Saorrento

Just returned from the greatest long-weekend ever! A couple of mates and I fled from Perth to Sydney for the long weekend.

It wasn’t planned, it was all in the spirit of the moment… pretty much 30minutes from suggesting it to Rob to actually booking the Qantas flight online at 5PM on the Friday afternoon for a 12.00AM departure that same evening.

We packed as lightly as possible and flew to Sydney with no prior accommodation arrangements made - the only way to travel for an adventure!

After **accidentally** declaring that Rob and I were carrying dangerous goods in our luggage - specifically items such as Radioactive materials, drugs and guns - to the automated airline ticketing system, we eventually got out tickets (after a quick - but forceful visit to Qantas Customer Services).

Landed in Sydney at 6am on the Saturday - the weather - a mild 15 degrees. Later in the evening another mate, David, arrived also from Perth…

Saturday was spent trying to get out bearings. Rob and I checked out the Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay - all in the while lugging about our luggage, as we had not yet secured accommodation smile

David later confirmed his arrival into Sydney at 7PM, and at the same time took care of the accommodation - champ! - we stayed a the Vibe Hotel (South Sydney - apparently there are 3 of these hotels).

Later in the evening, once the team was all together, we did what anyone else who flew 3000km on a whim would so - went to the clubs and pubs - Kings Cross baby - here we come!

KC was pretty awesome - a bit seedy in parts, but at the end of it all we did manage to find some rather awesome pubs and nightclubs too… 4.30AM we were stumbling from KC back to our hotel in the CBD.

Sunday, after the recovery of the night before saw us once again visiting the Circular Quay area (location of the Ferries, Harbor Bridge and Opera House) and the billions of shopping malls both above and below the ground.

We also caught up with Steve, who has now been assigned to the Sydney army base. We met him at the Opera house and then went for a feed. Was great to catch up.

Later that evening, we caught up with my cousins Sharon and Allan (both Sydney locals - for about 3 years). We dined at a Japanese restaurant. It was a fantastic place - you order your food (sushi or your choice of meat) and they deliver it to you raw (the sushi you eat as is - obviously), as for the raw meat - whether it be pork, chicken or beef, you cook it yourself, using a small gas-grill in the centre of the table. It was a unique experience to say the least - one i would happily indulge in again.

Later Sunday saw myself standing outside of the Opera house (again!!), this time getting soaking wet (due to the heavy rain) whilst taking photos of Sydney CBD, Harbor Bridge and Opera House at night. Looking back now at the photos taken it was definitely worth the effort - even if i did get a cold from doing it.

Monday, being our last day (for Rob and I) in Sydney, we checked out the Sydney Tower - the tallest structure in Sydney, and checked out the 360 degree views at the top. After which a quest began to find me a coat - like the locals were wearing… the long black coats also worn in London… after what seemed like hours of searching, i finally found what i was looking for in Myer no less and snatched it up for $200.00.

The fashion in Sydney in winter is very interesting… it isn’t really your typical Australian fashion, in fact, it is European!! All the chicks over there wore there long boots, long wool coat and sweater… damn they looked hot tongue

Come Tuesday morning, our flight left from Sydney at 6AM and arrived in Perth at 9AM (just in time for my 10AM meeting at work

It was a fantastic weekend!! - will be doing a lot more of these spontaneous trips in the future too!!