpacker hotel. The restaurant attracts more locals than those actually staying in the lodge. There is a nightly special that varies from Kangaroo tenderloins to Beef Salad. They have a stir fry of the day too. The hamburger is descent, but tastes like a riesel (Australian version of the meat ball). The prices are as reasonable as they can get in Port Douglas.

Note: Sydney is a very expensive city especially when the US Dollar is so weak. This prevented us from trying a lot of the great food Sydney is known for.

Best Lodging

Note: These are places we personally stayed. All prices are estimates at the time of our visit and are displayed in USD.

1. Sydney Travelodge—this is a great location at a fantastic price. It is located a block from Hyde Park and within walking distance of the business district. Shop around a little on the internet to get the best price. (Approximately: $80 USD)
2. Sydney Marriott. If you want to splurge, this is the place to go. The rooms overlook Hyde Park on one side and the city to Bonsi Junction on the other. The rooftop pool is a great place to take a dip on a warm day. (Approximately: $200 USD)

Miscellaneous Items

If you plan on being in Sydney for seven days, purchase the weekly transportation pass. It is good on all trains, buses and ferries. If you plan on seeing sights such as Manly or the Olympic Stadium, get the green pass so you don’t have to pay extra for these rides. If you plan on staying within the City Center, then the red pass is enough for you. The pass will definitely save you time and money.

If your itinerary includes a trip to the Great Barrier Reef and you plan to snorkel, save yourself a little money by going on a boat that specializes in snorkeling. The dive boats cater to divers, making the price for snorklers a little more than necessary.

Good-Bye to the Ozzies...

Sydney, Australia

June 6, 2007
S 33°51.438
E 151°12.910

Today was our last day in Sydney and we tried to make the best of it. For the first time on our trip we’re leaving a place when we aren’t ready. We knew we wouldn’t have enough time in Australia, but figured it’s one of those countries you can come to and enjoy regardless of age.

We hit some of the places we’ve come to enjoy over the past few weeks including the little pub that makes breakfast sandwiches with bacon, egg and tomato. After our tasty sandwich, we visited the Sydney museum which has some excellent exhibits on the native Australian people, the Aborigines, and a National Geographic photo display of the Australian countryside. We lost ourselves in the history and truly enjoyed our time.

After the museum we took a final walk through the Botanical Gardens, down by the Sydney Opera House and then headed to Darling Harbor. The sun was shining during our walk, but the weather was a little cooler than it has been during our time here.

We made our way back to our posh room at the Marriott (thanks to some gift cards we had) to pack-up before our final evening in Sydney. We’re heading out with the gang—Elise, Ben and Myles—for our final dinner and of course a few drinks.

We definitely have fond memories of Sydney and Australia as a whole. We don’t know when we’ll be back; however, we do believe another trip to Australia is in our future. There are plenty of sites to see and a lot of land ripe for exploring.

Finding Nemo...

Port Douglas/Great Barrier Reef, Australia

June 4, 2007

S 16°29.234

E 145°28.099

It was 5:00AM when I suddenly sat-up in bed, frightened. I checked my surroundings and realized I was in a safe place and Marc was sleeping soundly next to me. I was dreaming… dreaming we had been left at the Great Barrier Reef. We were floating all alone in the Tasman Sea… the large catamaran had left us… all the other snorkelers and SCUBA divers were gone. It was silent, just the two of us floating in the middle of the sea… no landmarks, just overcast, dark gray, sky and water. I have to thank my Mom for reminding me about the movie, based on a true story, where two American divers were left and never found at the Great Barrier Reef. I never fell back asleep.

The Silver Sonic is a medium sized catamaran that transports roughly 150 divers and snorkelers out to the edge of the Great Barrier Reef every day. We opted to take the “smaller” catamaran since it makes three stops along the reef. As opposed to a tour that transports nearly 300 people and only makes a single stop at a very commercial deck along the reef.

At our first stop we quickly jumped off the boat into the 70F degree water fully outfitted with snorkel, fins and mask. Floating just a meter above of a massive underground jungle of coral in every shape, size and color we did our best to not touch the living organism for two reasons—to make sure we don’t harm or damage it and to protect ourselves from the jagged sharp edges.

As we drifted above the lime green, purple, orange, and pink coral we stayed as still as possible to observe the thousands of fish peeking out from behind the safety of the coral. The fish swam through the labyrinth of coral shaped like jacks, mushrooms, ferns and out-of-control weeds sprouting from the bottom of the ocean floor.

The views were surreal… remember the submarine voyage at Disneyland and then multiply it thousand times. We felt like voyeurs, looking through our small windows, spotting all kinds of sea life including parrot fish, blue seastars, giant clams large enough to swallow a person and numerous other fish of every size and color. We saw schools of small, blue fish floating near the top while there was a school of tan fish feasting off of the coral below us.

There were moments where there appeared to be nothing within our view, however when we remained still and focused on a single point it was astonishing to see all types of life moving in front of us; beautifully camouflaged among the natural surroundings.

We swam around the reef for approximately forty minutes before we started to get a little chilly. We swam back to the boat, knowing we still had two more stops, and plenty of time to explore. After the crew did a complete passenger count, making sure not to leave anyone, we made our way to the next site.

The second site was the highlight of the afternoon. The sun was shinning, providing additional light to show off the colors of the reef. The crew of the boat did a fish feeding before we jumped into the water, attracting a bunch of hungry reef sharks looking for a free snack. Luckily, the sharks didn’t hang around for too long, and we hopped into the water.

As we explored the second site we found a large group of clown fish, adults and babies, hiding comfortably within the tentacles of their favorite anemone. All of the Nemos, with their orange, black and white bodies, looked like they were straight out of the movie “Finding Nemo.” Luckily, we didn’t see any mean sharks come and try to hurt them—not even the reef sharks.

We left the clown fish and continued to take in the sights from the underwater jungle. We saw several eels lounging around the deeper parts of the sea, dozens of different anemones, providing protection to the fish from predators. One of the anemones, long, slender and black looked like a bouquet of feathers trying to tickle the fish swimming by.

When we arrived at the third site the snorkel leader announced she was conducting a small tour. Spending almost every day out at the reef, she was able to dive down to the sandy floor below the coral and bring back samples to the surface for us to see up-close. For example, a mushroom anemone with thin, straw colored tentacles and a piece of coral with a slick, prickly surface which protects it from ultraviolet rays.

We could definitely see there had been damage to the coral from hundreds of thousands of visitors a year and the intense storms that have swept through the area over the past few years. Australia is doing everything possible to ensure the reef is preserved for future generations by educating tourists and charging a $5 reef tax for every passenger—putting the money back into the reef. Hopefully their efforts pay off and we can visit Port Douglas and the Great Barrier Reef in another 15-20 years!

Overall, the day was everything we imagined, the colors were beautiful, not as vibrant as we expected, but there was a rainbow of color underwater between the coral, anemones, fish and other sea life. Our imagination is probably a little tainted since the only examples of the reef we’ve seen have been in National Geographic and Finding Nemo. However, this was definitely the best snorkeling we have ever done.

Tips: There are a few things we learned during and after our trip that we may do differently next time. The catamaran we took, Silver Sonic, caters mostly to divers and charges a little more. Look for a snorkelers only boat like Wavelength where guided snorkel tours are included in the price. Wavelength was one of the first snorkel boats in Port Douglas and has access to 22 sites, whereas Silver Sonic only has access to five sites.

Make sure you spend the $5 to rent a stinger suit. The suit not only protects you from jellyfish, which are very rare, but it provides an extra layer of warmth allowing you more time in the water. We didn’t think the suit was necessary; however, since you are spending three hours in the water it gets a little chilly.

And of course, if you have any questions just ask a local like the friendly bartender Dazzle from Port O’Call Café who provided these tips free of charge.

She's Only Happy in the Sun...

Port Douglas, Australia

June 2, 2007
S 16°29.234
E 145°28.099

After a full week in the same city it was time to move onto a new adventure. We enjoyed all seven nights, not just waking up in the same place, but Sydney overall is a gorgeous city; a must see for any traveler. Of course big, beautiful cities come with a big price; however, Sydney is worth blowing the budget for a few days.

Since it was our last Friday night in Sydney, we had a late night for us and rolled into our hotel lobby around midnight after drinks with Ben, Myles and Elise (aka Turtle). The original plan was to have dinner and maybe a beer or two. However, after three beers at their apartment, another round at a nearby pub in Surry Hills, yet another schooner along our path looking for food, and one more round at a swanky underground wine bar, we finally gave up on the idea of food and called it a night. Thank goodness Myles and Ben had to work on Saturday morning or we may have been grabbing a cab to the airport straight from the pubs since our flight was at 7:00 AM.

We tracked the weather in Cairns since our arrival in Sydney and it had been raining nearly every day. Expecting to arrive to warm showers and high humidity; we arrived to high humidity and sun breaks—perfect. When we walked out of the airport, with the mountainous rainforest in the distance, the weather reminded us of Hawaii and Fiji.

As we headed north, with the water to our right and rainforests to our left, we kept our eyes peeled for some of the creatures Australia is known for—crocodiles and kangaroos. We did spot a kangaroo in the middle of a horse pasture, but no luck on the crocodile—I think I am fine with that!

Port Douglas is about an hour from the airport and a hot-spot for celebrities and vacationing Ozzies. In fact, an open audition for 18-40 year-old men was taking place in town for a Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg movie. I told Marc to give it a shot since he came in right under the maximum age. He decided to keep his hidden acting talent under wraps for awhile longer; we’d rather die than live in LA or Hollywood anyway.

Acting career behind us, we took a short stroll down to Four Mile Beach. Unfortunately, due to strange weather conditions (i.e. Global Warming), stinging jellyfish, which are normally not a problem this time of the year, were still lingering along the shoreline. This made it unsafe to swim outside of a safety net strategically placed along part of the beach. The stingers, or jellyfish, in this part of the world shoot venom into their victims and are taken very seriously—we adhered to all of the warnings.

The weather was a perfect 27C (84F) and the water in the Tasman was 23C (76F). We relaxed on the beach, soaked up the sun, dipped our feet in the Tasman and read our latest books. It was a perfect way to spend our first day in Port Douglas and a good way to work on a base-tan before cooking ourselves in the Vietnam sun next week.

Just an Easy Day...

Sydney, Australia

June 1, 2007
S 33°51.438
E 151°12.910

Our trip back to the Vietnamese Consulate to pick up our passports and visas wasn’t nearly as exciting as our trip there. Since we now knew how to get to the consulate the whole trip took maybe one hour; leaving the rest of the afternoon to explore a different part of Sydney.

A large map hanging in the hotel lobby showed a big park just north of Darling Harbor. We decided to wander across the city and check it out since all of the parks have been impressive.

First, we opted to make a quick detour to the Sydney Seafood Market, and take in the views of the ANZAC bridge up close. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sample several fresh slices of salmon and tuna sashimi (for only $5 USD) before heading to Wentworth Park.

The park ended up being more of a playing field for soccer and rugby then a public garden. Slightly disappointed, we headed back to Darling Harbor to grab a beer, relax in the sun, and write out a few postcards.

We’re still very impressed with Sydney but we’re now looking forward to our trip to the Great Barrier Reef tomorrow.

A Ferry to Manly...

Sydney, Australia

May 30, 2007
S 33°51.438
E 151°12.910

Today our destination on the ferry was Manly. We originally planned a beach day with Elise, but the weather forecast predicted rain in our perfectly, sunny city. We still decided to go to Manly and leave the beach towels at home.

After we jumped off the ferry we grabbed a map at the information center. We quickly reviewed the map and decided to take the Manley Scenic Walk along the harbor, hugging the coastline, and through the Sydney Harbor National Park. Yes, a National Park right in the harbor. We had to check it out!

We wrapped our way along the cove with the water to our left until we arrived at the trailhead of the Park. We started hiking down a single track path, dense brush on both sides. The scrub brush was dry, like it was ready for the first rains of winter that still haven’t arrived.

After zigzagging our way up the path for about 4 KM we found a perfect lookout providing a fabulous view of the Tasman Sea, the lighthouse we visited yesterday, and the small town of Manly. Knowing we were up against the ferry schedule we decided to make our way back to the Manly beach where Elise was brave enough to soak her feet in the chilly waters of the Tasman.

I thought to myself (minus Ecuador) we’ve had the opportunity to touch a lot of cold water over the last few months. I guess the warm water will come soon enough… in just a few days we’ll be in Cairns to see the Great Barrier Reef. In the meantime, we’ll continue to enjoy every minute of Sydney and take a few more ferry rides here and there.

A Day On the Bay...

Sydney, Australia

May 29, 2007
S 33°51.438
E 151°12.910

When we arrived in Sydney we purchased a “red pass.” The red pass allows unlimited travel on all buses, ferries and trains within a certain zone. To make sure we got our money’s worth; we’ve spent the past few days exploring Sydney on the ferries, giving us an opportunity to see areas we could only swim to see.

Yesterday we took the ferry to Watsons Bay, knowing there was a lighthouse at the point we figured we could shoot a few photos for my mom. Arriving at the point we remembered we were looking back across the Tasman Sea. The walk, and views, ended up being more spectacular than we expected.

The record setting temperatures in Sydney helped make the day magnificent as we dipped our feet into the chilly harbor waters. However, the weather turned quickly as the sun started to set. Jumping back on the ferry we made our way back to the city, with beautiful views of the Sydney Harbor Bridge as the sun set behind it. A view I don’t think I could get tired of.

For dinner we headed to Bill Granger’s restaurant, Bills, in Darlinghurst. As we strolled past the hip gallery openings, we realized we were strolling through a cool, up and coming neighborhood, similar to Hayes Valley in San Francisco. Bill Granger, a famous Sydney chef, was recently featured in Bon Appetite magazine; his restaurants attract food lovers from London, New York and San Francisco. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try his tasty cuisine since we were in his backyard.

Our love for Sydney continues to grow with the incredible weather, excellent food and efficient public transportation system.

What a Great Place to Get Lost...

Sydney, Australia

May 28, 2007
S 33°51.438

E 151°12.910

Today, our first weekday in Sydney, was spent taking care of things necessary for the next segment of our trip. For example, we went to the Vietnamese Consulate to apply for a visa for entry into Vietnam. The visa is required in advance and only valid for 30 days. Getting to the consulate was our main priority for the day.

Elise had the address and we reviewed the location on the map. “No problem,” I said, “we can walk… it’s only a 1 KM according to the scale on this map.” We arrived at the consulate after walking two hours, and at least 6 KM, only to find that the consulate had moved. We noted the new address posted on the gate and figured we would just walk and find it… no problem.

After another hour of walking we found the address posted on the gate; only to arrive at a house that was definitely not the consulate. We saw a gas station down the road where we tried to ask for directions to no avail.

OK, let’s just call them we decided… we found a pay phone and Elise dialed the two numbers, but only received a ring with no answer. Next we figured we would try to find a Vietnamese restaurant and see if someone there could help us… yes, desperation set-in and this wasn’t a viable plan. Luckily, as we were hatching our great plan, a young lady overheard us talking and provided directions via the train.

When we got off the train, which led us back to the same street we walked down hours ago, we instantly found the building—a building which we passed at least once! We figured we walked at least five miles one way… we were definitely taking the train home.

The consulate took our applications, money, passports and itinerary and told us to come back on Thursday. At least this time we know where we’re going.

Other Notes: After we dropped Elise off to get some rest (she’s fighting a cold) we headed out towards the Sydney Harbor Bridge. As we walked across, we had beautiful views of the Sydney Opera House and other historical landmarks across the Sydney skyline. We stayed in North Sydney until after dark to photograph and enjoy the skyline… stunning. We caught the ferry back from North Sydney and admired the views the entire way.

This really is a beautiful city!

Sunday in Sydney...

Sydney, Australia

May 27, 2007
S 33°51.438
E 151°12.910

The weather was perfect again, around 22 C (74 F), we headed across the street to a little café Myles recommended for a bacon and sausage roll. To make a long story short, the place probably shouldn’t have opened that morning. Their cook called in sick, one of the young ladies was trying to cook, people were walking out, canceling orders, and we waited around 50 minutes for our bacon sandwich (they were out of rolls). We could have walked out too, but figured we could wait it out since we didn’t really have a set itinerary for the day.

The sandwich was somewhat worth the wait, probably not 50 minutes, but maybe 30… we might try it again. Now sufficiently fueled up in every way—hydrated, caffeinated, and full—we headed towards the Royal Botanical Gardens. After walking through several Botanical Gardens in New Zealand we figured these may not compare. We were absolutely wrong!

We followed the paths throughout the Botanical Gardens, through a fern grove, flowers, and palms before discovering the huge colony of fruit bats living in the trees above our heads. The fauna was spectacular, of course, but the bats living in the trees were really something else. Their screams were almost deafening at times, with a very high pitch, as they hung upside down wrapped in their wings. They looked like rust-colored furry little balls hanging from the tree until they decided to stretch their massive translucent brown wings… creepy, yet intriguing, all at the same time.

We managed to find our way out of Transylvania and toward the Sydney Opera House. The Botanical Gardens end at the edge of the harbor, where a pathway leads east and west towards different precincts. We headed west with the bay to our right and made our way to the Opera House.

The Sydney Opera House is an international icon, something almost everyone has seen in the news, magazines, newspapers or travel guides. We read about it and knew we had to see it, but we didn’t have high expectations. We turned the corner on the path near the Opera House and were immediately in awe of the iconic building.

With the water in the background, the harbor bridge and the gardens surrounding the Opera House, we immediately fell in love with Sydney. We snapped a few pictures from afar and walked closer, slowly, like a guy trying to think of a pick up line for a hot chick across the room. How can we photograph such a beautiful building and give it justice? How do we explain the area surrounding the Opera House? Would we feel the same if the weather wasn’t so perfect, maybe a chilly 10 C?

We knew two things for sure, the day was perfect for a long walk and we may have found another city that we could call home. Of course, we have only been here two days, with a lot more exploring to do, so only time will tell.

We snapped out of our little trance as we walked away from the Sydney Opera House back towards our hotel. The plan was to meet the crew for a BBQ on the roof of their building and we wanted to enjoy the sun before it set behind the neighboring buildings.

We thought the BBQ was simply on the roof of the building, but when they told us to hit the “P” button in the elevator we started to understand. We were headed to the Penthouse (Myles and Ben’s boss’ place), with views of the harbor, city center, and all of the surrounding suburbs.

What better way to spend a Sunday evening in the beautiful city of Sydney, or should I say Gotham City? As the sun set against the skyscrapers, hundreds of bats took flight, crisscrossing against dusk skyline. It was a surreal site to see the bats, with their vast wingspan, stealthily flying over the city… their day just beginning.

Our day ended shortly thereafter since it was a Sunday night. We knew the Ozzies had to get up for work early in the morning. While the crew is at work, the rest of us (Marc, Elise and I) will be off exploring Sydney.

Familiar Faces Down-Under...

Sydney, Australia

May 26, 2007
S 33°51.438
E 151°12.910

We arrived at the airport with plenty of time before our flight left, checked in and headed to the Air New Zealand Lounge. It ends up the lounge was opened at midnight and was brand spanking new. The whole place had a new car smell to it, and we could tell they were working out a few of the kinks. One of the things we knew for sure, they had free internet and free coffee… free is good.

We took advantage of the free Wi-Fi, downloading the latest episodes of “The Office” and “Scrubs” at lightening speeds. “Scrubs” had two minutes left before it was completely downloaded when the lady at the counter walked over and told us our flight was in final boarding… oh shit. We’re at the airport 2 ½ hours early, the flight is late and we still almost miss it. We ran to the gate, they shut the doors behind us and we were off to Sydney.

We arrived in Sydney 3 ½ hours later and set our watches back two hours—it was right around 8:30 AM… we left at 7:00 AM. After finding our temporarily lost luggage, and confirming a flight with Thai Airways to Hanoi in two weeks, we caught the train towards the city.

Sydney is a place I’ve always wanted to visit, hearing it’s a lot like San Francisco, but much cleaner. I took the advice at face value and decided to formulate my own thoughts about the city. I figure I’ll have plenty of time to do so over the next two weeks we’re here exploring.

When we checked into the hotel the lady at the front-desk thought we had been there before. It took her a few seconds before she realized it was the name she had heard before, not the face. Elise, Marc’s step-sister and our friend, arrived in Sydney the night before us. She is staying with a few friends, Ozzies, who lived in Nevada City for a period of time. Elise left a message at the front-desk telling us to buzz their apartment in the building next door.

After showering and changing we headed to the apartment next door, literally next door, and buzzed the apartment. That is when we saw some familiar faces for the first time since Dustin and Shelby left us in New Zealand. It was a very comfortable feeling as we met Ben, hugged Myles and Elise and were welcomed to the apartment. (We met Myles at Christmas.)

The five of us headed out to Hyde Park to play a little Frisbee before working our way down to Darling Harbor. Darling Harbor has rows and rows of restaurants overlooking numerous boats in the harbor, the aquarium, and off in the distance the ANZAC suspension bridge; similar to the bridge planned for the new span of the San Francisco Bay Bridge. After indulging in Fish N’ Chips, we headed to Pier 26 for a different kind of indulgence, beer! The bar, located on the second level of the promenade, had a beautiful view across the bay.

We had a great afternoon and a few beers before heading back to the guys’ place for dinner and, of course, more beer. We tried to rally for a night out on the town, the first big city in quite awhile, but after an early morning flight and several years on the rest of the crew we opted for bed.

Our first day in Sydney was magnificent. It really helped being with locals to tell us where to go. Best of all, it was wonderful to be with familiar faces again.