Jetlag
August 4, 2004
After not having slept again, we had a rancid breakfast again. Arrived in Sydney in the morning. My passport didn’t scan at passport control, so I had to wait somewhere else. Finally got my visa and a sticker in my passport. The police dogs came to sniff my suitcases. Then we took a van to Kings Cross, after driving all over the city. Funk House is located on a very busy street. The room overlooks this. It was a small room with a bed, table, chair, TV, refrigerator, mirror & a fan. I just didn’t need this, because it was quite cold in Sydney. Slept wonderfully from 11:00 AM to 7:30 PM. Then we ate at McDonalds and went straight back to sleep until 1:00 am. Then I was wide awake because of the time difference. Fortunately, Kings Cross is open 24 hours a day, so we walked around a bit (lots of prostitutes), got pizza and had a drink. Went back to sleep at 3:30.
Playing tourist
August 5, 2004
Got up again at 7:30 and bought some things at the supermarket. We lounged on the beautiful roof terrace and had breakfast in a lunchroom (toast with scrambled eggs). Walked to the center via Hyde Park (very beautiful!). There I applied for my tax file number (social security number or something) and opened a bank account. Walked to the Harbor Bridge via the Royal Botanic Gardens. Of course, like any tourist, I took a lot of photos. Took a look at the Rocks district & ate a delicious salad on a terrace at Darling Harbour. In the hostel we sat on the roof terrace again, read all the information booklets (especially torn out all the discount coupons) and went to sleep at 8:00 PM.
Sight seeing
August 6, 2004
Had breakfast at Roys. My plate was so full that it was impossible to eat it, I had pancakes with banana. I wrote my first email to the Netherlands in an internet café, but accidentally deleted it so I had to start over. Then we went to take a look at Sydney Aquarium. Took some pictures and filmed there. Then we walked through Tumbaling Park and took pictures in the Chinese Garden wearing a Chinese outfit. I was so terribly tired that I fell asleep at 8:30 PM.
Finaly weekend
August 7, 2004
Woke up at 6:00 am because a group was singing under my window (well, Saturday morning in Kings Cross). Got up at 9:00 am and had a big breakfast at Q-point. Then went to Bondi Beach. Had a chicken salad at Speedo’s there. Back in Kings Cross, we had a drink in a sports cafe and watched a rugby match between Australia and New Zealand. We had a nice drink on the roof terrace. Everyone was ready to go out, but I had a great night’s sleep.
Sydney Tower
August 8, 2004
Woke up again at 6:00 am by people singing. Then we went to Bondi Beach, because there was the City Run with about 40,000 people. Later we cooked ourselves (soup) and ate on the roof terrace. Made some planning there. In the evening we went to the Sydney Tower and had dinner on the tower. They had all kinds of meat that they cut fresh right in front of you, I took ostrich and kangaroo. The kangaroo was super tasty, but the ostrich was a bit too salty. The restaurant rotated so that everyone could see the whole area.
Mobile
August 9, 2004
Woke up at 7:30 am because they were working outside on the road. Had breakfast with spaghetti in the public kitchen. Then I bought a cell phone at the supermarket. I looked for work on the internet, but there wasn’t much to be found. So we went into the center and filled out a lot of forms at World Wide Workers and took a type of test. In the evening we went to the Empire and played killer pool with about 20 people. Very fun to do, but I finished very quickly. The next few days I started looking for work again, so I went to a number of employment agencies. My cell phone didn’t send text messages, so I spent a long time on the phone with the operator. I had typed 0031, but it should have been +31. Well, how am I supposed to know that! My bank card had arrived at the hostel, so I activated it.
Work, work, work
August 14
Took the train to central station. Bought a CD player and towel at Paddy’s market. Had lunch at McDonald’s and watched some of the Olympics. In the evening we all watched football in the TV room and enjoyed a six-pack of Tooheys (beer) and 2 bottles of Mud Shake (chocolate milk with vodka). Later we ate something at Hungry Jacks (just Burger King in the Netherlands). Watched some Olympics in my room and went to sleep at 2:30. 16-8 My first day at work! Got up at 9:00 am and went to the employment agency to pick up the work address + my work shoes (what are they needed for???). Then I deposited my traveler’s checks into my bank account and downloaded music in an internet café and burned it to a CD.
Started work at 3:00 PM. I had to put stickers on insurance folders from the year 200 BC, then scan and enter information into the computer. The safety shoes are needed because it is in a warehouse with boxes. I had 3 breaks, then you could eat something in the canteen (bring your own) and on the internet. At 11:00 PM I finished work and went to McDonalds for dinner. The rest of the week was the same.
Exploring
August 21, 2004
Took the monorail to Paddy’s Market and got really lost (without a map!). In the evening we went to a restaurant recommended in Lonely Planet. When it arrived it turned out to be too neat, so I went to another one. Ate lamb there for a lot of money. Had beers in the TV room with a group from the hostel & then went to the Worldbar. Ordered an Illusion there. That was a kind of cocktail, but in small teapots. Very expensive, but tasty. I had drunk a lot and was in bed late.
Real weekend
August 22, 2004
Of course I slept in a lot. Nice walk to Elizabeth Bay & Potts Point. Later we took the train to Darling Harbor and had pasta at the Blackbird. When we got home, a painted bus with Ghostbusters music drove by. Quite funny, but it was just too late to film.
Well, work has to be done here too.
August 23 to August 27: Worked all week.
Taronga Zoo
August 29, 2004
Took the ferry to Taronga Zoo. From the ferry I was able to take beautiful pictures of the Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Saw my first koalas and there were all kinds of strange reptiles. The bird show was really cool. With a view of the Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, birds flew very low over the audience. Then we went to the chimpanzees, because they were being fed. Very nice to see. Then went to the seal show. Fun to see how they do all those tricks.
Lists, lists
August 30 to September 3, 2004
These days started with work to look for a campervan. Compare prices and conditions at many different rental companies and search in newspapers.
Of course, we are also busy planning an itinerary. I made lists of places I wanted to visit, nature reserves I wanted to explore and which routes I wanted to ride.
And for the first time in a 3D film. Nice to see what’s possible, but I’m not really into science fiction.
The World Bar
September 4, 2004
Slept well, had breakfast in the Krave and then went to the hairdresser. Back at the hostel, I joined the other backpackers in the TV room for a nice drink. Later that evening, around 11:30 PM, a group of about 25 people headed to The World Bar. We all danced wonderfully.
Saving
September 6 to September 9, 2004
This week was again filled with work and looking for a suitable campervan. I had the idea of renting one for a weekend, but unfortunately that turned out not to be possible. I decided to work for another three weeks before I really hit the road. It gave me the opportunity to save so I could buy a caravan.
Info
State: New South Wales
