Treve & Katrina Travel The World

Hello from sunny Port Macquarie!

We have just travelled 6 hours up the coast, having spent 2 weeks in Manly, Sydney and 4 days in the Blue Mountains,

Posing in front of the Harbour Bridge & the Toaster

The 9 hour flight from Bangkok whizzed by and dumped us in the sprawling metropolis of Sydney at 6am. For the first time in the trip, we had absolutely no idea where to head for, which is strange because on first impressions it felt just like England. In an endeavour to stay awake we supped coffee in the lovely McDonalds and trawled our new Lonely Planet, reeling at the prices of hostels compared to the ridiculously cheap Thailand. We knew we wanted to avoid the British backpacker favourite of Bondi Beach and somehow the name Manly rang a bell, so we hopped on the ferry northwards across the spectacular Sydney harbour. Within a few minutes we checked into Manly Bungalows, just moments from the famous surfing beach.

Manly beach

As we tucked into delicious fish and chips on the promenade (a delicacy recommended by Lonely Planet) the fit and beautiful jogged and power-walked by, almost putting us off our fish supper (but alas not quite!) The aussie stereotype really did seem to be based on your average Manly resident!

Seen one, Bruce?

The ferry ride back across the harbour towards central Sydney brought us past the spectacular Opera House, completely living up to it's iconic world status with gleaming ceramic sails adding to the unique skyline.

Ceramic tilework on the Opera House

A fascinating tour of the Opera House revealed some of the secrets contained within. The incredible main concert hall was built like a musical instrument itself - a structure fashioned entirely in white birch, completely separate from the famous external shape. Photography was prohibited but of course Treve's stealth-cam clicked into action.

Stealth shot of the main concert hall at the Opera House

We were also lucky enough to hear a cellist in rehearsal. The acoustics were absolutely fantastic wherever you sat - it gave the impression that you were sitting inside a speaker. Stars as diverse as the 3 Tenors, Nelson Mandela and the current Governor of California (who won his Mr Universe title here in 1980!) have all performed here.

Kaleidoscopic view from the Opera House

Sydney waterfront from the Opera House

This glamorous, exciting city felt rather like being in London, from the high-rise central business district to Hyde Park, to the trendy wine bars on the waterfront.

Darling Harbour at night

Arty, not drunk!

We visited the craft markets at the Rocks where the first settlers built their homes back in the 1800s and looked very much like pictures of Victorian England.

Converted warehouses at The Rocks

This area is also home to the Contemporary Art Gallery, exhibiting of both up-and-coming and established Australian artists, including some interesting aboriginal art.

Something for the tourists

A walk around the Botanical Gardens to Mrs Macquarie's Chair gave us the chance to admire the classic view of the Opera House under the Harbour Bridge.

Classic view of Sydney

Strutting our stuff (!!) alongside the trendy (or thought they were!) folk in Paddington, Sydney's equivalent of the King's Road in London, we wished we had a few spare dollars to fritter.

The start of a masterpiece!

Sydney ladies enjoying the sights

We checked out the seedy backpacker dive of King's Cross and congratulated ourselves on the choice we'd made to stay in Manly. Nervous looking gap-year kids jostled for position on the main strip with the burly doormen guarding adult shops.

In an endeavour to fit in with the "Manly locals", we booked a surf lesson at the Manly Surf School, of course checking out the small but very important issue of sharks beforehand (the harbour is home to a number of the blighters - no deaths since the 60s, so that's alright then!!) There were 5 in our group, 3 of them under the age of 10 who showed us how it was done! It was difficult, but we both managed a few wobbly rides back to the shore.

Manly lifesavers training

A trip to Bondi Beach just had to be done, if only to watch the Brits behaving badly on a Sunday afternoon. The beach was jam-packed full of Brits - looked like Newquay on a summer's day.

A quiet Sunday afternoon at Bondi Beach!

It seemed that 80s fashion really has made a big comeback here, as well as in England. Down at the Bondi skateboard park the locals (some knocking on 40) were whizzing around, dressed head to toe in flouro Debbie Gibson t-shirts (anyone remember her?), lime green drainpipes and Karate Kid outfits, listening to retro soundtracks like Breakdance The Movie and early Simple Minds - crazy!!

Debbie Gibson & Karate Kid fans skating at Bondi

Mosaic masterpiece at Bondi

Graffiti memorial at Bondi to 2002 Bali bombings

After 2 full weeks exploring the wonderful Sydney, it felt like time to escape the city and head for the hills. A 2 hour train ride west and we were ascending into the Blue Mountains, a favourite weekend escape for Sydneysiders and so-called due to the fumes created by the euculyptus oil released into the air by the carpet of trees lining the surrounding hills. Finally arriving at the mountain activity centre of Katoomba, we checked into the friendly and cosy Flying Fox hostel (complete with open fires and free didgereedoos) and went to explore the town. It was in stark contrast to the glamour and sophistication of Sydney, being home to many rainbow jumper-wearing hippies.

We went on a couple of long treks into the surrounding national park - the first taking us below the rainforest canopy, following the course of a cascade deep down into the gorge below.

Under the rainforest canopy

It was amazing to escape the man-made noise of the city, and to be accompanied instead by the deafening calls of thousands of treefrogs, cicadas and squawking tropical birds (including both black and white cockatoos and parrots). We passed underneath the famous 3 Sisters rock formation, formed by erroding sandstone and of significant importance to aboriginal culture. We certainly got the chance to work of those fish and chips by climbing the 900 step Furber Pass up out of the gorge!

The Three Sisters at Katoomba, Blue Mountains

The following day we did another trek, this time accompanied by 3 other friendly British backpackers whom we met back at the lodge.

Brits abroad

The 6 hour trek to the "Ruined Castle" (AKA the "pile of rocks" by our host!) took us along a ridge, deep into the rainforest and over the remains of a landslide, giving us breathtaking views of the surrounding Jamieson Valley.

Katrina negotiates the landslide

Katrina and Karla took the steepest incline railway in the world, while the lads hiked back up to the top of the gorge - little did Treve and Guy know that Joby was an ex-marine and personal trainer!

Treve gets a little too enthusiastic!

We'll tell you all about our adventures here and Byron Bay when we eventually get to Brisbane next week (another 6 hours up the coast - distances are vast in Australia!) Bet you can't wait?!

Lots of love,
Treve & Katrina xxx