After the loudest, longest, lumpiest flight of my life, we arrived in the desert in Abu Dhabi. We were met at the airport by the lovely Rowena, Tariq and Abla, and taken on a whirlwind tour of one Emirate in the UAE. We had a look around the stunning Mosque, had Lebanese food by the river, stepped foot in the Emirates Palace and taken miles into the air to a viewing tour restaurant that spun! Not so good for my vertigo. Abla was a joy to be around, giggling non-stop and after just a week of walking her favourite game is running at you, arms in the air and of course giggling finding the whole fiasco hilarious.
Next stop, Sydney
Sydney is cool. It's hot, by the ocean and full of things to look at and do. A few of my highlights in the city include:
The Botanical Gardens - wish I knew more about plants and flowers, but nevertheless it was pretty to look at!
The Chinese Friendship Garden - I met up with the friend Zoe (who is also travelling around) and we cemented our friendship here. We found a bird that we were slightly concerned had it's feet glued to a rock, this worry soon passed as the ambient wind whistled through the Chinese willow trees.
Secret Cocktail Bars - in an attempt to find Euan a job we went searching for cocktail bars and came across a new trend/old idea. These cocktail bars have no signage and no shop fronts. The only way you know from the street that there is a bar, is a bouncer in an inconspicuous doorway. They make you wait a while, then you can make your way through the storage room, up some stairs and you are welcomed at the door and seated in this tiny 'Anne Frank' style hidden bar. This isn't a new idea of course, it's much the same as a speakeasy. Only these days there is no danger of having a drink.
Bondi to Bronte coastal walk - Bondi will forever remind me of the heartache of cracking my iPad screen, but apart from that it's a pretty cool place. It's a little touristy and windy (perfect for surfing) but the fun part is the coastal walk to Bronte. The cliff faces are carved so beautifully and Euan was pleased to find 'keep fit' stations to do pull ups, crunches and other ... things at intervals along the walk.
Taronga Zoo - ORANGOUTANGS AND KOALAS that is all.
We enjoyed the city very much, however a lovely little friend of ours, Clara WR took us to a place we liked even more. A special little place called Manly. Oh Manly, you pretty thing. More on that
later.
&gingerblossom
