Dive! Dive! Dive!
Well, I made it to Cairns without too many problems! Didn't manage a business upgrade, but there was plenty of legroom, and it was a relatively short flight, so no worries mate! From what i've seen of Cairns so far, it's fairly ordinary! Mind you, I arrived at 10:30pm last night, and have spent all of today either in a classroom learning diving theory (3.5 hours), or at the bottom of an oversized swimming pool for another 3.5 hours with a tank of compressed air strapped to my back, wearing a tight neoprene suit, and with a big chunk of rubber stuck in my mouth (Mick Miller, get your mind out of the sewer immediately!!), so it's a bit difficult to judge!
I've got more of the same tomorrow, with a 1 hour exam added on for good measure, followed by a 2 hour reef awareness lecture (not compulsory, but apparently it's not to be missed!) then it's a 7:00am start on Thursday for our 3 day 2 night trip out to the barrier reef! It's going to be amazing. There are about 16 of us in the group, a mixture of Brits, Aussies, Americans, Canadians and Dutch. We will be diving at a depth of no more than 20 metres. 9 dives in total, including at least one night dive (1.5 hours!). After all that I should have my PADI open-water diving license!! Then the world is my oyster! Well the wet parts anyway! :-)
I'm now off to find something to eat, and then I think it's off to bed as i'm absolutely whacked!!
No photos today, but stick with it, and I hope to be able to post one of me suited and booted for the deep blue sea (control yourself Miller!!).
Ant
- posted by antony @ Tuesday, June 29, 2004

 
Palm Beach!
Well, the weekends over, so it's back to work.....for you lot!! :-) I'm off to the Zoo!
I've already got over the disappointment of Englands defeat at the hands of the Wallabies. Jon, Peter & I had a Saturday evening of sports, at home, with pizza, and beer! I'm now a devoted fan of the Sydney Swans Aussie Footie Team. I understood nothing about the game before hand, but with a few beers under my belt and plenty of explanation from Jon and Peter....I still know nothing! Only kidding, I have been educated in the ways of the Roving Rucker, and I now know what a behind is! (And there I was thinking it was my arse!!). Apparently i've been spoilt, as it was the best game of the season with the lead changing hands 15 times, and the Swans finally overcoming the less than mighty Magpies of Collindale by a mere 6 points (or was it 5?).
Yesterday was spent exploring Sydneys North Beaches (Palm Beach mostly). The attached piccy gives you some idea of the lovely scenery and weather I am enjoying!

Jon and I sat and ate Calamari & chips for lunch on the sand overlooking the Tasman Sea! And then climbed up to the lighthouse overlooking the bay. I also saw my first Cookaburra!
Still haven't seen any Roos or Kaolas, so am having to rectify that today by visiting the Taronga Zoo on the north side of the harbour.
Then it's off to Cairns tonight to start my 5 day scuba diving course on the barrier reef, (seats on the Qantas flight permitting!!).
Will have to sign off now as i've also got to get hold of some Factor 30+ sun cream!
Ant
- posted by antony @ Monday, June 28, 2004

 
They think it's all over...!
Well, yesterday was my day for viewing the Harbour Bridge close up. Probably not the best place to visit after having suffered through yet another England penalty shoot-out defeat!! Fortunately they've got plenty of fencing up there! :-)
You can actually pay to walk up to the top of the bridge! They make you wear these lovely grey jump-suits, and you're not allowed to take anything up with you that may potentially drop onto the vehicles below! No cameras, no jewellery, you even have to remove toupees! (OK, I made that last bit up, but it may still be true!!). Even if you want to propose to your beloved up there, they have this elaborate procedure which involves attaching the ring to the proposers wrist with a loop of string. The ring is then placed on the proposees finger, and the loop is then swapped from one wrist to the other whilst hands are still joined!
Anyway the cost of the bridge walk was a whopping AUS$180, so being the tight individual that I am, I went for the climb up the south-west bridge pylon instead.... a bargain at AUS$8.50, and the views are just as good.
Happened to look down from on high, and spotted what looked like a wedding taking place on a patch of grass below the bridge. When I mentioned this to Jon later, he told me that loads of (already married!) Japanese couples come to have their pictures taken in full wedding gear with the Bridge in the background! Apparently there are frequently queues of them waiting for their turn......for some reason I didn't find this as surprising as I probably should have!
Made my first use of Sydneys public transport as well, taking 2 bus trips and 1 train ride. Didn't get lost either...amazingly!
Went out with mein hosts Jon and Peter to a local pub (The Nags Head Hotel) last night, for a couple of schooners (they're more than a half, but less than a pint!) of Coopers Ales, and some nice pub grub!
Have been here over 3 days and not seen a kangaroo or koala bear yet! I have however seen a couple of Possums which reside in the trees behind the house. They have a habit of fighting each other on the roof over my bedroom. If you'd seen the size of these things, it's a wonder i've managed to get any sleep at all!
Anyway, we're having a relaxing day today, before heading out to watch the Aus vs England rugby followed by the Aussie Rules footie between Sydney Swans and Collingwood at a local pub (that's us at the pub, not the actual game!!)
The extent of our hangovers will determine what tomorrow brings!!

Ant
- posted by antony @ Saturday, June 26, 2004

 
Surfs Up!
Well, I kept on the go as long as I could yesterday to try and break the jetlag effect! Walked to Darling Harbour, and took a wander around the Aquarium which was pretty cool. They have a superb underwater viewing tunnel which allows you to walk along, with huge sharks and sting rays gliding by just inchs above you! Probably not the best idea, with my scuba diving trip to the Barrier Reef less than a week away!! :-)
Had a quick bite to eat, and a bit of a lie down on a bench to try and revive myself, but began to have that out of body jetlag experience, so decided to head back to the house around late afternoon. Had a couple of hours sleep, and then went for a bite to eat (and a slurp to drink!) with Jon and Peter in town! Then slept for about 12 hours solid! Even the possums rampaging on the roof above me didn't wake me up!
Surfaced about 11:00am, and headed off for a very late breakfast at Bondi Beach with Jon. It's a lot smaller than I expected, and the sea was flat as a pancake, and it was pretty deserted. But then as Jon pointed out, it is the middle of winter here! There were still a few mad fools messing around on their boards though. Oh, and we saw a small pod of whales passing by...at least we assumed they were whales as they were some distance off shore. They were displaying distinctly whale-like activity anyway!
Next we headed off to Watsons Bay, and Jon kicked me out of the car and said "Find your own way back to Sydney English Boy!"......OK, what he actually said was "Hey, why don't you catch the ferry back to Circular Quay and i'll meet you there in the car!?" but I knew what he really meant!! (Only kidding Mr. Murrie!) :-)
Anyway, it turned out to be an excellent idea (as his usually are!) and I got some spectacular shots of the harbour (Bridge, Opera House etc.), but you'll have to take my word for it as i've left the camera at the house! Doh!
I've been left to my own devices tonight as my landlords both have prior engagements to attend! So i'm exploring the delights of Glebe. So far i've found an internet cafe (I can hear you all groaning "typical Ant Stansbie!"). My stomach is rumbling, so i'm off next to track down some tucker! I think I can see a "McWitchity Grubs" in the distance!! Yum Yum!!
Ant

- posted by antony @ Thursday, June 24, 2004

 
Sydney Calling!
Well, i've made it to Sydney at last....and I managed to get upgraded to Business Class! I've seen the light! So much room, such good food, and they even had proper toast!! Even managed to have a really good sleep! Luxury!

Landed in Sydney around 5:15am this morning (23rd June), and was met by my good friend and ex-flatmate Jon! The first thing he did was drive me to a small park across the harbour from a couple of local attractions....see the attached piccy, you might recognise them! It was spectacular as the sun was just coming up!


Am now sitting in a cute little internet cafe in Glebe waiting for everything to open up, so that I can go and explore! Going to try and keep going as long as possible so that my body-clock adjusts.

Weather is a bit on the cold side, but nothing I can't handle!

Am here for the next 5 days, and then off to Cairns for a 5 day learn-to-dive scuba course! It's a hard life!! :-)

Ant
- posted by antony @ Wednesday, June 23, 2004

 
Singapore Sling
Well, got bored again, and decided to go and track down Raffles Hotel. Found it surprisingly easy, and went and had a Singapore Sling in the Long Bar, with shell-on peanuts, and cute little local sparrow-like birds scampering all over the place picking up discarded nuts! :-)
Now back at the airport, and about to go and have a much needed shower. I must reek by now. People are beginning to notice!! :-)
Ant

- posted by antony @ Tuesday, June 22, 2004

 
Off and running!
Well, Monday 21st June came, and off I went to Heathrow, saying an emotional goodbye to Julie on the westbound platform at Hammersmith tube station on the way! First task was to find the staff travel desk which was no mean feat. Had a bit of a palaver over my ticket as the trainee behind the desk couldn't find me on the passenger list! Eventually she realised that she had to select "Next Page" to find me listed! Doh!! Thanks to Julie, who persuaded me to persist, or else my flight category would have been downgraded! Blimmin' cheek!
Anyway, finally got listed, and returned to the desk 45 minutes prior to the flight to see if i'd been lucky in the staff standby lottery (very nerve racking it is too!). The relief was immense when I heard the words "passenger Stains...stands...stanby...Stansbie collect your boarding card please!"
Didn't manage to blag the hoped for business class upgrade on this leg, so spent an uncomfortable 13 hours in cattle....er I mean Economy class....not a pleasant experience! And they had Starsky and Hutch showing in business class!!!
Have got as far as Singapore (where it is very hot and very, very muggy!), and am currently sitting in an internet cafe in the centre of town, as I got bored at the airport, and my flight isn't for another 8 hours or so! I'm told that business class is a distinct possibility on the singapore-sydney leg. Fingers are crossed and double crossed!!
Should arrive Sydney early hours of Wednesday morning. Sorry Jon!
Just found out that England are through to the quarter-finals of Euro 2004! Will have to wait until Sydney to hear whether Tiger Tim has survived the 1st round!! :-)

Am now off to explore the delights of Singapore!
- posted by antony @ Tuesday, June 22, 2004

 
T -1 and counting!
Well, i've done the leaving do, and the last day at work, and the two nights in a luxury hotel, and i'm now officially unemployed, and free to set off on my big adventure.
Have just finished packing! The bag weighs a ton! I think Qantas might do quite well out of me via excess baggage charges!
Hoping to catch a flight tomorrow (Monday 21st June), but as i'm flying stand-by, and the flights are looking a bit full, I may have to wait until Tuesday. But fingers crossed and all that! :-)
Hope you're all enjoying work!
I'll be thinking of you all whilst i'm facing up to the harsh Aussie winter! Did I mention that i've booked a 5 day diving course on the barrier reef? :-)

Ant


- posted by antony @ Sunday, June 20, 2004

 
Plans coming together at last!!
Well, plans are beginning to gather pace! My leaving date is now set for the 18th of June, and therefore I plan to set off on my travels around the 21st. I've had to bin the Thailand leg as my leaving date was put back by a few eeeks, and i'll have to knock a few days off here and there, but the basic plan remains the same.

London-Sydney-Wellington-Queenstown-Auckland-LA-SF-Las Vegas-New York-London. A few days back, and then straight off to South Africa for a couple of weeks.

I think i've managed to organise a housesitter to look after the cats and garden whilst i'm away as well! So that's a weight off my mind! :-)

Just itching to get going now!! :-)
- posted by antony @ Thursday, June 03, 2004