SYDNEY!

Started writing this earlier today:

I'm currently sitting in the laundry room at the hostel waiting for my clothes to dry. I'm somewhat amused that the machines are like the ones at Hillhead, though I'm hoping more reliable. I'm also a little terrified by the noise my dryer is making, but the one next to it is making similar noises, so yay!

Sydney's been pretty awesome so far. I arrived on Wednesday, completely knackered and worrying about whether or not my M&M's would make it through customs. Then I spotted Laura at arrivals and I knew that the 4 hour delay in Bangkok and turbulence on the flight to Sydney had been worth it. Oh, by the way, how typical is it that there's a massive dust storm the day I arrive?

When we got outside, I realised that we were incredibly lucky to have landed at all in the dust. We caught the train to Central and found the hostel where I took an extraordinary amount of time to decide what I was taking with me to go out and see the city. First port of call was Maccy D's to line my stomach with something other than airline food (almond croissant... really?! I'd had half a minging chicken-in-a-tomato-sauce-with-'potatoes'-and-green-beans for dinner the night before and some sugary orange juice and a yoghurt for breakfast... mmm... filling!). Then we strolled to Queen Victoria Bilding to get some Starbucks, which I've no realised is Laura's staple diet and had another wander around. Quite a few tears that evening, but probably more because I was exhausted than anything else.

I was set my first Australia challenge for the next day: get to QVB on my own. After 11 horus of sleep, I felt good but as soon as I stepped outside I realised I hadn't a clue where I was going. After wandering about for close to 15 minutes and not really remembering the way we'd gone, I started off in the wrong direction, turned down a random street and ended up on George Street, where I was supposed to head! Town Hall station (where QVB is) posed another problem but another 10 minutes of wandering got me to Laura and her tall skimmed macchiato whatever.

We set off on our walk around the city centre, through a lot of shopping centres until we got to Hyde Park (very long walk!) and onto the Domain ebfore walking along Mrs MacQuaries Road. I got my first taste of Aussie wildlife: cockatoos! Birds that I'd only ever seen in cages, hopping about like pigeons. Don't worry, they have pigeons too. And seagulls, but the gulls are probably a third of the size of the Aberdeen monsters. I also got a taste of waht Sydneysiders do at lunchtime. Jog. Or get shouted at by personal trainers. Hmm.

Don't think I'll be partaking of that, to be honest :P

The walk took us to Mrs MacQuaries Chair which overlooks the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. It's a stunning place to be. Very beautiful and of course, I went a bit photo mad. We took a wee wander through the Botanic Gardens to the Wishing Tree (yup, there is video evidence of us walking/running around the tree and as soon as I get to a computer that actually allows me to use things of a USB-y nature, I'll upload them!).

Friday's major discovery was that salt and vinegar crisp packets are PINK!

More to write but this has gone for ages already!

G'night!
Kirsty xx