Sydney Centre

Thursday 18 October

Back at the hostel I unloaded all the goodies and put them into my locker. Took my camcorder, camera and small backpack and headed down George Street towards the Sydney Opera House.

A 4.5 km walk. It was very windy at the Opera House. Taped and took a couple of pictures of the Opera House and the surroundings. Walked around the Opera House, the left part was under construction. Past Circular Quay to the Rocks area, the oldest settlement of Sydney. Walked all the way to the scenic photo shoot place near the Harbour Bridge at Hickson Road. Took some pictures and went back to the city centre for lunch.

I skipped breakfast and was walking till 2:00 PM. Time to eat at ChopChop, a Chinese take away situated in the basement of the food court. Ordered a large menu with fried rice, Satay chicken, meat with vegetables. Yummy!

After lunch I walked down Pitt Street to the hostel. As I entered a souvenir shop I got cramp in my left leg and couldn't take another step. Great! I asked the store owner if he could help me out by lending me a chair, so I could sit down and rest a bit. I told him, I've had it before during my last trip down here. He told me that there was a masseur, two stores away, who could help me.

The people in Australia are so nice, he helped me and brought me to the store and told the masseur what happened. I sat down and started a conversation, where I came from, what I'm doing here, while he was doing the massage. My muscles were all tightened up, just like a knot. Bit by bit they started to loosen up. I asked some advice for the next time and he told me to take it easy, particularly after a long-distance flight. Bought balsam to loosen up the muscles. I paid and thanked the guy and made my way back to the hostel on a very slow pace.

Stopped at Woolworths to buy two bottles of juice and a package of pens to write. In my room I talked with Kazuyuki, who has stayed in New Zealand for half a year and is now in Australia for a year to study English and work.

Later Simon entered the room and we all started a conversation about Australia and New Zealand. Kept my diary up-to-date about what happened today. Went to the Global Gossip, an internet-cafe just less than one minute away from the hostel to check my e-mails and to reply.

Went back to the hostel and talked with Simon. Later on another backpacker arrived. All beds are taken now. With four people is just enough. We talked with Eric from the US, who's going to stay here for a whole year. Freshened up and went off to bed.