29.06.2004

Another bright, sunny and cloudless day in Sydney. I woke up late, and had to jostle with other backpackers for a share of the free breakfast. Breakfast is just like what they serve in the SAF, white bread with jam and butter. Oh well, at least its free.
We decided to go visit the Blue Mountains, 'cos according to Darryl's brother, the scenery is something not to be missed. Left the hostel at around 10am, headed to King's Cross station where we boarded the train. Apparently, the reason why we lost our way yesterday was because we took the nearest landmark to be the train station, when it was actually in fact the police station. Sometimes I scare myself. Anyway, the trains here are not like what we have in Singapore, when they say 'trains', they mean it. The trains we were sitting in had double storey carriages, so there's no lack of seats. We missed the initial train by just 5min, so we decided to wait for the next 30min before the scheduled arrival. It took us 2 hrs just to get to Katoomba, where the temperature is MUCH colder than downtown Sydney. But the long journey and the terrible cold were worth enduring, because the scenery of the Blue Mountains is really spectacular. Went down into the valley for a short walk during which we got to see a waterfall and lush forest undergrowth. My stupid digital camera was acting up again, the battery shows low levels, but I had just charged it. Damn gadgets. We headed back to Katoomba for dinner at a Chinese restaurant run by a Hong Kong couple, where the food is surprisingly good. Caught the 7.25pm train back to Sydney, and proceeded to perform cover and concealment again through King's Cross Street. Damn I'm getting good at this...whee! Wish I had enough money to visit the strip bars though, the pimps' offers are starting to sound good...no, I must control myself...if I did go in, I wouldn't have enough money left to buy myself a rubber float to swim back to Singapore with.

30.06.2004

Today's the day we leave for Auckland. Reveille at 0730 hrs local time, screwed up my breakfast by carbonizing my bread. Well here's to carcinogens and an early demise, cheers! 
We took a shuttle bus from the hostel to the airport, only ending up queuing an hour just to check in. I was still planning to spend some time at the internet cafe before the flight, but the atrociously slow check-in ruined it all for me. This was followed by another long wait to get through immigration. We made it to our plane just as it was taxiing out of its bay...haha well actually we got on just on time. Qantas serves pretty good airline food, followed by delicious ice cream to which I can never say no. And I thought I swore off all airline food after my horrible experience on China Airlines...it gives me the shudders just thinking about that now...
Touched down at Auckland at 4.30pm local time. New Zealand is 4hrs ahead of Singapore, and 2 hrs ahead of Australia, just to let others know. The pilot apparently was a newbie, or he simply likes clouds ALOT. The number of turbulences we experienced before landing was astonishing, and I'm still surprised that I'm still alive writing this. Customs and baggage check at Auckland airport is just as bad as it was over in Sydney, I miss Changi Airport already. We met a San Fransisco school band that performed during the concert we watched at the Opera House back in Sydney. When they asked us how we liked their performance, we lied through our teeth and told them it was wonderful. Of course, what else do you expect us to say? I can't possibly tell them we either slept through most of the concert, or we left without seeing them perform, could I? After all, they are a group of 100 and we are only a couple of morons who made the mistake of making small talk with them.
After surviving the ordeal of getting through customs, it was already dark even though its only 6pm. Booked our Best of NZ travel pass, hopped on a shuttle bus for our hostel. There were a couple of cute chicks on board, too bad they weren't staying at our hostel. Damn. Our hostel, the Fat Camel, is the best we've seen so far. The rooms are actually the individual rooms of apartments converted into small bunks. So far, we haven't seen anyone else sharing the apartment with us, so I guess for $24 per person a night, its a pretty good deal. Dinner was a SFI standard meal served free at the bar downstairs. The food wasn't delicious, but the babes sure are. I hope they make a pass at me later...lol