I still call Australia home!

Saturday 15 September 2012 – I Still Call Australia Home

Day 156 and 2 days to go

After being given the green landing light our metal bird began gliding closer to the ground and before too long the wheels were landing softly on the ground, one very smooth landing. Welcome to Sydney 6.15am, only 17 hours behind where we started our journey.

We worked out that we have now flown with 9 airlines and have been to 17 different airports during this 5 month trip. By Monday it will be 10 and 18.  WOW! What an adventure.

We waited patiently for our turn to exit the plane and then it was time to join the immigration line that took time to clear as they made sure no one unwanted was getting in. Once they declared us fit to re-enter we made our way to the baggage carousel where our bags emerged a short time later and we joined the next line, Customs. I saw the lady with her now awake boys. It was lovely to see someone working at the airport was there to give her a hand.

With nothing to declare we were shepherded to a place to line up our bags and a cute little beagle gave them a good going over eagerly stopping at the American’s bag that was behind us. If the doggie could have got into it he would have had a feast, as there was cheese and salami in it. Why do people bring food in and not declare it? With a face turning more and more beet red he was taken away for further examination. That’ll learn ya!

With our bags of no interest to the beagle we were free to go. We made our way through the airports greeting area following the sign to the train. It was a fair hike, but we eventually found the ticket booth and bought our very expensive ticket, $15.40 each, to Central Station.

We had a short wait on the platform, talking to another couple who had returned from the states also. Once on the train it was only a 15min journey before we reached Central station and we exited the building trying to orientate ourselves with where we needed to be. 

After asking a passer by for directions we were then able to drag our bags the final 500 metres to our apartment. It was such a relief that our room was ready at 8.15am and we were able to go straight to it.

Once in the room I dumped my bags and made a beeline for the shower as I had been in my clothes for 36hours and felt icky. The shower was wonderful and helped to not only freshen up but to wake me up as well.

We watched some of the morning news before heading out at 9.30am. We didn’t have to walk far to enter the Paddy markets where we wandered past the stalls that were just opening. We then walked across the road to a dim sum restaurant. We ordered many of our favourite dishes and were more than full by the time we finished the last one.

Feeling the drain of the past 24 hours we made our way back to the hotel stopping for some soft drink first. Once in the room we put on the Dockers v Adelaide match from last night, though we knew the final score we enjoyed watching the great football. It is a shame that the Dockers couldn’t get the job done going down by 10 points and now out of the finals

Paul began making phone calls to various people to let them know we had returned to Australia and that we would be home in only two short days. It wasn’t long though before we were crawling into bed to catch up on some sleep.  Well Paul did, I just laid there and then decided to get up and sit reading up on Sydney.
By 3 we decided it was time to get out and about so we walked to the station and caught the train to Circular Quay hopping off the train and being immersed in the typical Sydney landscape, Opera House and THE bridge.

Finding a ladies purse on the bench we took it to the info bay and then continued our walk down to the Quay where a P&O boat was parked up at the wharf. There were plenty of tourists down here enjoying the clear day, though it as quite cool.

We walked over to the Rocks, admiring the old buildings of the convict era. They have such character. We finally made our destination, Lord Nelson Brewery, where Paul tried one of their beers that appears in his beer book before picking up a six pack to drink during the Eagles match tonight.

We continued our walk down to the wharf and walking back towards Circular Quay. It was peaceful walking along the jetties and admiring the view and the units and restaurants that have been developed.

From the end of the jetty we could see across the harbour to Luna Park, the Sydney Bridge looming large as it reached across the great expanse of water. There were climbers out there no doubt enjoying the views and the beautiful afternoon sun.
While we were admiring the landscape another P&O cruise ship entered the harbour blowing her horn that echoed around the harbour. We watched her sail in under the bridge as passengers waved furiously from the decks.

As we continued to walk around the jetties we passed many bridal couples having photos taken down by the water. It is a lovely setting. As we rounded the last jetty passing under the bridge, we could see that the P&O cruise liner that had been parked up was on the move and heading into the harbour, taking it’s next lot of passengers off to interesting destinations.

After watching the large ships for a while we returned to the train, catching it back to Central Station. We then walked back towards the hotel only for me to realise I had dropped my sunnies along the way. They have followed me for 5 months around the world and I loose them with two days left. Grrr.

Feeling hungry we grabbed sandwiches at Subway and brought them back to the room to eat. We watched the 6 O’Clock news seeing what is going on here and abroad before we settled into to watch the West Coast vs Collingwood preliminary final.

The first half was looking good for our home team, though things started going south in the second half and I was almost asleep by the end of the third quarter. The day finally catching up with me.

I ended up heading to bed while Paul turned the TV around so that it could be seen from bed. While trying to sleep I couldn’t help but listen to the commentary and before we knew it the final whistle was blown with the Eagles going down to the Pies by 13pts. Bummer! It was then lights out.