Carley’s Travels

Today I did the tourist thing. I can’t help it, but I love doing the big tourist traps! That’s half the point of being here!!

I bought another all day card on the monorail. I started at Darling Harbour. I visited the information centre mainly to get some brochures to take home. But my first stop of the day was the Chinese Friendship Gardens. They are gorgeous. So well looked after. After a while you forget you are in downtown Sydney until you look up and see this skyscraper. Even amongst the traffic and noise it is quite serene in the gardens. There’s a traditional tea house (bit pricey for my liking so I passed), beautiful houses and monuments, waterfalls as well as banners with exquisite writing. On the way out I went through the gift shop and bought mum a calligraphy set for about $20.

Next stop was further into Darling Harbour. Down to the waters edge. Passed the unusal water feature (it’s a spiral that goes down – you can actually walk on it without getting wet. Last time I was here I walked in it but not this time!). There is also a monument with the symbol for the Olympic Games held here in 2000.

AFter Darling Harbour I headed to Circular Quay via boat (an all day ticket on the bus/train/ferry costs me $2.50 as a pensioner). Circular Quay is the ferry hub. It is also the stopping point for the Opera House, The Harbour Bridge and The Rocks. I started with the markets at The Rocks. They were not as good as I remembered. They seem to have gotten more up market and more expensive (I’ll save money and head to Paddingting markets instead). Next was a visit to the Opera House which is exactly the same as always. It was crowded with tourists so I didn’t stay long.

I made my way through circular quay and the rocks and found the Pylon Lookout Climb. This is a much cheaper version of climbing the Harbour Bridge. Instead of climbing the bridge you climb one of the pylons at the end (indoor stairs as opposed to open bridge!). It was a pretty easy climb and the view at the top was spectacular. Beautiful views of Sydney. You can watch the people climbing the bridge (and I will admit that next time, with more money, I’ll climb the bridge).

After all the excitement of the climb I took a more peaceful stroll through Hyde Park. I took some photos of the fountain for Sarah, she’ll love the turtles. I then headed to the Hyde Park Barracks for a look around.

Alas it was time to head back to the hostel as it was time to get ready to go out.

“In the Jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight”

I was off to see The Lion King musical. I had managed to get front row tickets.
The Capitol theater is so old fashioned. We have nothing like it in Townsville. They even served ice cream in little containers in the theatre. I got one just to say that I had.

The show started with loud music and this big elephant walking down the aisles and onto the stage. The whole musical was spectacular. I was mezmorized for the whole thing. I so wish that I could go and see it again.

I grabbed a late tea (frozen spaghetti to heat in the microwave) and headed to bed. Tomorrow I’m heading to Luna Park with Jeffery and Roxy

The Lion King

What an eventful night in our dormroom! There is this guy in my room – Giz (after Gizmo in the Gremlins). Anyway the guy on the bunk on top of him got really drunk and wet the bed so much that it dripped through onto Giz. Boy was he not impressed (but then who would!). He woke the guy up and had a go at him and got dressed and left. Since I was planning on getting up soon to catch an early train to the Blue Mountains i got up, dressed and had some breaky. I remembered to take a jumper (although it was semi warm in sydney, the mountains are cooler). As i left for the station i passed Giz who apologized for waking everyone up – which was alright and understandable. I walked to central station (about 5-10 min walk) and caught the train to the Blue Mountains. It was about an hour trip so i settled back and watched the scenery.

When we arrived I headed to the tourist centre at the entrance to the station and booked myself onto the hop on/off tour for $30. It was great. They travel to all sights and you can hop on/off as much as you like. My first stop was the Tallawarra walk which walks alongside the mountains. It was breathtaking. At the other end I caught the bus to The Three Sisters. The highlight of the tour. They were so amazing. The view is unbeliveable. I took some great photos. Then I headed to scenic world which is home to the steepest train (it is virtually vertical) as well as a cable car ascent and a cable car tour over the gorge. It had to be the best part. Hanging over the gorge in a glass compartment looking at this big expansive view. and I don’t like heights.

After that I headed back to the train station to catch the last train back into the city. we got in about 5pm. I cheated and had McDonalds for tea as I was too tired to cook (hey I’m on holidays!!). I’m about to head to bed. I think tomorrow I might go down to Darling Harbour and Circular Quay.

Me in front of The Three Sisters

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