Half Around The World In 80 Days

I arrive in Sydney on Sunday November 21st and am glad to see the sun shining for a change. Here I am greeted by college friend Donnacha Gallagher who has spent much time in Australia over the past 6 years. It is good to have a local guide to see me through the complications of settling here.

I hope to stay in Australia for a year. The first few months are to be spent working (hopefully) in Sydney to replenish my seriously depleted finances. After life on the road for the past few months, it should also be nice to go back to the same house at the end of every day. My plans beyond that are flexible but will hopefully involve travelling the whole way around this vast country and into the centre to see Uluru (Ayer's Rock).

Sydney is agog with the Olympic Games which are still over 10 months away. Every advertising billboard seems to refer to the games and every night the news is full of scandals and incompetence associated with SOCOG, the organising committee. Australia is also feeling very proud on the sporting front at the moment; this year they have captured the world titles in Rugby Union, Rugby League, cricket, netball, tennis (Davis Cup). Also their swimmers seem to set new world records every day of the week.

Well that is all for now. I hope you have enjoyed the story so far. If anything exciting does befall me I will report it here and hopefully when I hit the road again there will be more to add.

Sydney Opera House (just to show that I am really here)