Major Blog Catch-Up!

So this afternoon, just got back from Melbourne, and have over an entire week to blog!

I will be quick, and include lots of pictures.

Last Thursday Lillian and I decided to take a train down to Cronulla and spend the day on the beach. The train ride wasnt too long, about an hour or so, and we arrived in sunny Cronulla! Cronulla has a protected harbour,
(see MAP) which we walked around, beautiful!!




We then walked around to Cronulla park, towards the beach, where we had a fish and chips lunch! All the while the weather was nice and hot, but when we got to the long beach, it had clouded over, and wasnt nice. Also, there were kids everywhere, being loud and noisy! We discovered later that it's school holidays now! As the weather then got cold, we headed back to Sydney!



In Sydney we made dinner and got ready to hit Coogee Beach the next day, and then fly to Melbourne!

We woke up early and headed to Coogee, where we basically sunbathed and swam all day! Coogee is nice, but my favourite beach so far is probably Manly as it was the biggest! We swam, and sunbathed, and had chicken lunch, and then headed back to run to the airport to catch our flight to Melbourne!



We were met at the Airport by Pat and Jacinta, whom we met travelling in Europe! We headed back to there place stopping for a quick drink! Then to bed to wake up early for our trip to, the GREAT OCEAN ROAD. One thing about Melbourne was, that it was COLD!!!!

We woke up early, and drove out of Melbourne, inland all the way to Warnambool, and from there headed back up the coast along the Great Ocean Road, it truly was beautiful and we stopped at most of the spots. The weather was cool, but sunny, and the fresh air was breathtaking!








We came back from Great Ocean Road very late, around 9, and had a nap, and got ready to go out to the St Kilda area, as it was one of our friend's friends birthdays! We had a great time partying, and came back late! The next day it was super rainy, very miserable, so we just stayed inside and played cards and watched movies, very relaxing! On Monday Lillian and I had a free day to explore Melbourne! We walked all over the city, looking at the sites! We also went on a modern art walk and explored some fun sculptures. We also had a meat pie for lunch! The architecture in Melbourne is incredible, very modern, clean, steel, glass, etc. Really pretty city!





We then returned home to get ready to go camping the next day to Wilson's Promotory with Jacinta! We awoke early, and headed off with one of Jacinta's friends, Lucy, and Arrived at the park around 11am, and set up camp, and then went for a walk around the beach!




We spent the day relaxing, reading, and sitting on the beach. The weather was stunning, sunny, and crisp, and the water was very cold! The flies there, however were terrible, biggest flies I have ever seen! As the day got on, we decided to hike a nearbye mountain and watch the sunset! After about an hours hike, we reached the summit, and were rewarded with the most magnificent view!




We stayed until the sunset, and by then it was REALLY cold, and we went backdown, and had dinner! No campfire though, due to fire restrictions. As a resut, it was incredibly cold, and we went to bed by 9!!!


We slept really well, and awoke to a nice breakfast and then walked to squeaky beach, a beach where when you walk, the sand squeaks!


We then explored many other beaches and headed back to Melbourne! We had toyed with the idea of going to Phillip Island, but instead decided to go to the Healesville Nature Sancutary!

I won't describe it in this blog, but just leave with you with some of the best pictures and videos! Sorry for the succintness, but I'm tired, enjoy!

Beach Blog x2

One cant visit Australia and not go to the beaches, and so yesterday (Tueaday) and today, Lillian and I went and explored the beaches of Sydney!

On Tuesday morning Lillian had to go to class, so I worked on the Monday blog, and at noon when she came back, we caught a bus to circular quay and tried to catch a ferry to Manly Pier. We missed a ferry, so had to wait half an hour for the next and in the mean time we had an ice cream!

We then caught the ferry across to Manly, and wanted to sit outisde on the ferry, but on that particular ferry, you had to sit down, so we couldnt stand outside!

We arrived at Manly Pier, and then walked down the main drag of heading towards Manly beach, a really nice pedestrian mall, to arrive at a big long beach, mostly empty, and with many tall pine trees along the back - beautiful.


Lillian and I sat down and sun tanned, but as the afternoon progressed, it got a little chilly, so we decided to go for a swim.



It was cold at first, but once in, the water is clear, clean, and so refreshing. We frolicked in the waves for a while, and then came back up the beach and dried off.


We then walked along the beach, and decided to go climbing up on the rocks to see what we could see.

We walked along, higher and higher, and thought we had reached as far as we could go, and hidden around a corner was a tunnel! Lillian was skeptic, but I convinced her to forge the way!



Here is the picture mentioned in the video.


We kept on walking and exploring, until we got to a dead end, well not really a dead end, just somewhere Lillian didnt feel "Safe" climbing!!! pffff!!



After that, it was getting late, and we slowly made our way back along the bach, and to Manly pier to catch a ferry back to Circular Quay. Along the way we got some amazing pictures as the sun was setting over the harbour bridge!




After coming ashore we started a lengthy walk to Darling Harbour, a beautiful funky harbour covered in restaurants, clubs, and bars! The reason for the trek: Bungalow 8, a restaurant that has all you can eat mussles for $18 every Tuesday!!! We arrived and had 3 bowls of mussels each, with every possible sauce available!



Afterwards we started a long walk back to Central Station, to catch a bus back to Newton!

One final view of Darling Harbour:


Then, as it was pushing 10:00, I was exhausted (jetlag) so we crashed ready for Beach Day - The Sequel!

We awoke to learn that Lillian had to do some school stuff, so she headed off to class, and I took a bus to Manly beach! I arrived at a beautiful scenic beach, mostly empty!

I suntanned, and waited to Lillian to arrive, and when she did, we had a prepacked lunch, and suntanned and swam, and rinsed and reapeated!! By then the beach had filled up, it was really busy!

Later when we had enough sun, we walked around the shops and I bought some super cool rip curl board shorts, on sale for $45 (pictures will come later), and we had an ice cream!

We then changed and went back to the beach and relaxed!


We then caught the bus/train back home, made a delicious pasta dinner with Haloumi, and now Lillian is doing a bit of work, and I'm blogging!

And that concludes the Beach Blog!! Tomorrow we plan on heading south to the Beaches near Cronulla or Kiama, not sure yet!

Wine in front of the Opera House

Guest Blog - David In Sydney

I arrived early Monday morning, to find Lillian waiting for me at the airport, and we caught a train to central station, and then a bus to Newtown. We then walked from the stop outside the Marlbourough Hotel to Lillian’s cute little apartment in the Sydney University Village! I had a shower and then Lillian and I walked all over Newtown, showing me the MANY Thai places, and other funky stuff!

We explored and then came back to her place, to plan the rest of the day. We decided to head to the broadway shopping mall to post my grandma’s present, and buy food for the next week!

We got a whole range of good foods, avacadoes, mushrooms, and lots og good stuff.

We came home and had a sandwich, and then while Lillian went to a class from 2-4, I napped, as was exhausted from the long flight! I woke up in a completely zombie-fied state, but quickly got ready as we were heading downtown (the CBD or Central Business District!) We caught a bus from Newtown all the way down George Street, and got off near the American Express Office. Turns out they charged $8 for changing Canadian cash, so we found a place across the sreet and I exchanged some of my money. We then walked down around the area called “The Rocks” which is the old part of Sydney, VERY cool! We then headed up over the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and went about hald way along, to enjoy the views of the Opera House.

On the way back we ran into a guy we met on our contiki trip to Europe last summer, small world! We then headed down the bridge and around circular quay, stopping to have $10 pizzas for dinner!

We then walked along to the Opera House, stopping for a glass of wine each, at the Opera House outside bar, (beautiful!!!), and after we walked around the Opera House, taking pictures and enjoying the lights.

And then as it was almost 10, caught the bus back to Lillian’s place and crashed! All in all it was a spectacular first day in Sydney and I am certainly excited to see more of this beautiful City.

As for today, we woke up early and had breakfast, and while Lillian was finishing up an assignment I ran off to buy groceries for more sandwiches today, and made sandwiches so that when Lillian comes back from class we can eat, and then catch a ferry to Manley Beach! Today is beautiful and sunny, so I cant wait to relax and enjoy the beach! And then tonight we plan on going to all you can eat mussels in Darling Harbour!

And that concludes the first Guest Blog!