The Real Australian Adventure

Living in Sydney, as a Sydneysider!

2011-04-05T10:13:00.000-07:00

Sydney, Australia's largest city, has a population of over 4 million people and is still growing. Approximately 40,000 people a year, most of whom are new immigrants, move to Sydney each year. Sydney has the highest percentage of immigrants per population of all Australian cities. In total, approximately 1.6 million residents are immigrants, having moved to Sydney over the years.

Sydney's climate has a strong drawing influence on people moving to Australia. Just like most of the continent, the summers are hot. However, winters are mild and spring is dry. This is much more attractive to people than the wet, cold winters experienced in countries like England.

Since Sydney is the most popular city in Australia, real estate prices are also the highest. The most recent data provided lists an average home in Sydney at just under $600,000 as compared to, say, Brisbane, another common destination in Australia, where the listed price came in at a little under $450,000. Construction in Sydney carries on at a fervent pace just to keep up with the rate of natural growth and to accommodate the many new immigrants.

Sydney has a thriving economy which is also a big attraction amongst immigrants moving to Australia. Business services, education and finances are among the core industries of Sydney. Environmental management, information technology and medical sciences are among the new fields being promoted in the city.

Sydney covers over 700 square miles and is divided up into five main areas; North Sydney, Western Sydney, Inner West Sydney, East Sydney and South Sydney. While each area has its pros and cons, a city as enormous and diverse as Sydney means one has an excellent chance at finding a suitable fit.

Sydneysiders, a nickname given to the residents of Sydney, take great pride in their city and consider Melbourne their number one rival. While this may make one a bit apprehensive, it has actually been shown to be a good thing. The general belief is that it brings out a sense of pride and unity amongst the respective inhabitants of the city.

Sydney has traditionally received universal accolades to the point that may seem too good to be true. But according to recent surveys, Sydney is truly that beautiful and its residents truly that content. Sydney continues to be one of the most beloved cities in the world and, with its popularity spanning amongst both singles and families alike.

Randall Phillips is marketing director at Shipping 2 Australia which specializes in helping people with moving to Australia. They locate the lowest priced moving quotes from reliable, reputable and bonded shippers.

West Sydney, Anzac Bridge, and Australian Jobs

2011-04-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

I've had a lot of time to myself lately, being between jobs. The project in my previous company came to an end, and so did my employment there. I'm glad, though, because I didn't like it. I approached Adecco again, and they got me a three-day job to keep me going, so I had to work Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It was in the suburb of St Leonards, in the borough of Willoughby. I was working for an international company called Cisco that manufactures cutting-edge networking hardware, although the company I actually worked in was Lan Systems, which is one of their customers. It was for the purpose of doing an audit there.

During my free days, I've spent a lot of time exploring Sydney. I love to walk and to see new places, and this city is an awsome place for doing that. I walked up, past Kings Cross, to Bushcutters Bay. There's a lovely park there. The sun was beating down on that day, and I spent a while simply sitting, watching the yaghts sail by the Harbour. I then walked up to Darling Point and some other suburbs up there. You don't find many travellers in places like that, because frankly there's not an awful lot to see, but I personally like to go to these places, because you can sort of see people in their natural habitat.

I got a note stuck under my door the other day from the caretaker, saying something like "Golden Oldies phoned...". It turns out my dad has joined something called Alfa, which gives him cheap international calls. I phoned him and gave him my mobile number, so now fortunately my mum and dad have got a direct line to me, which I'm glad of.

I had an interview, via Manpower, with a company called Custom Call about a week ago. It involved lots of role playing and shit, which I was good at, but I failed on the final bit, where we had to take mock calls from angry customers. I just didn't prepare myself at all for any of this interview, and so I didn't get the job. I would definitely advise backpackers coming to work in Sydney to give Manpower a ring, though, as Custom Call is very much geered up for young people. It's very noisy, and you can meet lots of people. In addition, they have free internet, pool tables and lots of other things. The recruitment is ongoing, as there are pretty much only packpackers working there. Anyway, I didn't get it, but I'm not too bothered, because Adecco have got a couple of things lined up for me. My wages have been okay so far, being equivalent to about �7.20 per hour.

From my interview, I took a walk to Darling Harbour, but a different part of it this time. When I went to Darling Harbour about a month ago, I didn't realise it was this big. The place I'd now discovered was the real Darling Harbour - one of the most beautiful places in Sydney, and a definite must for any tourist. There are mounds of hotels, pubs and restaurants surrounding a small river in-let here. What a fantastic place to visit on a hot summer's day... and a stunning place to see at night. There's a big shopping plaza near Pyrmont Bridge there. I went into a shop called On Tap, which sells lots of different sorts of beer memorabilia.

Talking of Pyrmont Bridge, that was my next destination. I took the escalator up there. It's only a small bridge, but the views from it are amazing. It leads to the suburb called Pyrmont, which is another busy part of the city, and well worth taking a look at. I walked past another shopping precinct, and saw that there's a giant casino in there. (To reach it, you just turn right after the bridge.) I tried to get in, but the bouncer insisted I leave my rucksack downstairs in the lockers, so I didn't bother going in. Talking about Casinos and gambling, do you know that Sydney is one of the gambling capitals of the world? It's a little known fact, but it has more slot machines that Las Vegas - it's just that they're less conspicuous.

Further up the road, I reached an eerily quiet part of the city on the edge of what seems to be an abandoned port. I sat there for a bit, taking in the absolute lack of noise and watching some lizards on the sidewalk. Then I walked to Anzac Bridge, which is further down the river from Sydney Harbour Bridge. It's extremely long, and takes you to the borough of Leichardt, which was traditionally a small village in its own right, but was incorporated into Sydney in the 1870's. There, I found one of the best homebrew shops I've ever seen. The guy there game me a glass of his homebrewed Newcastle Brown. It's a pity I can't make any beer while I'm here. It's difficult, because it takes two weeks to make, then two months to mature, and I'm not going to be in Sydney for anywhere near that long.

Next, I walked down to a liquor store, where a girl had me sampling wine from Western Australia. Well, free drinks, how could I say no?

I got home very late, and thoroughly enjoyed that day. On another small walk a few days later, I went down to the suburb called Ultimo. It's not far from downtown. I thought it might be interesting, but there's nothing there. On my way there, however, I passed by a big building called Market City, which has four floors of shops. On the ground floor is a huge market called Paddy's Market. I'm not sure yet how often it's held, but it might very well be daily. There's lots and lots of cheap stuff there, and is very busy. Even busier is the back of the market, where there are hundreds of fruit stalls, and a fish market behind them in a separate area. I'll be shopping in Paddy's for my fruit in future, because it costs about half as much as in the supermarket.

On 8th May, I went on another of my crazy walks, across Anzac Bridge again, into the heart of West Sydney. I've kind of figured it out now... East Sydney is the whole downtown area, all the way through to Bondi Beach, and everything in between... North Sydney is the part of the city that lies across Harbour Bridge, and has many more huge metropolitan areas... West Sydney is the main residential zone, with miles and miles of tree-lined streets, parks and posh houses... and South Sydney (from my limited experience of it) is the industrial part of the city, and probably the least attractive. I walked for a total of 17 miles this day, through Leichardt, Lilyfield, Ashfield and Haberfield, then back through Annandale (another small quaint village that really has the feel of being a small community) and Glebe (a popular place for backpackers to live, who want to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city).

The next day, I went back to Black Adder employment agency on Margaret Street to join them. They gave me the usual typing test, and I did awful! My usual speed is about 80 words per minute, but I only achieved 50 on their test. It was because I misunderstood something the receptionist told me when she put me on the test. It's a pity, because I'll have less chance of getting a job through them now. I suppose I shouldn't really worry, though, because I only plan to be in Sydney for about another six or seven weeks, and Adecco should get me what I need. I was thinking of Brisbane being my next city to live in, but a girl I worked with (for Cisco) told me it's just a soul-less city with a dirt river running through it. I don't know how true that is, but I'm thinking I'll go to Cains instead, which is further up the coast and right on the Great Barrier Reef. Incidentally, I'm thinking of then going to Darwin (a very hot small town far up north), Perth (all the way on the opposite coast of Australia) and possibly then either Adalaide or Tasmania, if I have time.

A few days ago, I walked down to Broadway, which is the continuation of George Street. I thoughg it was going to be really good down there, but it's a bit boring really. I went to Broadway Shopping Centre and found a cheap supermarket called Bi-Li. On the way back, I tried to join the library, but was told I couldn't, because you need to live in a house or flat and have proof of your address to do so, which is crap.

And that's just about it for now. Either next weekend or the weekend after, I'll be going to the Blue Mountains, which are outside of Sydney, near the town of Katoomba.

(originally posted 16th May 2005)

Bondi Beach - What to do and where to stay?

2011-03-23T13:28:00.000-07:00

Everybody knows that Australia is endowed with some of the best beaches on the planet, and to see an excellent example in the Sydney area visitors should head on over to Bondi Beach. Located in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, this small community has got a kilometer-long, world-class beach that is merely 7 kilometers removed from the city center (making it the closest beach thereto).

The town of Bondi Beach is dominated by many trendy resorts that are neatly juxtaposed against the rather unique and eccentric air of the locals and visitors in town. At the heart of town is the beach itself set alongside a pleasant oceanfront walkway with various parks and green spaces farther inland, all of which give the place plenty of outdoor recreational potential.

Visitors in town will surely be impressed by some of the internationally recognized establishments such as the Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club and the Bondi Icebergs Club. Separately, the community hosts several lively and entertaining annual events that bring in well-sized crowds: the World Environment Day festival of June, the City to Surf Fun Run of August, the Flickerfest film festival (surely Australia's finest), and several others besides. For anyone arriving outside of these timeframes looking for some cultural activities, the Bondi Pavilion Community Centre is almost permanently organizing events and visitors can just stop by and get the scoop. Finally, on a lower key, the Bondi Beach Market opens up every Sunday of the year and has got tons of interesting stuff to check out.

In the northern section of town, visitors can check out Aboriginal rock art during a break in their golf game, discovering some of the most unique cultural heritage the area has to offer. Then, down in town visitors can get their hands on some exceptional souvenirs at the markets along Campbell Parade (Bondi Beach's central avenue).

Of course, no trip to Bondi Beach is complete without heading down the oceanside pathway that leads to Coogee (another suburb farther south). An exceptionally pretty path with excellent views to be taken in while walking, running or biking, the total length takes a little over two hours for people that do it all in one fell swoop. However, given the many worthy stops along the way most people turn it into a half- or full-day excursion. There's good snorkeling to be had at Gordon's Bay, the chance to see some of Australia's notable figures' graves (and breathtaking ocean vistas) at Waverley Cemetery, and many spots to stop for a drink and a bite to eat as well. It is undoubtedly a must-do for any visitor in the area.

Establishments such as the Bondi Beachhouse YHA or the Bondi Sands (cheaper lodgings) as well as the Bondi Beach Garden Cottage or the Bondi Cottage (for a little more pampering) and many other options besides constitute some of the Sydney accommodation options to be found in the vicinity.

If you are planning to visit Sydney, visit us to find some great Sydney Accommodation. Find more information and pictures about Bondi here.

Bondi Beach, Sydney Botanical Gardens and Anzac Day

2011-03-20T13:15:00.000-07:00

(After almost a month living in Sydney on my working holiday visa, I finally visit the Royal Botanic Gardens. Also, I revisit Bondi Beach, and the rocks off it. Soon, it's Anzac Day.)

It's been a really eventful eight days since my last update. So, I'll start from the beginning.

By my second or third day at the hostel (Eva's Backpackers), I was getting quite used to it, although, I must say, I still didn't like it. But nevertheless I met a couple there, who asked me to come along to the cinema with them (this was on 17th April). This particular cinema, on Darlinghurst Road, just by Kings Cross, advertises itself as "the most comfortable cinema in the world". It probably is, as well - there are no seats, you just lie down, rest your head on a pillow, take your shoes off, and enjoy the film. We saw The Aviator (which is a bloody good film). The place is actually run by Buddhists, and they were giving away free Buddhist books, as well as business cards advertising their religion.

The next morning, it was down to business, with my first interview. I've got to say, I was convinced I would get the 1145-8pm job at the call centre place I mentioned in my last update. This interview I had today at 10am in Surry Hills (a small suburb about half an hour's walk away) was just a wildcard - I had no idea what it was, who it was for, or anything. Well, I forgot to take down my mobile phone number when I went there, which they needed to contact me. When the interviewer (Tony) realised this, he said he was impressed enough, and decided to take me on there and then! I was walking on air! It turns out to be a sales job, working in shopping malls, train stations, etc, selling mobile phones.

(Just a note to say that the following was one of my biggest mistakes during my entire journey around Australia, but at the time this was originally written, I didn't know that. Whatever you do, never, ever, get a job selling anything, including charity stuff, as you'll be very lucky to earn anything at all from it. Be warned!)

I cancelled my interview for the next day, but decided still to go to my second employment agency interview at a place called Acom. Acom is a small private agency (of which this is the only branch). It's a very posh place, and the woman who interviewed me was from Rhyl. I was honest with her in telling her I'd already found a job, but she said it was a good thing joining anyway, just in case I'll need something later on. She told me that most admin jobs in Sydney are way out, in the far suburbs (about 40 minutes train ride away), because companies in the inner city tend to get their own people.

Anyway, the 19th was my first day working in Sydney. My trainer is a lovely girl called Natalie. I found it very challenging work, but the money is amazing. You make commission on each successful sale. They gave me an additional special bonus on my first day, which means I made $290 dollars! On the second day, Natalie and I were assigned a whole new task on the business-to-business side of things, which neither of us knew anything about, so we were very unsuccessful today. However, on my third day, I was asked if I wanted to join a training group for a new, far more complex product. I decided to go ahead with it. Again, it should be really good pay.

Having earned a decent week's wage in only four days, I was well in the mood for some beers on Friday night. The sheer selection of beers in this city continues to amaze me. As I've said already, attached to a lot of pubs is a "bottle shop", where you can buy their bottled beers and take them away. All bottle shops have a sort of standard selection, but in every one I go into, I find something new. I reckon there's about 150 beers to try in Sydney alone. Also very popular here are whisky and cola mixes. I tried one, and it was really tasty. It's not just whiskies, either; pretty much every distillery has jumped on the band wagon and is marketing cola mixes.

On Saturday, I decided enough was enough (for now) with the whole hostel thing. I was just pining to get my own space again, so I moved back to Museum Lodge. I have mixed feelings about it, really. I'm disappointed in myself for giving up on living in a hostel. I mean, I did meet a few people there. But then I think, well, I'm going to be travelling around Australia, and eventually I'll have to live in a hostel, so this is only really the beginning of my adventure. Also, I haven't exactly failed myself; I mean, if someone said to me two years ago I'd be living and working on the other side of the planet, I'd have laughed at them.

It's a long weekend here in Sydney, because Monday 25th April is a big national holiday, called Anzac Day. I decided to make the most of it, by going to Bondi Beach again on Saturday. Again, I had a great time there. The waves today, though, were particularly ferocious. I didn't spend long in the water this time, opting instead to explore the rocks that line the left-hand side of the beach. This was the most enjoyable part of the day. I love exploring, and it seemed to go on for ages. I just love nature and natural scenes, and this is an amazing part of Bondi Beach. I just walked and walked, until I reached a cave-like structure which presented the barrier to how far I could go. Then, I walked home from Bondi, which took over two hours.

On Sunday, I decided to finally pay a visit to the Botanic Gardens. I didn't even know they were there (never mind that they were famous), until David the German guy had showed me his photographs. The Botanic Gardens are pretty much right next to the Sydney Opera House. The Gardens are so relaxing. The first real wildlife I saw were a couple of large spiders. They're all over the place, apparently. The next thing I was looking for were the bats (or "flying foxes", as they seem to call them here). I was walking between some trees in a subtropical zone and there was this din coming from above my head. I didn't even realise, but I was standing under a tree with hundreds of bats in it! It was an amazing sight. They were hanging upside down, occasionally fighting with each other, but rarely flying. I did eventually see one in flight, but it was too quick for me to get a photo of it.

After that, I went in search of the parrots, but didn't end up finding them. I'd run out of memory in my camera, so it was just as well. I'll definitely return there in a week or two. I ended up walking back along a scenic promenade, which led me to the Woolloomooloo district. Despite the vicinity of Woolloomoolo, I hadn't visited it until now. It has a beautiful harbour, and a gigantic floating block of flats (gigantic, as in length, not height), lined at the base with restaurants. Yet another gorgeous suburb of Sydney. On my way there, I passed by a big river-side swimming pool. I enquired within about their prices, and it's only $5. I might just go there as well some time.

At the time of writing (25th April), it's Anzac Day. I've been wondering who or what Anzac actually is (or was). Apparently it's something to do with World War One. I would like to learn more about it some time. There were really big marches down in the city today, mainly through George Street, ending in Hyde Park. I went down to have a look at it at midday. The crowds were heaving.

Anyway, I've got work again tomorrow. We had to take a small test on Friday, which I hope I've passed. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

(originally posted 25th April 2005)

Places to Work in Australia

2011-03-03T05:29:00.000-08:00

If you're planning on backpacking to Australia and want to earn some cash then you have to know where the tops spots are for employment opportunities. As luck would have it most of them are on the coast so you can enjoy a great holiday while picking up some money on the side. The trick is to pick the right season for the work you want to do. You shouldn't have too many problems getting work and this article will give you the jump on the best spots to look.

Bar work

Australia has LOTS of pubs otherwise known as Hotels so the chances of getting a job 'behind the bar' pouring beers is rather good. Obviously you have to be a friendly, easy going person able to keep froth to a minimum on a beer pull, but it is a great way to meet locals, listen to stories of the local area and become part of the community.

Telemarketing

Can you handle rejection? Then telemarketing might be for you. You know what it involves, cold calling people usually trying to sell them something. It's not great and a lot of it is commission based but if it's something pleasant to sell like seeking donations for charity then this might be OK. Obviously these jobs are in the capital cities.

Hospitality

In other words waiting tables. I've done this and the pay isn't bad. It's basically taking orders, bringing people food and clearing tables. If you have special skills you might get some chef work. There are so many types of places you could get this work and again the capital cities have the most but the coastal spots like the Gold Coast also have opportunities..

Resort work

Most of Australia's resorts are in Queensland, particularly north from about Mackay up to Cairns. And bonus for you we have lots of island resorts where travelers can work in the bars, front of office etc. Some resorts even offer subsidised accommodation on site for their employees given there isn't much else accommodation depending on where you are. I don't know about you but getting paid to live and work at a resort in Queensland sounds like a good gig to me.

Hostel work

Usually working front of house, booking people in, cleaning up doing some admin work and all that, working in a hostel has some great advantages. You get to know the best travel deals very quickly and will probably score some discounts given you work for a large operation, you meet fellow travelers and swap stories and experiences and you might even get a free meal and beers at the Hostel bar, not to mention your accommodation will probably be reduced. Sounds good to me!

Harvest/farm work

This type of work is obviously available in regional centres as per below. Most of it is in Queensland on small crop farms and farmers are always looking for pickers, but again you have to get your season right. You may be transported from your hostel to the farm and back. Be aware this is hard work and often in the hot sun with early starts. But the early finishes mean you have the afternoon to enjoy.

Where to find the jobs

This is mainly for harvest work.

Queensland

Atherton

Where: about 80 km south west of Cairns.

What: Tobacco work, Avocado

When: Tobacco from September to December. The Avocado season is February to June.

Ayr

Where: 1200 km north of Brisbane

What: picking vegetables and melons

When: between May and September.

Bowen

Where: about 1200 km north of Brisbane and has work between

What: picking vegetables and mangoes

When: May and November picking vegetables and at the end of the year picking mangoes.

Bundaberg

Where: about 400 km north of Brisbane

What: picking tomatoes and other vegetables

When: from July to December

Childers

Where: about 350 km north of Brisbane

What: lots of vegetables picking e.g. tomatoes

When: April to September is the main time for the tomato crop.

Emerald

Where: about 270km west of Rockhampton

What: cotton, melons, grapes and citrus crops.

Gatton

Where:about 100 km west of Brisbane

What: Variety of crops

When: All year round.

Gympie

Where: Anout an hour north of Sunshine Coast

When: May until November

Innisfail

Where: about 90km south of Cairns.

What: Bananas, other crops.

Mundubbera

Where: about 350 km from Brisbane

What: Harvest work e.g. citrus farms

When: from April until October

Nambour

Where: On the Sunshine Coast about 90 minutes from Brisbane

What: Harvest e.g. strawberries

When: August until November

Stanthorpe

Where: about 200 km south west of Brisbane

What: Harvest e.g. apples, strawberries

When: January to April

New South Wales

Batlow

Where: About 450km south west of Sydney

What: pruning apples and pears

When: from December to May.

Bourke

Where: Outback New South Wales

What: Cotton, stone fruit

When: April to May, November to December

Cessnock

Where: Hunter Valley about 2 hours from Sydney

What: Harvest work e.g. grapes

When: January

Coffs Harbour

Where: About 4 hours south of Brisbane

What: Blueberry picking

Cowra

Where: about 300 km west of Sydney

What: grape harvesting

When: February to April.

Forbes

Where: A few hours west of Sydney

What: Apples and pear picking

When: November to March

Griffith

Where: South West New South Wales

What: Grapes, onions, citrus

When: All year round

Leeton

Where: Near Griffith

What: Range of harvest work

When: February to March

Narrabri

Where: About 600km north west of Sydney

What: Cotton, lots of it

Narromine

Where: About 400km west of Sydney

What: Citrus

When: May until December

Orange

Where: About 250km west of Sydney

What: Apples and cherries

Young

Where: About 2 hours drive from Canberra

What: Cherries and stone fruit

When: October until December and also from February

Want to know more about the East Coast of Australia? For inside information, tips and advice go to: http://www.australian-east-coast.com

Climb Across Syndey Harbour Bridge

2011-02-28T05:14:00.000-08:00

Sydney is a glamorous city with so many iconic landmarks, and the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are two of the most famous and globally recognised. The architectural beauty of the bridge is something that you can truly appreciate only when you climb the bridge. The Bridge Climb in Sydney offers its visitors exactly such an opportunity. Tourists and locals alike enjoy this adventurous activity. Everyone should make at least one attempt at climbing the bridge when they visit Sydney.

The Bridge Climb tour is open during different times of the day. The best time for the climb however would be either dawn or twilight since that is the time that the whole landscape reflects the changing position of the sun most dramatically. You can see the whole city illuminated in different shades and hues over a relatively short period of time. Most people have explored Sydney only at ground level. But the moment you start climbing the bridge, you get a totally new perspective of Sydney. So even if you are quite familiar with the city, you will still get new insights from the climb.

If you suffer from a fear of heights, then this is a good opportunity for you to overcome your fear. You would be exposed to heights in a very controlled environment during the Bridge Climb that is one of the best ways to overcome your phobia. To make the climb absolutely safe, the whole route has carabineers, chains, ropes and handrails, which would make climbers feel safe and secure. All climbers are also required to wear a special jump suit and they are always strapped to a railing for safety. For the entire duration of the climb, you would also have the assistance of experienced guides to help you. They are specially trained to help and assist people who have a fear of heights. The climb can definitely help you overcome your fear, especially if it arises from psychological factors.

The Bridge Climb in Sydney is a fascinating experience and everyone should experience it. But unfortunately, not everyone is allowed to climb. People with certain medical and physical conditions are not allowed to climb for safety and health reasons. People with heart conditions, epilepsy, pregnant women, and those who have had recent surgery would not be allowed for obvious reasons. Safety is given top priority during the climb and the health and safety precautions adopted by the authorities are very stringent.

No matter what the prevailing weather conditions, the Bridge Climb in Sydney still goes on without any interruption. Only when extremely high wind conditions and electric storms occur, are the tours halted. People who have experienced the climb always give very positive feedback. They are also highly impressed by the quality of the guides present for the climbs. You can find lots of reviews on the Internet where people share their tour experiences. If you travel to Sydney, make it a point to include the bridge climb in your itinerary.

Peter Brieden is a massage therapist, avid traveller and writer. Find out more about the Bridge Climb Sydney and Sydney massage

Harbour Bridge, Sydney hostels and Job Interviews

2011-02-25T05:07:00.000-08:00

(My third week in Sydney, Australia. I'd moved into an actual youth hostel in Kings Cross. I went walking across Sydney Harbour Bridge into North Sydney, and had my first Australian job interviews.)

Well, on 13th, I decided to take a walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge, but before that I went to Woolworths for my groceries. Woolworths, surprisingly enough, is the biggest supermarket chain here, similar in magnitude to Tesco back in England. It's got the same logo as the Woolworth's back home, so I think it's the same company, but I'm not sure. I'm trying to run my groceries down now, ready for my forthcoming move, so I just got spaghetti, rice and apples. That did me for now, additional to what I already had in my fridge.

I walked down to Cumberland Street in The Rocks and climbed the steps up to the Harbour Bridge. The bridge looks great from a distance, but when you're on it, it's really busy and noisy, and there are railings along the length of the bridge obscuring the view. Oh well, never mind. It was a great experience nevertheless. I saw a party of climbers at the top of the bridge. There are organised climbs right across the top of the bridge. It costs about $100. The bridge connects Sydney to its northern suburbs. Once again, the sheer size of Sydney astounds me every day. Even Milton's Point, the "small" suburb just across the bridge, has its own colossal downtown business district. I took a walk down to a lovely park just under the bridge, then decided to walk along the peer.

I walked past Luna Park, which is (apparently) quite a famous thing in Sydney. It has a distinctive entranceway, as you can see from the photo. It took me ages to find my way off the promenade and into the city. Once there, I walked for miles, and got completely and utterly lost. Incidentally there is a type of bird here that makes a really distictive, and loud, whistling noise, and I passed by an tree-filled area in the business district which was full of them. You could hardly hear yourself think with the sound. God help the poor people who work up there in the offices. Anyway, as I said, I walked for miles, not knowing where I was heading. I tried to catch sight of Harbour Bridge, but couldn't. I suppose I shouldn've just retraced my steps, but stubbornly pressed on, walked through deserted alleyways, down steps into nowhere, and along a path that hugged the side of a huge motorway, before I finally found the steps back up to the bridge. By the time I got back, I'd walked about 14 miles and it was pitch black. The view of the Sydney skyline from the bridge at night was stunning. I tried to get photos, but they didn't come out very well. What I saw of North Sydney across Harbour Bridge was really beautiful, I must say. It's inevitable I'll return soon to explore further (and hopefully not get lost!).

(originally posted 17th April 2005)

Things to do in Darling Harbour, Sydney

2011-02-22T05:05:00.000-08:00

Darling Habour Sydney is one of Sydney's popular attractions for both locals and tourists. The Darling Harbour Sydney was named after Ralph Darling, the seventh governor of New South Wales. It was originally called Cockle Bay due to the discovery of molluscs by early settlers here. The Darling Harbour Sydney has a mixture of hotels, museums, shops, restaurants, cafes and entertainment spaces. The main highlights in Darling Harbour Sydney include the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney Aquarium, Powerhouse Museum and the Chinese Garden.

The Darling Harbour Sydney complex is opened in 1988. It has many restaurants, cafes and a wide range of shops selling unique gift items. Before 1988, Darling Harbour Sydney was a rundown collection of wharves and warehouses. Currently, it is one of Sydney's best attractions and bustling with activities. There are regular free outdoor entertainment shows such as music performances, singing, etc. As there are many great restaurants and cafes, you can enjoy delicious and tasty food here. The hotels in darling harbour Sydney are popular as most of them provide rooms with remarkable good views overlooking the bay.

In the Australian National Maritime Museum, you will find exhibits depicting Australia's long maritime history. The exhibits show the enduring Aboriginal maritime cultures, history of significant sea explorations, waves of migration, and various waters sports and activities. In the museum, there is also a number of art galleries with a variety of kinds of artwork to cater to different interests.

The Sydney Aquarium has a great collection of exhibits which provides a comprehensive overview of Australian aquatic life. In total, it has about 11,500 animals from about 650 species. Many visitors enjoy walking through the floating oceanarium, which has a total span of about 145m. From underwater viewing through acrylic panels, you can have the opportunity of observing huge sharks and rays as they swim pass you. Besides, you can also have the chance of watching seals both above and below water in a special seal sanctuary. In this Aquarium, there is a pool where visitors can touch the crustaceans and mollusks that live in the shoreline.

The Powerhouse Museum displays mainly Australian works and creations. The exhibits include the state's first train engine, planes, bush kitchens, craft and fashion items, space shuttles, furniture, etc. There are many "hands-on" displays which visitors are urged to participate in them.

The Chinese Garden is located at the southern end of the Darling Harbour Sydney complex. This lovely traditional Chinese garden was built in 1984 and is said to be the largest of its kind outside China. The garden serves as a peaceful refuge from the city's bustling activities. There are small mountains, waterfalls and lakes in the garden. Waratah, the floral symbol of New South Wales, grows around the beautiful Twin Pavilion and is carved in its woodwork. A tea house serving Chinese tea and cakes is located at the top of the stairs in the Tea House Courtyard.

As you can see above from the above, Darling Harbour Sydney is a wonderful place to visit. There are many interesting activities to do. The highlights described above are popular attractions many tourists have visited. If you would like to go for a holiday in Sydney, you can consider visiting these places in Darling Harbour Sydney. Besides, there are many excellent hotels in Darling Harbour Sydney for you to select for your stay. Consider Darling Harbour Sydney your next destination today.

Rose Mary enjoys travel and write. Visit Cheap Airline Tickets site now and compare cheap tickets from 100+ major travel sites in one search and save up to 70%. Do not buy your tickets until you have make comparison. Why pay more?

More on Harbour Bridge, Pitt Street and Sydney Employment

2011-02-19T05:26:00.000-08:00

(The second part of my 7th blog of my backpacking experience of Sydney. Here, I walked across Sydney Harbour Bridge, got my hair cut for cheap, checked out Pitt Street Mall, and continued my job hunting.)

It had become obvious I'd need a mobile phone here in Sydney, so I scouted round looking for one. Someone recommended I look in the "Money Lent" shops which dot the city. They buy and sell stuff, for people wanting cheap deals or needing money fast. They had one for $59, but I'd found one in Virgin Mobiles in Pitt Street for $79, with $15 credit and a SIM card. I bought that one. The call rates are extortionate, but I only want it for companies ringing me for jobs, etc, so I'm not bothered.

I walked through the China Town district of Sydney that day, which was an experience. It doesn't seem that big a China town, though. Mind you, pretty much the whole city seems like one big China Town. The amount of far-eastern people here is amazing. I suppose it's because it's the nearest part of the world to here, but I think there's also something in Australian history that explains the predominance.

I had a bit of a disaster with my rice when I got back. I didn't have a sieve for it, so after soaking it and cooking it, it was too full of water. It tasted disgusting, so I put butter into it, which made it even worse. Then I decided to put it back into my convection oven and cook it dry. It actually worked and tasted quite nice. Oh well, that was dinner salvaged.

On 15th I got my hair cut. There's a place of George Street which does men's cuts for only $8. The blade system is almost the same as it is in Britain. I asked for a 4 on top, which is very short, but just long enough to spike. The girl who cut my hair was very nice. She was from New Zealand. It's interesting, the New Zealand accent. It's similar to the Australian accent, but much slower and more pronounced, like the difference between Manchester and rural Yorkshire, I suppose.

I called into a hostel in the city centre, just to nose about their rates. It seemed really scruffy, which put me off considering it, but what was handy was the noticeboard with jobs in there. I took down several numbers, including that of an agency called Manpower, who were looking for people for a telesales job. This led me to a big backpackers resource place on the 7th Floor of 428 George Street. It's called Travellers Point, and they have cheap flights, phone cards, day trips, free internet for half an hour, as well as many jobs for travellers posted up at the back of the office, all categorised. I wrote down loads more numbers, and over the succeeding hours got a few phone calls. One was from Manpower, and they arranged an interview for me for a call centre in Westpac Bank in Kent Street (city centre). It's 1145-8pm. It's mainly a job for travellers like myself, and the hours are designed as such (because they know that backpackers want to party all night and laze around in bed in the morning). I've also got an interview on Monday at 10am for somewhere in Waterloo Street, Surrey Hills (about a mile and a half away from where I am), and another agency interview the same day. One way or another, I'm confident of having a job by Wednesday.

(originally posted 17th April 2005)

Been to Bondi Beach and joined an employment agency

2011-02-19T04:55:00.000-08:00

(I'd been living in Sydney for about a fortnight now. I'd soaked up the sun at Bondi Beach and joined an employment agency there, making use of my working holiday visa.)

Here I am again! What I find amazing is how much I've done so far, despite the fact I've done very little. Anyway, I found a cheap phone card, so I can phone home without worrying about putting dollar after dollar into the phone. It's called the eStar card. It cost me $10, which gives me about 7 hours time, but unfortunately I still have to put 40 cents into the phone each time I use it. There are bound to be better cards out there.

I've checked with Eva's backpackers hostel again, and without even looking they said they'll have beds, so that's that sorted, but my main worry is an alarm clock that won't wake everyone up when I have to get up for work of a morning. I've bought a small alarm clock, but it's so damn noisy! I'll have to sort something out.

The other day, I went looking for two brewpubs down at The Rocks. The Rocks is the oldest white-settled area of Sydney (and indeed Australia). It's the place where the huge prison camps were first erected. Anyway, Lord Nelson Hotel and Brewery was great - they had six tasty beers on draught.

On my way there, I visited Darling Harbour, a beautiful area of Sydney, lined with offices, restaurants and pubs. The sun was beating down, and I had a sit down by the yachts that were docked there. I was surprised to find there's also a brewpub there, which brews James Squire - a well-known brand here in Sydney.

(originally posted 12th April 2005)

Sydney Hotel Information

2010-04-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

1. Park Hyatt Sydney. Refurbished in 1998, the Park Hyatt Sydney is widely regarded as the most exclusive hotel in the city. It provides a view of the Harbour and of the famed Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge that is second to none. In addition, the Park Hyatt Sydney is in close proximity to many specialty shops and fine restaurants in the historic Rocks area... MORE

Sydney is situated on the east coast of Australia. It is the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on one of the world's most beautiful harbors - which is why it is called "The Harbor City". Tourist and locals love the city's famous attractions including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. As the largest cosmopolitan city of Australia, it offers lovely beaches such as Cogee and Bondi beach, state of the art shopping malls, prominent parks and world class luxury as well as cheap Sydney hotels.

In Sydney, you are guaranteed to have a relaxed atmosphere, approachable people, different attractions for the family and a great weather. From Sydney, tourist and locals can also visit other nearby attractions such as the mystical Blue Mountains to the west, the sun drenched Central Coast and Port Stephens area as well as the Hunter Valley wine region to the north or the pristine Illawarra beaches, hinterland and the relaxing Southern Highlands to the south.

Many tourists plague Sydney because it is the perfect get-away haven for people who want to relax and enjoy - the cosmopolitan way. In spite of being one of the world's most expensive cities, many people can still find dozens of cheap Sydney hotels to choose from. These hotels offer high quality services and high-tech amenities within a budget. This way, all tourists get to enjoy everything else Sydney can offer.

Cheap Sydney Hotels

Swissotel Sydney - This cheap hotel in Sydney is located close to Myers - Australia's most iconic department stores near Sydney's tourist spots, shopping venues and entertainment centers. It offers 359 hotel rooms and suites with contemporary as well as sophisticated designs along with stunning skyline views of Sydney. This hotel offers guests the relaxation and stress free ambiance as expected from a luxury hotel. It has an Amrita Spa that offers a peaceful environment, a soothing fragrance and a selection of treatments to help revive as well as relax tired bodies and minds. It also offers the latest in cardio equipment, a 15-metre outdoor heated, Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. Each room costs around AUD 215 per night.

Citigate Sebel Sydney - This is one of the cheap Sydney hotels to consider. It is conveniently located on the corner. It lies along the Central Railway Station near the city. It is also near various fashion shops and restaurants of Surry Hills as well as Paddington's Oxford Street. This gives guests convenient and easy access to the Darling Harbor and Theater districts.

The hotel has 247 stylishly designed guestrooms with modern amenities. It is also well-ventilated and even features opening windows. It also offers 9 flexible conference and meeting rooms that can accommodate 100 to 220 delegates. During free time, guests can sweat out in the well-equipped gymnasium, dip in the heated indoor pool or relax at the Thai massage Centre. Each room costs AUD 188 per night.

For more information on Sydney Hotels and Sydney Tourist Attractions please visit our website.

1. Park Hyatt Sydney

Refurbished in 1998, the Park Hyatt Sydney is widely regarded as the most exclusive hotel in the city. It provides a view of the Harbour and of the famed Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge that is second to none. In addition, the Park Hyatt Sydney is in close proximity to many specialty shops and fine restaurants in the historic Rocks area.

Foreign travellers have the opportunity to take a joyride on the Bounty replica, which is moored just outside the hotel lobby. The 158 room Park Hyatt Sydney offers a bar and minibar, parking, television, restaurant, fitness club, laundry service, wi-fi, disabled access, bureau de change, business facilities, internet access, car-hire facilities and 24-hour room service.

2. Merchant Court Hotel

Located in the Central Business District, the Merchant Hotel provides guests with breath-taking views of Sydney.

The hotel's facilities are impressive and include a health club with a spa, gym, heated swimming pool, soothing massage treatments and beauty services. There are 361 rooms, numerous function rooms and the impressive Blaxland ballroom (420 maximum seating).

The JP Bastiani Restaurant and Wine Cellar, which specializes in Mediterranean inspired cuisine, is one of the most tastefully designed hotel restaurants around, arraigned in native timbers and featuring bay windows, a wood burning oven and a two storey wine cellar.

The Merchant Hotel offers a bar and minibar, television, restaurant, sauna, whirlpool, fitness club, safe deposit, laundry service, disabled access, bureau de change, solarium, business facilities, computer facilities, internet access, childcare facilities, 24-hour rooms service and air conditioning.

3. Regent Hotel

The Regent Hotel is one of the five original five-star hotels in the city. It provides guests a spectacular view of Sydney Harbour and consistently ranks high in terms of in-house staff hospitality and service.

The Regent is close to both the historic Rocks and Circular Quay - the take-off point to more of Sydney's tourist destinations and an ideal base for cruising around the harbour.

The Regent Hotel offers complementary butler service and newspapers to all guests. There are 531 rooms in all and a ballroom that can accommodate a maximum 650 guests. The standard facilities include a bar and minibar, parking, television, laundry service, sauna, fitness club, swimming pool, safe deposit, bureau de change, hairdresser, business facilities, computer facilities, internet access, disabled access, childcare facilities, car-hire facilities, 24-hour room service and air conditioning.

4. Stamford Plaza Double Bay

Steeped in comfort and luxury, the Stamford Plaza Double Bay is an exclusive harbour-side enclave and a favourite hangout of the rich and famous.

The hotel is known for its style and elegance, and contains a gallery of fine art with 18th century paintings and Georgian antiques. The Stamford Plaza has been host to American Presidents, European Royalty and entertainment celebrities.

The Lobby Lounge and the superb in-house restaurant serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are 140 luxury guest rooms in all as well as seven corporate function rooms and a ballroom that can accommodate a maximum 400 guests.

The Stamford Plaza's standard offerings include a bar and minibar, parking, television, restaurant, safe deposit, fitness club, hairdresser, business facilities, computer facilities, internet access, disabled access, 24-hour room service and air conditioning.

James Lush reviews the very best luxury accommodation in Australia through his website http://www.simplylush.com

Simply Lush offers a totally free travel resource for people visiting Australia from overseas, or equally for internal vacationers. The one thing they have in common is a desire to enjoy the very best quality accommodation while on their trip.

Read more of James' Sydney Accommodation and Sydney Hotel reviews at his website - available 24x7 and totally free.

Sydney, the heartthrob of Australia, is the first European colony in the country established in the year 1788 at Sydney Cove. Positioned on the southeastern shore of Australia, this most famous tourist destination is the capital city of New South Wales. Popularly known as "the Harbour City", Sydney is the financial hub of the country. A city world renowned for its attractions, lifestyle, education, culture, glittering nightlife, sporting spirit, shopping, and of course world-class hotels, greets all the visitors to a trip of never ending excitement. Hotels in Sydney are the perfect examples of the status and standard of the city.

Apart from the twin landmarks of "Opera House" and the "Harbour Bridge", it also houses various other marvelous sightseeing attractions like Bondi Beach, Sydney Mint, Chinatown, Town Hall, Royal Botanic Gardens, Australian Museum and many more. Apart from plethora of sightseeing sites, hotels of Sydney mark their own identity and class among the worldwide hotels. The popularity of the hotels in the city can be better known by their ranking under top 10 hotels' list.

Being one of the most multicultural destinations in the world, it reflects the true colour of diversity with unity in every aspect. The laid back outdoor lifestyle and the physical allure of Sydney make it one of the most favored and pleasing cities to visit. A renowned global city for both business entrepreneurs and leisure travelers, it is thronged by millions of travelers from all over the world every year. Portraying the hospitality sector of the city very well, the hotels of Sydney have a class and standard of their own. From hotels of world renowned hotel groups to excellent independent lodging facilities, travelers will find quality of services offered by Sydney hotels.

Having accommodation of world famous hotel groups like Four Seasons, Hilton, Intercontinental, Marriott, Hyatt, Radisson, Shangri-La etc., hotels of Sydney not only provide comfortable staying facilities but also give you a feel of home away from home. From luxurious hotels to first-class business hotels and from moderate budget hotels to bed & breakfast, Sydney offers excellent hotels suitable for all categories of travelers.

Sydney hotels, having its own class among the other hotels of Australia, are dotted in all the areas of the city. Whether you want to stay in the CBD or in Central Station area or at Darling Harbour or at any other area of this marvelous city, you will easily get plentiful options of lodging as per your budget. The hotels in Sydney are of different star categories specially diversified as per the rate and amenities.

The luxurious hotels of Sydney offer you a world of comfort and luxury while the budget hotels of the city offer good value for money. From comfortable staying facilities to great dining delights and from excellent business facilities to various recreational facilities, Sydney hotels provide all the facilities for leisure and comfort of the guests. Based on the factors like location, amenities, the rate of these hotels varies. So it is always advisable to do a bit research before opting for a hotel.

Leave all your worries behind, regarding the Hotels in Sydney as AsiaRooms.com brings for you latest and extensive database of hotels worldwide.

Settled in at Sydney (Part 2)

2010-01-31T02:12:00.000-08:00

Last night, I went to Phillip + Cook Park, which is a recreation centre on William Street. I spend about 2 hours swimming and over an hour in the aromatherapy pool. The entrance fee only works out to about £2.40, so it's great value for money. Oh yes, and the other day, I walked to Sydney Opera House. What a fantastic sight! I even stuck around to see Nicole Kidman walk down the red carpet there for a film premiere. I got her autograph.

Yesterday, I went looking for employment agencies. Agencies aren't easy to find if you don't know exactly where they are, because they're located at the umteenth floor of large faceless buildings. Anyway, I found Adecco (Level 3, 9 Hunter Street), Blackadder (Level 17, 60 Margaret Street) and Acom (307 Pitt Street). They all cater for the working holiday visa, but Adecco is the only place that let me see someone, rather than just passing me a business card. I've emailed them my CV and have got an appointment at 9 on Monday morning.

Anyway, I'm just chilling out at the moment. There's a large selection of beers at local "bottle shops" (a lot of pubs have a bottle shop attached to them, where they sell their off-licence liquor), of which I've had 5 so far, but I've still got plenty of time to go through them all.

Settled in at Sydney for nearly a week now

2010-01-31T02:10:00.000-08:00

I'm writing this on Day 6. The flight went brilliantly. It was 18 and a half hours (in two parts), but I must say that Malaysian airlines is fantastic. Their in-flight entertainment is amazing, with films, music and about 100 Super Nintendo games. The food is spicy, and they even give you the hot scented towels like in an Indian restaurant. Kuala Lumpur airport was scorching! I got a few beers there to kill the time. Sydney passport control wasn't too bad at all. There were long queues, but they went down quickly... and all the staff so so friendly (as are most Australians).

Once outside, I paid the guy near the bus stops $9 for the bus into Sydney City. It was actually a mini-bus that took me straight to the place I'm staying. When I got there, I was a bit disappointed to find it wasn't the friendly guesthouse-type I had envisioned. In fact, there's no reception, and it turned out I had to knock on a door. Anyway, I was eventually led to my room (which is actually okay). The place, I suppose, would be more aptly called a boarding house. But then, what do I expect for little over £10?

I suppose I should've taken the advise of a certain young lady back home, and just booked into a backpackers hostel to begin with, because I felt awfully depressed my first couple of days here, all alone. But I'm over that now, thankfully, chillin' out in my little pad here. For the short-stay traveller, there are hundreds of hotels here in Sydney, large and small. For the backpacker, the best place to go is Kings Cross. This is the haven for backpackers, with hundreds of hostels just round the corner from the city's red-light district. And it's quite safe walking 'round there too. Back home, someone recommended Eva's Backpackers to me. I've been to have a look, and it seems quite nice, so the chances are I'll move into there in a week or so.

Got money, packed and ready!

2010-01-31T02:08:00.000-08:00

Today is the day I go! I'll be flying to Kuala Lumpur (12 hours away!), then a six hour wait, and another flight taking 8 hours into Sydney. I didn't sleep much last night, worrying about going. It's such a big step... (for me, anyway!). I exchanged my money a few days ago at American Express, Lord Street, Liverpool. They offer the best rate. One thing that I didn't figure into my expenses was the fact that I wouldn't get my money exchanged at the official rate, which doesn't seem much, but makes a quite a substantial difference in the long run. Anyway, never mind. I've fully packed now. I was worried that, at 4 and a half stone, my suitcase might exceed the weight restrictions by the airline, so I unpacked a lot of things last night. I've now got more or less the bare minimum in there. Anyway, nearly time to set off. With a heavy heart, I've just said goodbye to my nan, and am really not looking forward to doing the same with my mum and dad... but it has to be done. See you in Oz!...

Booked A Guesthouse in Sydney

2010-01-31T02:06:00.000-08:00

Okay, so most young travellers would just go to Sydney and stay in a hostel or something, but I just couldn't go there with my accommodation remaining an unknown. So, I've booked 13 nights in a small guesthouse called Museum Lodge. It works out to less than £10.50 per night, with a private single room (with kitchenette, TV, etc) and shared facilities. It's about 20 or 30 minutes walk to Sydney Opera House. I'm so relieved that this, the final part of my plan, has come together. All that remains now is to pack!

Obtained Cheap Travel Insurance for Australia

2010-01-31T02:01:00.000-08:00

I have purchased my insurance from Downunder Insurance, which is an Internet-based travel insurance company. Just go to their website (see link on the right) and click on your country of residence, and away you go! They do four policies, the two cheapest being Essential and Backpacker. I was initially worried that the Essential policy didn't provide cover against dangerous activities (such as surfing), but I emailed them and they told me it does, so I've bought it for £142.20. It will cover me for all medical bills, accidents, personal liability and legal bills. Not that I'll probably need any of this, but never mind.

Flight Booked to Australia!

2010-01-26T02:34:00.000-08:00

My flight is finally booked. I am due to leave from Manchester Airport at 8pm on Friday 1st April. I obtained the tickets off STA Travel, which has offices worldwide. There will be one stopover in Kuala Lumpur, and then on to Sydney. The flight cost me £601 (inc. airport tax).

The return flight is officially on January 14th, but if I wish to extend it, it will cost me only £14, which is cheap, compared to other quotes I have received. STA Travel's telephone number is 0870 1600 599.

My next project will be to obtain some travel insurance. I have had several quotes in excess of £300, but there is an online quote at Kasbah for £142.20. This is the Essential policy. They also have a Backpacker policy, which is £48 pounds dearer, but I might have to go with that one. If anyone has any advice on this, please contact me.

The Real Australian Adventure is Back!

2010-01-02T04:16:00.000-08:00

From 2005 to 2006, I visited Australia and travelled round, working and also enjoying myself for a whole year. I lived in every Australian state. I recorded the story of my adventure on a website which I kept up. It has been offline for quite some time now, but it's back.

I will publish all my posts from that journey onto this website, day by day.

A further note about my adventure I want to make is that, as well as the posts I placed online, which were for public consumption, I wrote a diary explaining (if only to myself) everything I did, everybody I met, my deepest feelings, anxieties, regrets, and just about everything else. When I've finished, I also intend on publishing that diary for the first time. Watch this space!

Soho, Lan Kwai Fong and The Globe Pub

2007-11-18T12:35:00.000-08:00

(Day 8 continued from the previous post)

On arrival back in the city, we wasted no time in making our way straight into Soho, where we walked through a street market on a steep mount. As I’ve said before, Hong Kong is alive with markets, open day and night. This brought us into the heart of Lan Kwai Fong, which is the most lively district of the city.

When in Kowloon, we thought that Tsim Sha Tsui was a lively place, but Lan Kwai Fong is just crazy. There are hidden nooks and crannies everywhere, with hundreds of bars. And a lot of the bars are not just crappy, dirty places with hardly any beer selection. There are a lot of great bars in Lan Kwai Fong.

One pub we found, near a steep flight of steps, was Cochrane’s, which I found to be the third outlet of the Hong Kong Brewing Company, selling its tasty craft beers as well as scores of Belgian and American ales. We ironically had an English beer there – Oxfordshire Pride of Oxford. Cochrane’s, like the Hong Kong Brew House, is alive with beer culture.

But that was merely on the way to The Globe, which was the final pub I really wanted to visit in Hong Kong. It was alleged to have a fantastic selection of world beers, and they were right! The pub has a semi wooden façade, and upon entering, it’s everything you’d expect from a great pub. It was small and not too brightly lit, and it had several taps, featuring some great beers, including the Belgian De Konnick.

But the best thing was the bottled beer selection. They sell a wide range of quite rare Belgian beers. We began with a Belhaven McCallum’s Stout, which is an unbelievable delicious Scottish stout, followed by Ramee Ambree, from Belgium, and a few more beers, bringing us to quite a late hour.

We stayed up late in the hotel room drinking a wide array of beers and ciders we’d found around the shops and supermarkets. That was our final night in the hotel, and in Hong Kong. We were all set for the next big leg of the journey… Singapore!

Discovery Bay, Tung Chung and Tai O

2007-11-13T15:21:00.000-08:00

(Day 8 continues from the previous post)

Only a few minutes’ walk from the ferry terminal in Discovery Bay is Discovery Plaza. Everything is just so pristinely clean, and the sun was beating down. For an hour or more we walked around the town, and ended up in McSorley’s Ale House, on Discovery Plaza. It’s a traditional Irish pub selling its own house beer, McSorley’s Ale, which was delicious. The pub has a friendly cat, who wouldn’t leave me alone.

I noticed there are a lot of ex-pats in Discovery Bay. Indeed, I got the vibe that it’s directed toward the English. I can’t blame English people for coming to live there, because it’s just lovely. Very small, but very nice.

I wanted to check out another town on Lantau Island, and I really didn’t know the difference between any of the array of town names I saw on maps, so I suggested we get the bus all the way to the end of the line, at Tung Chung. I thought it would be a good opportunity to travel right across the island.

Buses there are efficient, but in truth we didn’t see much nature on the way to Tung Chung. One thing we did notice was that Lantau has its own version of The Peak mountain, and there is even a cable car you can get to the top. We didn’t do that, and instead alighted at in Tung Chung, which is the nearest town to Hong Kong airport.

We found very little there – just a few big ugly high-rises and a town square with a fountain. We made our way through the giant shopping centre and went into Taste supermarket to buy an Australian cider, before catching the train all the way back into Hong Kong City.

Ideally, I would have liked to catch the bus from Tung Chung to Tai O, which is alleged to be the most tradition town on the island - almost untouched by modern life. It’s a small Chinese-style fishing village with narrow street and quaint shops and eateries. It’s a pity we didn’t get there, but it was getting quite late by now, and Tai O is apparently a remote town.

(Day 8 is concluded in the next post)

Lantau Island, Ferries, and Discovery Bay

2007-11-08T01:53:00.000-08:00

There are lots of islands surrounding Hong Kong. Indeed, aside from the Kowloon Peninsula, all the rest of the country is composed of islands – more than 200, I think. It’s almost an archipelago, but it’s not officially one.

On Day 8, we decided to go to another island. The next biggest island to Hong Kong Island is Lantau. It was either this or Lamma Island, just to the south, but since we really didn’t know what to expect either way, we settled on the largest of the two. A few days later, someone we met told us we really should have gone to Lamma Island, but hey, we had a good time.

We travelled on the tram to Central and walked to the ferry terminal. After having been to Macau a few days earlier, going through security checks in a maze of a terminal, we were a bit dubious that inter-island ferries might not be simple, but it was incredibly easy. You can get on ferries between the islands of Hong Kong as easily as you can get on a tram.

It didn’t cost much for the ticket, and it was only about 20 minutes to Lantau Island. The island used to be surrounded by a lot more mystique than it is these days. The fact that it’s now connected to Hong Kong Island by a train link has taken away this quality. However it still features an array of diverse small, quaint towns.

We landed in the town of Discovery Bay, which I thought was absolutely beautiful. The town is characterised by a horse-shoe bay and a small beach. There appeared to be two peninsulas, one residentially zoned and the other containing a mass of restaurants, shops, squares and pubs.

(Day 8 is continued in the next post)

Peak Tower, Bubba Gump and Hong Kong Brew House

2007-11-03T11:38:00.000-07:00

You can walk all around the roof of the Peak Tower. From one perspective, you can see all the way down to Hong Kong City, across the Harbour, and much of Kowloon. Even the country’s tallest skyscraper is far below you. It’s a pity the air was so thick with moisture, or the view into the far distance would have been even more magnificent.

From the other sides of the tower, you can look onto the mountain itself, and onto the small town that is The Peak. I often wondered who lives up there and the types of views they’d have onto their country every minute of every day. It must be amazing. Also, there were hundreds of huge dragonflies flying all about us.

We headed back down the tower and it was time for a beer. It was lucky, then, that we found Bubba Gump. You might remember that name from a popular movie – Forest Gump. Indeed, it a shrimp restaurant stroke pub completely dedicated to Forest Gump, even going so far as to have the trademark bench just by the entrance, which presents a great photo opportunity.

We had a Tsingtau in there, then headed all the way town The Peak Tower to the town square at the foot of it. Just across the road is a pub called The Lookout. It has a great patio looking down onto the side of the mountain, but it’s extremely expensive.

Before heading back to the tram, we began heading down one of the many paths that lead down the mountain. I noticed several paths snaking their way up and down the mountain. I personally would have braved one of them, but my dad wasn’t of the same mind. I did however walk partway down the path we chose, and there are some great forest views there. Absolutely breath-taking.

After a smooth descent, we didn’t even go back to the hotel, deciding instead to head straight into town to look for the Hong Kong Brew House, which is the other outlet for the island’s brewery. We tried their rare Rickshaw Porter, as well as polished off the American microbrews. We drank absolutely everything the place has to offer. The best beers in town, and a must for any visitor.

The Peak and the Historic Peak Tram.

2007-11-02T02:12:00.000-07:00

Much of Hong Kong (and indeed its surroundings, extending well into China) has a landscape of rolling hills and mountains completely covered by forest. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of Cairns and north-eastern Queensland, Australia.

Hong Kong City rests huddled against the harbour behind a huge mountain. On Day 7, our second day staying in the city, we took a cheap tram halfway to Central and headed for the Peak Tram depot. The Peak Tram takes thousands of people each day smoothly to the top of the mountain.

It costs thirty-odd Hong Kong dollars for a return ticket, plus about fifteen dollars more to get a Peak Lookout ticket. In total, the experience cost us the equivalent of about £3 each. It’s more than worth it, believe me!

The view, even partway up the mountain, was breathtaking. It’s quite steep, and some of it almost feels like a roller coaster. It’s about a 15-minute ride up to the top, where there is basically a small town called The Peak, dominated by a huge tower, appropriately called The Peak Tower.

The tram took us directly into the tower, which is full of big-brand shops, as well as some bars and restaurants, one of which was quite a find, and I’ll tell you about it shortly. There is a complex of escalators trailing up and down the tower, and we made our way up and up.

The top floor is the highest you can go without having the extra ticket to go all the way to the top. We took the final escalator all the way up to the roof of the tower. And I’ll tell you something… you don’t often have the opportunity to be in the presence of such breath-taking and awe-inspiring beauty.

Wan Chai, Trams, and the East End Brewery

2007-10-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

Wan Chai, just next to Causeway Bay, has lots of bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants. Apart from Central, it’s probably the most happening place in Hong Kong.

The East End Brewery is just off the main road with the trams, and not far past the big park. It sells a small number of beers (two to four) craft beers from the Hong Kong Beer Company, as well as lots of Belgian beers and about 20 different American microbrews. It’s very impressive! The place gets very busy, but we got there nice and early.

By the time we finally escaped the place, it was dark, so we took the opportunity to catch the tram back to the hotel. Trams are reliable and very plentiful on Hong Kong Island. They’re double-decker and very small, and they can get very packed. The great thing is that you can go anywhere in the city for only HK$2, equivalent to about 16 pence!

We concluded Day 6 with a few beers in the hotel room. We managed to buy quite a few beers from local supermarkets. As I think I’ve mentioned before, the mainstay supermarket throughout Hong Kong is called Wellcome (intentionally spelt wrongly, I assume). Most items are quite cheap. Most things are inexpensive in this country.

Causeway Bay and Hong Kong Beer Company

2007-10-27T11:18:00.000-07:00

We were back in Hong Kong the next day, courtesy of the ferry from Macau to the huge ferry terminal in the north west of Hong Kong Island, not too far from Central. However, our hotel, Newton Hotel, was located to the north east of the island, on Electric Road.

The distance from Central wasn’t a problem, because the entire city has so much to offer. In addition, the hotel we stayed in was good for a budget.

I never go to a new city without researching it first. When I say researching, you probably know by now what I’m referring to. Yes… beer! I’d found that there were three brewpubs on the island, but it turned out they aren’t actually brewpubs. There is one microbrewery at the other side of the island (in the Aberdeen region, which is alleged to be a very nice seaside place, but we didn’t end up going there). The microbrewery is called the Hong Kong Beer Company, and what I thought were brewpubs were actually outlets for the brewery.
But it was no loss, because we were very impressed with the East End Brewery, near the border between the Causeway Bay and Wan Chai areas, not far from our hotel. Causeway Bay is a nice area, but has a lot of offices blocks.

Taipa Village and Chinese Temples

2007-10-25T12:08:00.000-07:00

(continued from previous post)

It was only a short walk to a large round-about where the gigantic Taipa Hotel was situated. We had a Tsingtau beer in the hotel bar, before continuing to walk through the city.

Only a short walk away was Taipa Village, a quaint little village into the middle of the city. All around the village are Chinese temples, and the aroma of burning embers is in the air. It’s definitely an atmosphere to behold. Very traditional.

We reached the town square, and not far from there is the Old Taipa Tavern, an English-style pub owned by an Englishman. He also owns PJ Murphy’s pub in Kowloon, as well as another pub on Hong Kong Island that we never did find. We had a few beers there, before continuing to walk around the city, which again was characterised by a lot of retail.

Everywhere in that region of the world seems to have enormous metallic and concrete skylines – even in the more remote parts of cities.

We caught the same bus back to Macau City, and we concluded Macau with lots of beers in the hotel room, ending with the rare Hui Guan beer, by Tsingtau.

Macau Transport and Travelling by Bus to Taipa

2007-10-24T01:04:00.000-07:00

Day 5 of my Far Eastern adventure began in Macau, an island about 20 miles west of Hong Kong. We started the day with a couple of interesting Chinese beers (Pabst Blue Ribbon and Guangzhou Zhujiang Chao), and soon set off out to discover another city.

The island country of Macau is three towns – Macau, Taipa and Coloane. The first two are big cities, whereas Coloane is a small seaside town. All are very close to each other. Macau is very small! We caught a bus near the hotel to Taipa. There, bus drivers aren’t allowed to talk to passengers, so he wouldn’t even respond when I asked him if we were on the right bus. The bus was very small and packed. I wondered how we were going to be able to get off through the crowds!

Macau is completely serviced by buses, and it has no trains. It doesn’t need any, really. Macau City and Taipa are separated by a long bridge across the harbour. We went past the one big casino in Taipa and got off the bus in some deserted road.

Macau’s Sun Yat Sen Bars and Restaurants, and Casinos!

2007-10-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

We spent a bit of time in the hotel room drinking beer, as well as a sake (which is technically a beer, as it's maid from rice, which is a grain). I don't think I want to try sake again, as it's disgusting.

Later on, we ventured out for a night out on the town, and walked for hours the wrong way into the city. It was just another sea of retail, including a lot of narrow market streets, which admittedly were very quaint.

We soon learnt that the direction of the ferry pier was the best bet, and we found the main square and some of Macau's primary tourist sights. We had a Singha beer in a dodgy little Thai pub called Casade Paslo and had a meal at a Chinese restaurant near the waterfront just around the corner from Avenido Dr Sun Yat Sen. Sun Yat Sen seems to be the best pub district on the island. They are lined up end to end for a good mile or more. Prices, however, are not so great. At the first place, it worked out about £3 for a bottle of Corona.

We'd walked for miles and miles through the city, and saw the casino district. I've been to Las Vegas, and it was a lot like there (only much less of it). There is one particular street where there are three huge casinos. The one in the middle is in the shape of a huge ball that lights up with shapes and patterns.

It's a sight to behold! Macau is undoubtedly the region's capital of gambling. Unlike Vegas, however, the casinos are just that - gambling places. You can't go in there for a drink or a meal or a hotel room.

Macau, Fu Hua Hotel, and Portugese Origins

2007-10-19T03:36:00.000-07:00

On Day 4 of the Far Eastern trip, we took a ferry at the Kowloon ferry terminal (a quick taxi ride away from Tsim Sha Tsui) to the island of Macau, about 35 miles west of Hong Kong. It only cost about £10 each to get there. The journey took about an hour, and the ferry travels at such a speed that passengers have to wear seat belts!

It's a very straight-forward process travelling to Macau, but you do need a passport and to fill in an immigration form, as Macau is a whole new country. The sheer amount of people going there was tremendous. Their tourist industry must be breath-taking. On arrival, I noticed it's a lot smaller than Hong Kong, with hardly any of the huge skyscrapers that characterise Hong Kong. In fact, looking at the skyline from our hotel room there, it just looked like some shanty town. It wasn't, but that's how it appeared.

The island was first colonised and owned by the Portugese, until the Handover to the Chinese a few decades ago. It still, however, retains a lot of its colonial look, and there are certainly a few Portugese beers available there. It also has its own current - the pataka - but they readily accept the Hong Kong dollar.

It was a taxi ride to the hotel, called Fu Hua Guang Dong, located on Rua Francisco. We were ripped off by the taxi driver, who charged us HK$100. It should have only cost less than HK$20! It's worth keeping an eye out for these rogues. On arrival at the Fu Hua hotel, I stepped out into the burning hot sunshine in search of some exotic beers. I found some beers at the Royal Supermarket, just up the road. They only have one local beer in the country - simply called Macau Beer.

Cheung Shui, The New Territories, and Chinese Visas

2007-10-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

(continued from previous entry)

That was on the way to East Tsim Sha Tsui train station, where we caught the train up north into the New Territories. This large tract of land began life as just a gigantic rural district of Hong Kong, until many towns and cities began springing up around the region. Today, it's very metropolitanised. My initial intention was to catch the train to a town called Lo Wu, which is near the border with China. However, the ticket vendor at the station advised us not to go there without a passport, as it's guarded by border controls, being so close to the Chinese border. The nearest Chinese town is Shenzhen, which I think (I might be wrong) is just a continuation of Lo Wu.

To enter China from Hong Kong, you need a visa, which costs between 150 and 300 HK dollars (about £10 to £20). We decided that for just a few hours there, it really wasn't worth it.

So, we decided to go to the nearest town to the border that you can safely enter, namely Cheung Shui. Cheung Shui is quite a sizeable city about two miles from the Chinese border, and about 40 minutes train ride from Kowloon. On disembarking, it looked promising, being a busy town. However, we walked around for hours and found very little aside from the array of small shops. Another endless sea of retail. There are other, better places in the New Territories, and we should have chosen a nearer town like Tai Po, Fanling, Sha Tin, or any one of several others with interesting cultural heritage.

In the evening, we ventured out to find some decent bars in Kowloon, and found a street just behind Kimberley Street full of bars and restaurants. I couldn't believe it was so close to the hotel and we'd missed it so far. Anyway, that was our last night in Kowloon. Next... Macau... A whole new country!

Bars and Beers Available in Kowloon

2007-10-17T07:25:00.000-07:00

For Day 3 of our journey to Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore, we were still in Kowloon on mainland Hong Kong. One thing to mention is that I just couldn't seem to get up early there. On holiday, I normally get up automatically at seven or eight o'clock in the morning without really thinking about it, but this was different. I suppose it had something to do with being so far east, rather than west, like in Canada or the US.

We didn't order breakfast in the hotel, because it was quite expensive. I mean, for what you get at a hotel breakfast, it's often ten times cheaper just to go out and buy it yourself from a local Subway or something. We began (yes, you guessed it) drinking beer quite soon into the day. Just a small sidenote about beer available in Hong Kong... You can find most of the range of off-licence beers from just about any Wellcome supermarket. There are also hundreds of 7-Elevens spread throughout the country, each selling beer mainly in cans, and occasionally you can find other canned beers in these and other similar small shops.

In total, we found about 25 different beers in this way. In pubs, the range is much more limited. Occasionally, you'll find a house beer in a pub, contract brewed by a large brewery. On Day 3, we found one such beer, called PJ Murphy's Cream Ale, in PJ Murphy's pub, which I think was on Nathan Street.

Nathan Street, Kowloon’s Golden Strip

2007-10-16T03:04:00.000-07:00

We had a sleep and drank beer for the rest of the day. I suppose I should make it clear from the outset that my passion in life in sampling different beers from around the world. I have a separate page all about this passion, but I'm just going to concentrate on the travelling here.

Come evening, we ventured outside. We found it to be a safe city. We walked up to Nathan Street, which is a great thing to see at night - a must for any visit to the country. If you want to experience the bright lights and noise of Hong Kong at night, Nathan Street is the place to come.

It's almost like being in Vegas, with a sea of people and deafening noise all around, and shops open until the small hours. Indeed, it's commonly known as the Golden Strip. One thing it lacks, though, is a good selection of bars and pubs. We soon found that Hong Kong doesn't really do bars and pubs, as such. Most of them are English or Irish style places. In Kowloon, you mostly have to grab a drink from one of the many restaurants or cafes.

We ended up in one of the busy restaurant districts off Nathan Street, where we drank until the early hours, and I had a plate of cheap noodles in some dodgy outside place. I found I was quite adept at using chop sticks! Beer prices in Hong Kong are very reasonable. You pay less than a pound a pint.

Kowloon, Empire Hotel, and the Street Vendors!

2007-10-15T04:26:00.000-07:00

It's perhaps a little known fact that Hong Kong is not China. It's own by China, but not in it. It has its own currency, government and border controls. There are many town and cities in the country, and our first stop, after the three hour flight from Singapore, was in Kowloon.

We'd booked for the Empire Hotel in Kimberley Street. On arrival there, we found it to be all very posh, despite how cheap it was to stay there. A porter took our bags to the room, and there was the customary waiting around the room with us, "showing" us the various amenities of the room, until we paid him off with a tip. Thankfully he was the last porter we encountered during the journey. I mean, for god's sake, we're perfectly able to handle our own luggage!

The room was okay. It was comfortable enough, but I was surprised to see the door into the bathroom was made of glass. It was frosted glass, but it was still possible to see the person in there! Not to be a moaning b*****d, but one of the things I don't get about places is their insistence on annoying their customers with stupid things like glass bathroom doors.

I was the first to venture out without the luggage into the streets of the city. I was in search of a beer supply for the room, which I found in the local supermarket, Wellcome. I later found hundreds more branches throughout Hong Kong. It was extremely hot and humid. It was a kind of heat that doesn't burn you, because it was very cloudy. It just makes you sweat.

I could hardly believe how busy it was. Endless shops and markets. It was like one ongoing sea of retail, and the amount of people around was tremendous! When I reached the end of the street, a man stopped me asking me to buy a suit from his shop. I told him I didn't need one, and he was still very insistent. I later found these idiots to be rampant throughout Kowloon. Strangely, you don't see this behaviour elsewhere in the country - only in Kowloon. It's always either suits or watches. You'd end up with about twenty watches up your arm and no money left if you were stupid enough to take any notice of those street vendors.

Flight from Manchester to Hong Kong

2007-10-14T04:15:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Travel Flights Hotels, in which I’ll share with you my experiences of world travel. I’ll begin with my recent trip to Kowloon, Hong Kong City and Singapore.

The journey began on 8th September 2007, and the first city we visited was Kowloon. I want to talk about the beer, nightlife, pubs, and just generally give some general pointers to the place for you world tourists!

We began the first day early in the morning at Manchester Airport with a Caffrey's Irish Ale, Magners Cider and Coors Fine Light Beer. It was in Grolsch Bar, which is extremely expensive. But then, I suppose all airport bars are dear - about £4 a pint! The flight to Hong Kong was via Singapore, and we paid about £700 each, which was just about the cheapest we could manage. We flew with Singapore Airlines. It is a good airline, with entertainment on demand, including movies, TV (certain set programmes), music playlists and computer games. I'd say Malaysian Airlines was marginally better in terms of food and entertainment, but not by much.

Singapore was 13 hours from Manchester. I pre-ordered a vegetarian meal, which was very tasty. It's interesting to note that so-called "special" meals come in several varieties. Most people simply order "vegetarian", but I think there's also lacto-vegetarian and other stuff to consider, depending on whether you like milk or not. With "vegetarian", they simply assume you don't, which can be annoying if you like yoghurt, which I do.

As I've said, it's a long flight to Singapore from Great Britain, and you lose seven hours, so that was Day 1 over and done with.