Random in Oz

Signing off in Oz - until the next time

I am writing this having been back for four days.  Still finding it hard to adjust to being in my little flat with my own things around me, which is nice, and not seeing sunshine all the time, not so nice.  While I have two daughters in two different places I am going to be permanently torn in two, but will just have to get used to it though it was hard saying goodbye to Kathryn all over again.  Tomorrow I am up in London and looking forward to seeing Helen and James and, of course, hugging my lovely Florence who I have missed dreadfully.

When I flew out to Sydney I was a little worried that I had built the trip up so much in my mind. Not worried about seeing Kathryn, of course not, but I have been longing to return to Australia for most of my adult life and sometimes you can have huge expectations which cannot be fulfilled.  However, from the moment I arrived I felt as if I had come home.  I felt relaxed and, apart from the odd day when the heat got to me and I had to stay indoors, was happy and pleased to be there.  The city has obviously changed but the first sight of that majestic and beautiful harbour and to see the opera house once more and all the ferries setting off from Circular Quay, well it was just magical.

And of course the trip to the Great Barrier Reef was the trip of a lifetime, something I never managed to do while I lived in Australia, and was always cross about. You have seen the pictures and read my ravings so no need to repeat them here, but my holiday on Hamilton Island will remain in my memory as one of the most wonderful weeks I have ever spent.

I am now planning my next visit.  Kathryn is applying for tickets in the Olympic Ballot and if she is lucky will come home next year, in which case I will defer my visit till the following year, if I can wait that long, but I know I will be back and I cannot wait to visit again.  We are both agreed that a trip to New Zealand is on the cards, but then I rather fancy flying to Perth and taking the train across the Nullabor Plain and then there is Tasmania and.....

So much to look forward to and I will be writing about it on this blog when it happens.  In the four weeks I have been away and posting I have had over 4,000 hits and lots of lovely comments so thank you.  It was a great pleasure to share my journey with you all.

A Frenchman and a Farewell

I am sitting in the reception area of my hotel awaiting the airport bus and have an hour to spare so thought I would write my final post in Sydney though I will be doing a summing up when I arrive home.
Yesterday I had designated shopping day so walked into the city, five minutes from my hotel and now that all the old short cuts were remembered I could cut through arcades etc to get to my destination.  My first port of call was the State Theatre on Market Street as I wanted to see the gloriously over the top foyer, all 1930s and gold embellished. Did not disappoint.

Then down George Street, my old shopping area, and into the Queen Victoria Building which is the most wonderful mall of small shops and cafes.  Queen V sitting outside looking very grandly at everyone as they went inside.   Had a wander around and then something happened which just made my day.   A young Frenchman asked if I would take his photo and I did so, wonderful clock behind.  I then asked if he would return the favour and he did. We then chatted for a bit, told him I was visiting my daughter

etc, he had just arrived and then along came a Dutch couple and asked if we would take photos of them so   I bid farewell and went to the lower level and decided it was time for coffee and cake and was just settling down when a voice said 'May I join you?' and here was the Frenchman again.   We chatted again and he told me his name was Eric and wasn't Sydney a wonderful city and I said of course and recommended places he should visit etc.  He then asked if I would be so kind as to spend some time with him and show him round.  I told him that, alas, this was my last day and was flying back tomorrow and he said What a shame - I would have liked to have seen more of you and taken you out to dinner (!!!!)   I told him yes, it was sad and then he took my hand, kissed it said goodbye as I got up to go, and then said A pity we did not meet before, you are a beautiful woman.............

Lurched out into the street giggling and thinking what a way to finish my visit!! I estimate his age to have been about 30 or so and casting aside the thought that he might have thought I was a cougar, it was still rather nice to be chatted up by a young Frenchman.   When I told Kathryn later she shrieked and said Way to go Mum!

After all that excitement, I trolled along to the Rocks area of the city, close to Circular Quay so that I could see the opera house and harbour again. Found a very good souvenir shop which seemed to have eschewed the tacky and spent a happy half hour pottering.  Sorting through a pile of t-shirts to take home when a couple came up to me and asked me where they could find the boomerangs. I kid you not, they obviously thought I worked there. As I knew where they were I pointed them in the direction of aforesaid artifact and then they realised I was a customer and were so embarrassed. Told them not to worry, I had done the same on several occasions.

I then went to visit a shop I had popped in a few weeks before which sold opals as I had decided to treat myself and they remembered me (wonder why..no answer necessary) and greeted me like an old friend and I spent a happy hour looking at all the lovely stones. In the end I decided to buy a pendant and stud earrings in a pale white opal and also got a discount and a tiny little pressie (a boomerang! with a minuscule blue opal in it) and by the time I left I almost felt part of the family and said I would see them next year.

Decided I was tired and I had also spent enough so hopped on the free shuttle which, fortuitously for me, went on a round trip and had dropped me off at my apartment in the first two weeks and now dropped me off at my hotel.  Wonderful service and air conditioned too.

So cup of tea, feet up and then later went to meet Kathryn in Martin's Place (the one where I saw the elephant all those years ago) and off we went to a super cool bar on the top of an office building where I had a couple of cocktails while we sat and caught up on our respective days (as I said earlier she loved the story of Eric).  I had a cocktail called Bikini which consisted of watermelon juice, double vodka and elderflower with spearmint leaves and it was simply delicious and I soon twigged that these would slide down very easily and could leave you with the feeling you had not drunk any alcohol at all.  Dangerous.
Then back to the Rocks and we decided we both fancied a pizza so had one in a restaurant overlooking the harbour and I just sat there and wished I was not going home - felt torn in two as though I do want to be back and see everyone, I hated to leave Kathryn who, by now, knew our evening was coming to an end and was very tearful.   She loves Australia, is doing well and is very happy, but my being here and then going home brought it home to her that she was alone without her family on the other side of the world.  I was very pleased to hear, however, that quite a few of her good friends from Leeds are following her lead and are coming out to Sydney, also an old school friend is coming to live there, so in a few months time she will have many more people with her who have known her for a long time and she is looking forward to that.

So we said goodbye and both in tears, but I told her I would be out next year, that was a definite.  Just got to find the money from somewhere but I am positive that I will make it.

Back to the hotel, and packing...............................

Back in Sydney

Sitting in my hotel room cogitating on the wonderful time I have been having and cannot believe that I fly home in three days - not looking forward to the plane trip I can tell you.

 

Hamilton Island was wonderful.  Surrounded by palm trees, cockatoos and macaws, lush vegetation and beautiful flowers, stunning views over the sea of shadowy, mysterious islands, all uninhabited and the endless swish of the sea, oh words fail.   We took a trip to Whitsunday Island to see Whitehaven Beach which is listed among the top ten beaches in the world.  The sand is silver and so fine that it does not retain the heat so is cool to the feet.  The sea is warm and feels like silk on your body, in the shallows it is a pale green, then a pale blue, then turquoise, then navy and as the breeze causes gentle waves it changes colour.   I have never seen anything like it and when our boat pulled up, we all piled out, down the steps and straight into the water and within five minutes we hurled ourselves into the sea and just beamed wordlessly at each other.

On another day we visited the Reef. I tried snorkelling but only managed about five minutes as I suffer from claustrophobia, not much but enough, and found that putting my head under the water panicked me a bit. Also seeing how deep the ocean floor was freaked me out somewhat. I persevered and saw some incredibly fish swim by, all colours of the rainbow, pink and green and blue and gold but after a bit I had to give up as I could not regulate my breathing and was finding it difficult and swam back to the boat.    I went down into the semi-sub that was being offered with glass bottom so we could sit and watch all the sea life below and around us and I just sat there in silence at the beauties of nature in front of me.  The waving corals, pink, orange, blue opening and closing and fish daring in and out of the tendrils, it is impossible to describe them in a way what will do them justice.

But the best part of the day was to come.  One spare seat on a helicopter ride back to Hamilton Island going for A$100 (about £64) as they wanted to fill the space.  Go on Mum said Kathryn you take it and I will see you back at the hotel. So I did. I have never been in a helicopter before and I am scared of heights but I thought Oh sod it and off I went.  I sat in front next to the pilot and again, sorry folks, it is almost impossible to tell you how breathtaking the view was as we flew over the reef.  Bottom of the 'copter was clear so I could look right down, normally I would have had the screaming hab dabs, but not this time and the sheer beauty unfolding in front of me I will never ever forget. An experience of a lifetime.

 

Paradise Lost

Yep we are leaving in the morning and will be back in Sydney for my last few days before flying home. I am going to write a long post over the weekend about this wonderful trip.  Today we were out on the reef and there was a spare seat on a helicopter ride going  back for which I paid about £60 which I felt was a bargain. I got it cheap as they wanted to fill the place. Kathryn said Go for it Mum and I will see back at the hotel.

So after snorkelling, admittedly not for long as I get claustrophobic if I put my head under water, I then had this ride and I have never been in a helicopter in my life and am afraid of heights so two things done today I never thought I would.  It was breathtaking but more about it in my next post. I am currently sitting on my balcony drinking tea and being watched by a beady eyed row of cockatoos who nicked my muffin yesterday and have obviously remembered and are back for further pickings....

I am in Paradise

Well, that's what it feels like.  Yesterday it rained and rained and rained but it was so hot and people were in the sea and the swimming pool working on the premise that you could not be any wetter.  There was something rather liberating in sloshing through the puddles and the downpour with just a t-shirt and shorts on and not giving a damn.

Spotted this lady paddling on the beach and could not resist this picture.

 

Then woke up this monring, pulled back the curtains and this is what we saw.

The view just took our breath away and I feel as if I am in paradise. I am surrounded by sun, golden sands, glorious sea and palm trees and exotic plants and flowers and we are constantly visited by parakeets and cockatoos. Quite wonderful.

Tomorrow we are going on a trip to Whitehaven Beach which I understand is one of the most beautiful in the world. It is on an uninhabited island and you cannot just go there and stay, you have to be taken over on a boat, stay a few hours and come back as it is protected. So looking forward to that.

More another day

Hamilton Island

We have arrived in Hamilton Island.  Tropical thunderstorm meant we could not land straight away and I felt I was in a scene from Die Hard 2 as the plane kept circling the island - we got down eventually and walked straight into heat and humidity which I found almost unbelievable.  Sometimes I have to remind myself that I am on the other side of the world and in the tropics.

View from our balcony across the reef is simply stunning and will be posting photos another day.  Relaxed in our room last night which is huge, my entire flat would fit into it and found as we were lolling around that the World Cup Cricket was on and we were able to watch a very tense and exciting match between England and South Africa which we eventually won by six runs.   So a good end to a tiring day.

We have just had breakfast and are off to explore the island and while writing this, as if to prove that I am indeed on the other side of the world, a cockatoo just walked in off the balcony, squacked at me and left....

Thursday Ramblings - Surry Hills

I am checking out of my apartment tomorrow as Kathryn and I are off to Hamilton Island for a week of which more later.

I have been staying in Surry Hills and when I was last here it was not exactly a good place to stay or visit.  In the 1920s I gather it was the haunt of razor gangs that terrorised inner-city Sydney and was pretty much a slum area.  But as we all know, slums get 'gentrified' and this is what has happened.  Young professionals have moved into the area, there are loads of designer shops and restaurants.   The Victorian terraces have great charm and are now selling faster than those in Paddington which has always been the place to live for some time.  Kathryn shares a small house here and finds the ambiance suits her beautifully.  There is a curious mixture of fashion and seediness, newly renovated houses stand alongside dilapidated dwellings awaiting their turn to be bought, painted and given a new lease of life.

 

 


The great advantage that Surry Hills has is that it is so close to the city. If I wanted to, and I tried it once and nearly died in the heat, I could walk into downtown Sydney and on the bus it is only a few minutes so for my stay it has been very handy.   Nipping out in the morning and getting the bus and doing my shopping and exploring the city brought back so many happy memories and it feels very natural for me to be doing this.  I always felt at home in Sydney and that hasn't changed and am already looking forward to my next visit in 2012.  I may, however, come over a little later as I am finding heat difficult to deal with.    Ok when you are on the beach (went to Bondi again today), but any walking or daily activities mean I end up dripping with sweat and every item of clothing sticking to me.  I have never had so many showers in my life.

Not a riveting post today but just jotting things down as thoughts occur to me.