AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS........or so

Photo taken in the Botanic Gardens at 4.30 in the evening. Gets dark pritty ealry over here.

A full Week in Sydney

Since arriving last Monday I've got to many of the sights, met up with a few Dundalk heads and of course did the Irish Pub scene, so it has been busy aul week in all. The city is very easy to get around and you can do alot of it on foot. On Wednesday I headed out to Bondi, or as its should be known as County Bondi. The Irish seem to have taken over this part of Sydney, you can even get 'McDonalds Irish Curry Chips' here, but its not as good as Sing Li.

The famous beach did'nt really seem to be that busy but Thomas, who's been here for over a year, assured me that in really good weather its really hard to get a spot on it.....a bit like port Beach. Chilled out on the beach till late evening and then headed to the Three Steps to get my first Irish Breakfast of my Trip, boy did it go down well. That evening myself and Nick headed to heaven, sorry I mean The Belgian Heritage Bar. This place is expensive but you get to taste some fine Belgian Beer. Great way to finish off the night.

Bondi Beach in the Background.

The famous County Bondi

No escaping Dundalk

I think its 12, maybe 13, I can't remember but its around that figure so far. The amount of Dundalk heads I have come across so far. Four of them I actually wanted to meet, the other remainder are guys I met in the Merchantile, O'Malleys and even in the Kebab shop at 3 in the morning. Its unreal. But can be good as most of them have been in Sydney for a year or longer and of course they know the best places to go. Gav, who worked with myself in Oriel, brought me to the best pub I've been in so far on the Trip - The Lord Nelson. A small Micro-Brew pub ocated in the Rocks. Excellent spot and you can even see the Stills were they actually brew the beer. Just round the corner of this bar you have the Merchantile, I'm told its an Irish Institution in Sydney. We finished off the night here with the famous Shaylee Wild playing. She's a bit like the MerryMacs back home. Thomas was able to tell me the entire set list before she would begin, the same jokes, the act, the same routine and yet people come back week after week for it.

Thats herself.

The photo is a bit out of focus, but you can still make it out. Having a few beers in Merchantile Fiona, Thomas, Myself and Gav. A good nights craic.

Thats about it for now.

Talk soon. Feel free to leave a comment below.

Ciao.

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????

Hay everyone.

Left Bangkok yesterday morning. Took a 3 1/2 bus ride over to BaPhan, from here we got to ferry over to the island of Koh Samet. The weather is unreal, at the moment, its at 35 degrees, perfect for the beach......how's the rain back home????

Anyway this island was declared a national park and a place of outstanding beauty in 1981, however due to the locals building illegal resorts along the beach it was stripped of its title. I actually think it adds to the character of the Island. We booked ourselves into one of the resorts looking right out onto the beach. Amazing.

Myself, Niall and two English girls we met chilled out with cocktails on the beach last night. Talk about complete and utter relaxation. I tried authentic Thai food here last night for the first time ( I was to weary of it in Bangkok) and boy is it gorgeous.....and bloody hot!!

I've been hearing alot about a Full Moon party on the 29th in Koh Phangan, south of Bangkok, this happens to be the day I fly out to Sydney......should I stay or go???? Going to look into getting the flight tickets changed. Hopefully they'll be able to do something.

Just to make you all jealous at home the plan for today is to chill out on the beach and catch some Sun......being a typical Paddy I'll end up as a red as hell.

Here are a view photo's of Thailand. ( I found a way to go over my limit with uploading!)

Neil (from Ballbriggan) & Ruth (Manchester) on the Ferry to Koh Samet

In the gardens of the Emerald Palace

On the back of a TUK TUK

Emerald Palace again!

Right thats all for now.....beach time. Feel free to leave a coment (just click on the comment button underneath)

Ciao

Colin