Nov. 20 – After 16 hrs of flight, crossing multiple time zones, I finally arrived at Sydney, Australia. Vicky, from college days back in Manila, was joining me. She was arriving from Taipei via Hongkong. After exchanging pleasantries, we finally got to Aarons Hotel, our pre-departure meeting place for Contiki Beaches and Reefs tour. We did a quick tour to Darling Harbour and Chinatown, which were walking distance from our hotel.

Nov. 21 – As we leave Sydney, we stopped at Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair for a group photo with view of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background.

Sydney Scene

Dec. 12 - A mini-reunion with Vicky, Bart, Bobby and Patrick (engineering batchmates from college).

Dec. 13 - I had late breakfast with Matthew and Geneva (group I met during my European tour in 1995) at the Queen Victoria Building - Sydney's expensive shopping centre. We reminisced some of the events and fun we had 3 years back. We still touch base with one another during our annual Xmas card exchange.  That afternoon I headed towards Circular Quay and The Rocks.

The Rocks is a harbourside village where European settlement began in 1788. Restored buildings house a variety of restaurants, outdoor cafes, boutiques, shops and entertainment venues. This waterfront offers views across the Sydney Harbour and the magnificent billowing sails of the world-renowned Sydney Opera House. Being Sunday, the main roads are closed to vehicular traffic and are replaced with an open market where over 100 stalls offering arts and crafts, antiques, jewelry and souvenirs are set up under the canopy. Being Sunday evening also, we found a table at one of the waterfront's restaurant (Wolfie's Grill) for drinks and oysters. Such is a rarity during weekends especially during the Christmas holidays.

Dec. 14 - One quickest way to see Sydney is through the Sydney Explorer Bus. The route has 24 stops and you can hop on or off. I only stopped at Mrs. Macquaries' Chair. I just had to have one more picture of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour view. After a quick bus tour, we took a ferry to Manly Beach where we were joined by Patrick for lunch. Situated on a narrow isthmus of land near North Head, the area boast 18 beaches, inlets and coves, as well as a vast selection of restaurants and shops.

Dec. 15 - Sydney Harbour Explorer Cruise. The cruise departed from Circular Quay. Stops were the Sydney Opera House, Watson's Bay unique seafood village, Taronga Zoo where I spent time to see Australia's native and exotic animals and Darling Harbour, a revitalized former wharf area where most of Sydney's tourist attraction are.

Dec. 16 - Had lunch with Angela who I met also on a European tour (see European Discovery '95) at the Jordon's Seafood restaurant at Darling Harbour.

Dec. 17 - Left Sydney before lunch and arrived Los Angeles at 7 AM the same day!

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