Aug 2007

Hay

Well surprisingly I managed to get up Sunday Morning without a hangover, I don't know how, it just great. Got packed, got my scrambled eggs and headed for the airport. The taxi guy only charged me 160bht, alot cheaper than coming in when I was charged 300bht. Bloody Thai's - delighted to see the back of them.

Anyway was quite looking forward to the flight. Flying with Singapore airlines is amazing. You would swear the economy class was first class, with In-Flight Entertainment (over 100 channels), plenty of leg room, a pillow, a blanket, flight socks, 2 meals and a supper - Ryanair eat your heart out. So after the watching Shrek the 3rd and still at least 5 hours left in the Sky, a bit of sleep might be the sensible thing to do. Well it would if it was'nt for the little runt beside me that would'nt stop crying. It was like he was waiting for me to go to Sleep before he started his 5hr non-stop crying campaign and what is worse is the parents just bloody sat there smiling at him.

Touched down in Sydney at 6am Monday morning, wrecked, tired and grumpy. Certainly not the form you want to be in when going through Passport Control in Austrailia. Between Passport Control, Immigretion and Customs, Sydney airport our way ahead then any other country when it comes to airport Security.

Eventually got into the arrivals hall were I was greeted my good old friend Nick, twas great to see after along time and fair play to him for getting up so early to pick me up. After a good few hours sleep later that day follwed by dinner (Pizza...eeemmm) in a Jazz Bar with Nick and his lovely lady friend Danielle. Jet lag is an awfull thing when your trying to enjoy yourself. Had to call it an early night.

Fully Refreshed and rearing to go

After a good nights sleep I took a good walk around the city. Its a very easy city to walk around and extremly hard to get lost in - I hardly needed to use the map at all. Landed in around Sydney harbour were you get a great view of Sydney Bridge and a tour in around the Sydney Opera House. Quite Enjoyable.

Some of the Many Skyscrappers that dominate the Sydney Skyline

Sydney Opera House, made into a world Heritage Site this year. This amazing theatre was designed by Jørn Utzon, a Danish architect, who called in engineers Ove Arup and partners to build the Roof. The man that headed the team from Ove Arup was Peter Rice, a Dundalk Born Structural Engeineer. I did a wee bit of research into him and its amazing the projects that Peter was involved in across the world. This guys acheivements should be highlighted a wee bit more in Dundalk.

Look at it. Amazing, tall, strong, looks fantastic, pure eye candy, just an amazing gift from God.......anyway enough about me, do you see the bridge in the background.

For my last night the plan was to chill out in the hostel and watch a film, was'nt really up going out on Saturday past. The taughts on getting a long haul flight with a hangover did not really appeal to much. So a I decided, finish off my book, maybe a wee beer in the hostel and then off to bed early. That was the plan. Did it work out that way???......No!

Saturday afternoon I got a text from BK Mel, who was on her way down from Cambodia and was stopping off in Bangkok for the night before heading down to Koh Phangan for the full Moon Party (Lucky git!). So naturally we had to catch up for a bit of grub and a view beers while we were both in the same city.

I have to say it really made my night and a great way to leave a complete sh*ith*le of a city. Koshan Rd was the location for Saturday nights drinks, the famous Backpacker strip is full of unusal bars and clubs but it was a good laugh. I met up with Mel and Claire (Mel's travelling buddy and happens to be a Dundalk Lassy also) in Silk Bar for a bite to eat. Then a bit of a wee pub crawl evolved after that and typically ending up in Burger King at 4 that morning stuffing our faces - good night all round!

Above is myself, Claire and Mel. Fairly getting stuck into a tower of Heiniken (they are really great value)

I swear, I am not drunk in this photo and that cup I'm holding does not have a Singapore Slinger in it....Swear! Thats ....ahh...Declan, I think.....yeah Declan in photo also, he's from up the road in Newry ( A nephew of Betty in the Phoenix)

My first time driving a motor propelled vehicle, a quad bike. We hired it out for the day and travelled over the hole of the Island, have to say it was great fun......on a straight road. As you get deaper into the island you have to replace the word 'road' with 'mudtrack', as you get even further in you have to replace 'mudtrack' with a 'heap of rocks - try and get over these without without doing damage to yourself' anyway apart from that it was class.....really got to learn to drive when I get back. Anyone up for teaching????