4 - Sydney

After an overnight flight from Bangkok we touched down in Sydney at 6.30am. Not being able to check into our apartment until noon, we made our way thru customs before catching a taxi to Bruce’s place. Wake up Bruce…we’re back in town!! *Bruce groans and lets us in* ;)

After hanging out at Bruce's place for a few hours...and trying not to fall asleep on his couch...we got a taxi to our Newtown apartment. Woohoo! We're back in Sydney!That afternoon we had a couple of hours sleep and then met up with Bruce for dinner at our favourite and much missed restaurant, Asakusa!It was still as good and as cheap as ever. I couldn't believe my dinner box cost 40 NOK!!!Bruce didn't know what all the fuss was about :)Afterwards we went for a drink at the Marly Bar.Lunch the next day. Each of these meals cost 50 NOK!!! Woohoo! So happy to be back in Newtown. King Street has some of the cheapest and best food in Australia.That night we went over to James and Kim's place for dinner and saw how much their kids had grown.They are both so adorable! This is little Leo.Ha!Leo's not too sure about that Dan.And this is Darcy...we couldn't believe how much she had grown.Kim and James...feeling a little exhausted :) Thanks for dinner guys! It's always great catching up.King Street the next day. This is winter. Mmm...that's my kind of winter.Soaking up the sun.A big old tree.The next night was a Saturday night and we had arranged to meet people for drinks at an old favourite, The Rose.This guy said I could take his photo so long as it didn't end up on the net :)First to arrive were Ellie, Mike and Tracey. It was so good to see these guys again.Brendan brought me a birthday present.Ah he knows me so well. Thank you for being a friend...travel down the road and back again...We loved seeing everyone again.Mike and Tracey are old friends...heheh.Part of the old trivia gang...Brendan, Dan and Bruce!Grant and Alison catch up again. He hadn't been back in Oz for over 2 years!Ellie and me :)Me and Tracey :)I finally got to meet Katie, who I'd seen in Facebook photos quite a few times.AwwJames was back from Japan and it was great to see him again.Us and a couple of strangers...Vanessa from behind the bar and Ajay from the room next door.This is the room next door to us. I'd asked them all to look like they were having the time of their life.Then I asked the guys in our room to look like they were having the time of their life.It was Svein's birthday. Happy Birthday Svein!! It was really nice to see Yvonne again.And Cal and Jo!And then Allie turned up! Heya Allie! She appreciated my new tshirt.I hadn't seen Anais in years...it was such a great night!Anais, me and JamesGrant and AlisonDan and an old lady (??)The next day we awoke to yet another sunny winter's day...ooo yeh.Our favourite restaurant.Our favourite lunchtime restaurant. We couldn't believe that they still had lunch specials!! (30 NOK)...mmm laksa.Dan enjoyed his Kway Teo.Hanging out at a Newtown park.That afternoon we went into the city.Dan's dad had told us about a replica of the Endeavour boat in the harbour.So we walked across Darling Harbour...This is the monorail. And Centrepoint Tower in the distance.We realised that we'd forgotten to bring money and cards with us!! Luckily Bruce worked nearby so we called in on him...*Bruce groans and let's us in*So after we had money sorted, we bought tickets to board the Endeavour replica. It was the ship that Captain Cook was on when he first discovered Australia.This was their toilet onboard. You sat over the edge of the boat, on that hole. And the rope in the bucket is your toilet paper...eew.Down below. 6 people sat and slept at each table setting.Er...tasty.One of the small rooms that the paying crew used.A cosy kitchen.The botanist's room.The main room where Captain Cook and the guys who paid a fortune to be onboard hung out.I suspect their first view of Australia looked a little different to this.It was really interesting to check it out. All I knew afterwards was that there was no way I would want to be in those cramped conditions out at sea for months on end!We read some of the immigrants stories on the welcome wall.Then we went off in search of food.Here's a good spot.I was so happy to be sitting in the warm sun in winter!!!After that we caught a bus back to Newtown (about 10 mins from the city).That night we had thai takeaway food with Bruce.And played the wii. Ah, it was great to be back. Seeya again soon Sydney!