Happy New Year everyone!  Arriving in Sydney was a bit of a culture shock after so long in Asia but it didn’t take me long (about 10mins I think) to fall back into the swing of modern day living.

Since being here, time is passing by at an alarming rate and I struggle to remember what I have done two days ago let alone when I last emailed. All I know is that since being here my travelling suddenly ground to a halt and my life reverted back to the one I had in London – lots of nights out and parties catching up with friends old and new. These nights out will have to stop if I am to conserve money for the rest of the trip!

Feeling the need to be grounded for a while, after living like a turtle with my home on my back for the last however many months, I moved into a flat in Coogee, a seaside town 20mins south of Central Sydney and just down the road from Bondi. I am paying around 20 quid a week, sharing a flat with six others and numerous cockroaches but who cares when I am less than 100M to a great beach. I am gradually doing the sights of Sydney but the recent festivities of Christmas and New Years have rather taken precedence.

Christmas was spent in the true British backpacker style on Bondi and Coogee beaches with Beers and Barbies – lots of people and lots of fun. As for the eve of 2001 the venue changed to the harbour side to see the fantastic firework display over the opera house and harbour bridge. I even managed to crawl out of bed on New Years day to see the carnival.

The month of Jan in Sydney is festival time with lots of things to see and do, I am also planning a couple of short jollies out to the Blue Mountains and Wonderland, a big theme park for kids! Just down my street then!

Oh and nearly forgot to tell you about my trip to the wildlife park. It was great, I was running around very excited like a demented 6 year old petting koalas, kangaroos, wombats, tasmanian devils and loads of other great Aussie animals – Love it!

I’m still having the time of my life and am looking forward to doing still so much stuff. Hope everyone is well and here’s to a very prosperous 2001. Make it a good one!!!