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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Walking in Manly
Saturday 27 dec 2008 - Sydney
Took a trip to Manly, set out of apartment at 11 am and made way to Circular Quay. Being a Saturday morning the crowd was considerable, bought ferry tickets for AUD12.80 return trip on Manly Ferry.
Day was slightly overcast so not the best to get a wide angle shot of the harbour, hope the return trip is better.
At Manly I have 2 choices, either to walk the 9.8 km track to The Spit or walk to Manly beach and onto the Cabbage Tree Aquatic Reserve and then to Shelly Beach and onto the Sydney Harbour National Park. Will do the Sydney harbour national park route today.
Arrived at about noon, headed through The Corso. Found a Coles supermarket so could get some stuff on way back. Also some bargain shops, selling like 2 dollar shampoo etc, another stop for the way back.
After about 800m, found myself on Manly Beach. Crowded with bodies everywhere, sunbathing, playing ball and frisbee, swimming and surfing. Not the most pleasant of walks, as it was too crowded. Passed the Cabbage Tree Aquatic Reserve and then onto to Shelly beach. And there were people snorkelling! Must bring my snorkels the next visit here. Apparently there are groupers, squids and the occasional sharks.
Following shelly beach, the trail starts becoming uphill in the form of steps. There is much less people now. The vegetation changes now, more Australian Bush type of plants, Thick barks and branches as if twisted by the shifting winds, plants have thick spiny leaves indicating not much water, not surprising as the whole ground is standstone, with a layer of soil here and there, and there the plants thrive.
At the top of the first climb there is a lookout and it is already 1.30 pm, feeling hungry and a bit faint, guess it is poor fitness or time for lunch so on top of a cliff overlooking Manly, had my lunch.
Walked further on the trail, past a car park and into a track between bushes and suddenly I was completely alone. Followed a trail towards the coast and at after about 10m found myself at the edge of the cliff. All alone, wind on my face, the sound of waves against the rocks below, enjoyed the solitude, the overlooking the Tasman Sea. About to get comfortable when a German family came to the same location, climbing all over the rocks, there goes my solitude and so set out to walk further. Magnificent sandstone rocks formation, some layered after centuries, some on top of another. Came to another cliff and looked at where I was earlier, the rock I was on actually protruded over the Cliff!
The walk took about 1 hour henceforth even though it was only 800m , saw the old quarry that is now a swamp though high up in the cliffs with no obvious water source except for the stagnant water that is likely from the rain, and collecting where the quarry was.
The sandstone wall, must find out why it was built, actually just a wall right in the middle of the cliff, as if separating two sides of property. Climbed through the hole in the wall to go on and finally came to a road. Walked down the road to see there is no one there anymore, so just walked till found a closed gate, walked back and saw 3 people, one lady about 60, another about 30s and a girl of about 7. They seemed happy to see me and must be lost. They were looking to find the beach again and seeing that I had my fill of walking decided to guide them back, Introductions around and the middle one was Jo, a surfer chick, which explain shoulders broader than mine and more deltoid muscles than I can hope to have, the older lady Cheryl and the child Katrina. Further conversation found that they are from………NEW ZEALAND!
Clouds were coming in so best to head back to the beaches and then home. The walkback was faster and less stops for me. Talking and getting to know my new tramping companions.
Arrived back to Manly, said goodbyes and then it was the shopping I wanted to do earlier, spent about AUD20 at the cheap shot and another AUD20 at supermarket. Stopped at a bench to finish my food and also repack bags. Finally I thought my adventure was over, and going to settle quietly on the ferry to continue writing this. In the ferry found a quiet corner for myself and a group of 3 ladies sat on the same row. The clouds started looking really menacing and whipped out my camera again… when the ladies asked if I got good photos. We talked and when they found out I was looking for places to see they came down with a list. Journey was over soon enough got a picture of the three ladies and off I went back to the apartment, oh yes, in the rain.
Took a trip to Manly, set out of apartment at 11 am and made way to Circular Quay. Being a Saturday morning the crowd was considerable, bought ferry tickets for AUD12.80 return trip on Manly Ferry.
Day was slightly overcast so not the best to get a wide angle shot of the harbour, hope the return trip is better.
At Manly I have 2 choices, either to walk the 9.8 km track to The Spit or walk to Manly beach and onto the Cabbage Tree Aquatic Reserve and then to Shelly Beach and onto the Sydney Harbour National Park. Will do the Sydney harbour national park route today.
Arrived at about noon, headed through The Corso. Found a Coles supermarket so could get some stuff on way back. Also some bargain shops, selling like 2 dollar shampoo etc, another stop for the way back.
After about 800m, found myself on Manly Beach. Crowded with bodies everywhere, sunbathing, playing ball and frisbee, swimming and surfing. Not the most pleasant of walks, as it was too crowded. Passed the Cabbage Tree Aquatic Reserve and then onto to Shelly beach. And there were people snorkelling! Must bring my snorkels the next visit here. Apparently there are groupers, squids and the occasional sharks.
Following shelly beach, the trail starts becoming uphill in the form of steps. There is much less people now. The vegetation changes now, more Australian Bush type of plants, Thick barks and branches as if twisted by the shifting winds, plants have thick spiny leaves indicating not much water, not surprising as the whole ground is standstone, with a layer of soil here and there, and there the plants thrive.
At the top of the first climb there is a lookout and it is already 1.30 pm, feeling hungry and a bit faint, guess it is poor fitness or time for lunch so on top of a cliff overlooking Manly, had my lunch.
Walked further on the trail, past a car park and into a track between bushes and suddenly I was completely alone. Followed a trail towards the coast and at after about 10m found myself at the edge of the cliff. All alone, wind on my face, the sound of waves against the rocks below, enjoyed the solitude, the overlooking the Tasman Sea. About to get comfortable when a German family came to the same location, climbing all over the rocks, there goes my solitude and so set out to walk further. Magnificent sandstone rocks formation, some layered after centuries, some on top of another. Came to another cliff and looked at where I was earlier, the rock I was on actually protruded over the Cliff!
The walk took about 1 hour henceforth even though it was only 800m , saw the old quarry that is now a swamp though high up in the cliffs with no obvious water source except for the stagnant water that is likely from the rain, and collecting where the quarry was.
The sandstone wall, must find out why it was built, actually just a wall right in the middle of the cliff, as if separating two sides of property. Climbed through the hole in the wall to go on and finally came to a road. Walked down the road to see there is no one there anymore, so just walked till found a closed gate, walked back and saw 3 people, one lady about 60, another about 30s and a girl of about 7. They seemed happy to see me and must be lost. They were looking to find the beach again and seeing that I had my fill of walking decided to guide them back, Introductions around and the middle one was Jo, a surfer chick, which explain shoulders broader than mine and more deltoid muscles than I can hope to have, the older lady Cheryl and the child Katrina. Further conversation found that they are from………NEW ZEALAND!
Clouds were coming in so best to head back to the beaches and then home. The walkback was faster and less stops for me. Talking and getting to know my new tramping companions.
Arrived back to Manly, said goodbyes and then it was the shopping I wanted to do earlier, spent about AUD20 at the cheap shot and another AUD20 at supermarket. Stopped at a bench to finish my food and also repack bags. Finally I thought my adventure was over, and going to settle quietly on the ferry to continue writing this. In the ferry found a quiet corner for myself and a group of 3 ladies sat on the same row. The clouds started looking really menacing and whipped out my camera again… when the ladies asked if I got good photos. We talked and when they found out I was looking for places to see they came down with a list. Journey was over soon enough got a picture of the three ladies and off I went back to the apartment, oh yes, in the rain.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Alone in Sydney
Enjoying my time in Sydney, it was great that I am given an apartment instead of a hotel so I can cook and not have a housekeeper in the room everyday!
Sydney posting will be almost all the weekdays from now to January.
So far the work has been ok and as usual, as an outsider it will take time to make friends.
Days are spent at the gym in the morning then off to work and then home in evening, cook dinner and tomorrows lunch and then sleep. Any other free time is spent taking photos!
Doing chores and cooking is accompanied by either Micheal Bubble, or ColdPlay or Robbie Williams.
So far not too bored yet as there are things to do. The grouse that I have is that there is no internet in the room! But, this makes me go out to the gym and take pictures so that is good, except no facebook access.
will put in pictures soon, like this one,..... dinner on 25/12/2008, cooked in about 30 minutes inclusive of boiling the pasta.
http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d19/rhino1966/?action=view¤t=IMG_6637.jpg
Will update more soon
Sydney posting will be almost all the weekdays from now to January.
So far the work has been ok and as usual, as an outsider it will take time to make friends.
Days are spent at the gym in the morning then off to work and then home in evening, cook dinner and tomorrows lunch and then sleep. Any other free time is spent taking photos!
Doing chores and cooking is accompanied by either Micheal Bubble, or ColdPlay or Robbie Williams.
So far not too bored yet as there are things to do. The grouse that I have is that there is no internet in the room! But, this makes me go out to the gym and take pictures so that is good, except no facebook access.
will put in pictures soon, like this one,..... dinner on 25/12/2008, cooked in about 30 minutes inclusive of boiling the pasta.
http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d19/rhino1966/?action=view¤t=IMG_6637.jpg
Will update more soon
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