Sydney

Here I am. Day 18, 2 flights down and now 11 hours ahead of you. So I'm starting Monday and you haven't yet finished Sunday. Very strange feeling.

Left Bangkok Saturday early and fell asleep on the plane whilst on the runway and woke up 7 hours later - thats the 2nd time thats happened this trip which is great. Note to the Hardy boys - if you ever fly this far Thai Airways have loads of leg room, even for your lanky spindly legs..

Got to Syndey about 2pm and found the hotel. Am staying at the YWCA hotel in town. Its a not for profit hotel right next to Hyde Park - great location and clean hotel. What a gret idea to run a hotel and give all the money to charity. Brilliant idea. No expensive Newmarket software here!!

Spent Saturday afternnon and evening walking around the harbour area getting my bearings. It reminds me a lot of Seattle - in that itq quite new city, a little hilly and dominated by water. Its also got a feel of European and Asian . I really like it. It has a feeling of space. Of course the weather and the lovely harbour can't help to lift you.

Did I tell you about the Bangkok Marathon. On the first Sunday I was there they were holding the marathon - I thought I'd watch it as I was interetsted to watch people run around ahot smoggy city. So when I got up for breakfast the runners were just coming in for breakfast - strange me thinks , ' thats not running food'. They'd finished!! They start the marathon at 3am in the morning as the roads are too clogged to run it at any other time. Can you imagine that??

Anyway back to Syndey. Spent Sunday visiting some of the tourist attractions. I have the DK eyewitness 'Sydneys Top 10' and am following this. Yesterday I went to Hyde Park Barracks museum (excellent study of the life of the first convicts), Botanic Gardens (gorgeous , going back in a moment), the Rocks (a very touristy area but the site of the first settlements) and the Harbour area. really enjoyed myself.

Teh local paper has been moaning about the weather. November was the wettest for 12 years (3 times average rain), and the forecast for this week is sun and showers. So far there has been plenty of sun and not a hint of showers. Lovely.

I'll update the blog on Thursday before I head off to Cairns. I'm now off to be a ourist at the Opera House.

Hoep you are all well and looking forward to Christmas . Its very weird seeing Christmas trees in the sunshine!!