New Years @ Sydney Haurbor

I got back from Newcastle at 6pm on new years eve completely exhausted and called Mr. T about plans for the new years celebration. He opted for the train to Circular Quay, while we were buying tickets at the train station we witnessed out first arrests for the night. There were two drunk Irishmen, one shirtless and deranged looking, both being handcuffed and searched. The less deranged one was heavily resisting the search and it's no wonder cause the cop pulled a baggy of heroin out of his pocket a minute later. Once we got to Circular Quay we discovered the that place had been fenced off completely, it was full and that was that. So we walked up the hill toward Harts pub, and then ventured north on a street leading toward the Harbor Bridge. Here we caught out first glimpse of the moon rising behind the Opera House and then a couple warning shot fireworks.

Newcastle at Daytime

I woke and checked out of my hotel on the morning of new years eve, and walked down to the beach to see what type of activity there was. The heat and the coastal breeze worked well to make it feel like a great summer day, great enough that after walking up and down the beach-side path and witnessing my first topless sunbather I celebrated with a beer at a beach-side cafe.

Newcastle at Night

Realizing my holiday would soon be coming to an end, I decided I had one final chance to get far out of town. I decided I would take the train 3 hours up to Newcastle, where Britain sent their most criminally insane convicts. After I got there I found my hotel conveniently located 50 meters from the beach and immediately went to see what it looked like before the sun set.

looking south on Newcastle shore

WoyWoy + Fisherman's Wharf

I had another day free during the week and found the town of WoyWoy on the train station map, it was an hour away so I figured it would be a good day trip. When I arrived I found a small core town with slim selection of establishments, 2 bars, a real estate office, and a mc donalds sums it up. I passed all these and came out the other end at the wharf, which might as well have been made from toothpicks and chewing gum.

Chatswood

I went up to Chatswood on the train from Sydney earlier in the week to see what this name on the map meant. After arriving I walked down the street to see what this place was all about, what I found wasn't much. Basically this place was one single street with Thai and Korean places along it. There was a Westfield mall attached to the street, however I've seen two of these already and wasn't quite ready to see another

NewTown

Last night I took the train over to newtown with Mr. T to see what this area was about. Right out of the train station you land on the main drag, and from here you can find 10-15 bars and about a hundred restaurants. First we checked out the Bank Hotel Bar for a drink, I was reminded of the type of layout you might find in a Venice or Santa Monica restaurant. I've gotten used to the less order layout of some of the places in Sydney but I could tell that they had thought this place out well to make you want to hang around for more drinks.

Wollongong

After some googling and studying of the train routes around Sydney I decided to take a day-trip down to Wollongong. The ride by train is about an hour and a half, the view along the way isn't bad. I haven't been outside of Sydney till now so it's the first time I've gotten to see how lush the coastal landscape is. Looking west from the train I could see hills all the way to the horizon covered with trees, and east toward the ocean miniature beach communities sprouted from the greenery.

west

North Sydney + Obar

Today I took the train from Central Station over to North Sydney for a couple of hours. I guess this area is only really busy during the working week so due to the fact that its a holiday the place was empty. I could only find one bar open within a mile around the train station.

Mr. Wong's

I spent the night last night walking through CBD with Mr. T visiting various pubs and bars when I stumbled across this Mr Wong's. It was quite well hidden, you have to walk into an alley and around the corner to find it. Once you get inside you can see that this place isn't the shithole you might expect at this location, but instead world class Cantonese cuisine.

Main road

Spider Friend

After coming home from the bar tonight I found a new visitor in my apartment. I was warned about this type of stuff in Australia, but this was my first face to face encounter. I'm not sure what type it was, but I know it was 4-5 inches across. It gladly posed while I took some glamor shots and then crawled into the abyss. From now on I will be thoroughly checking my shoes every morning.

Aquaviva's

During my hung-over sunday, I ventured out yet again. I went north with no plan really, the goal was to maybe hit a couple of pubs to wind down the weekend. Somehow I ended up just south of where Oxford Street crossed William Street where I found a block or so of interesting restaurants that were a bit separated from the herd. After checking out the whole street I decided to venture into one called Aquaviva's.

Kings Cross + Victoria Room

After a safe ferry trip from Manly Beach to the wharf at Circular Quay I grabbed a drink some bar next to the Opera House and contacted Mr. T. We decided that we would meet up at Kings Cross and get some drinks.

Manly Beach

Today I took the advice of a co-worker and caught the ferry from Circular Quay over to Many beach. For 14 dollars I was able to buy the two way trip and the return trips went as late as 1:00 am. When you pull into port you'll find a small beach and some restaurants on the wharf, but don't be deceived, this is Manly cove which faces west. If you walk northeast through the shops you'll come out the other-side of this finger of land to Manly Beach looking out into the Pacific.

Aboriginal at Circular Quay

Sussex Street

After a long week of moving into a new apartment and settling in into my routine here. I ventured down to Sussex street in CBD last night and embarked on a journey to drink beer.

Hyde Park

Sydney CBD

I needed to buy a towel today so I decided to walk over to Sydney CBD. I wasn't really sure where to go so I dropped into a bar for a drink at the Westfield and asked the bartender. He directed me over to Myer's and my goal was complete, which left me with hours of time to explore. I was dawn northward by the glimpse of the Sydney Harbour Bridge I could see at the end of the road.