Holidays in Oz and Katoomba

Call me a geographical bigot. I like my Christmas and New Years with snow. I suppose it worked out for the best though, with the warm weather and sunshine, Christmas down under doesn’t bring up the homesickness and yearning for Christmas past that it might if it looked at all like Oklahoma. It’s been in the mid-70s all week… Ho ho ho.

Women Suck

What’s the phrase? “Act in haste, repent at leisure.” I get back from my jaunt with Jack (to the outback and his marijuana operation) and Claire goes ballistic! I’m all chatty about his enterprising attitude and how Australia seems to be more liberal about marijuana laws and she comes back with something like, “I don’t want to see that bloke, or have him in the apartment, and you shouldn’t see him ever again!” — All that in the high-pitched, righteous anger only women can do well.

Deep Sea Fishing Out of Sydney Australia

Claire has school so I’m free to do some adventuring. 75 degrees and sunny — sounds like fishing weather to me!

How to Sneak onto a Charter

The University of Sydney

School is still in session for Claire and she thought it’d be fun for me to tag along with her to class.  I’ve always been curious what people actually do at a university so I figured what the hell.  Plus, Claire’s getting a degree in something that could mean future travel, and you know I’m a sucker for traveling.

Sydney Harbor Bridge and Balloonery

It’s tough to take a tour of Sydney with a Sydney native without boring them half to death.  Claire, having been raised in Sydney was sure to have seen all the stuff a first-timer like me would be interested in.  That’s why I decided to think a little different.

Sydney, Australian for New York

I have to admit to some bias. As much as I’d like to avoid the Ugly American label, I’ve always assumed Australia was, well, kind of third-world. I suppose it’s all the nature shows they have in the US. Everything Australian has a kangaroo or a snake in it. They always show you the dry and the dusty. Man, talk about being wrong.

Flying to Australia

Thai International Airlines will get you from London to Sydney – eventually. They run out of Heathrow airport with a 747. It takes about 6 hours to get to Bangkok, where there’s a sit-about for a couple hours until you board the next plane for the real trip…