Merry Christmas from Sydney...

I've been in Australia for two months and I've finally found my way to Sydney. And it is definitely a very cool city. So how do you spend your first day in such an iconic city? I'll tell you.

You arrive at 1:00 in the afternoon and you source food right away as the bus ride from Port Macquarie started at 5:20am. From there...you find an Irish Pub to allow yourself some time to organize what you want to do and see in Sydney. It's pretty overwhelming. Unfortunately, when this course of action is taken...you may find yourself falling under the spell of international relations when you meet some boys from Ireland and Scotland. I'm proud to say that we sent one Scottish boy home at 6:30 so that he could get sick. And then a first happens...I get cut off at the bar at 10:30pm. Crazy!! However, when I asked why she was cutting me off...the bartender said..."you don't look drunk...you don't sound drunk...but you must be drunk because I know how much I served you!!" I'll take that as a compliment. It was a worthy drinking session with straight shots of whiskey, Red Bull and Vodkas and $7.00 pitchers of beer. And the even bigger compliment came the next day when the Scottish boy (who did last all session) said it was the first time he had been out drank by anyone other than a fellow Scots man. Notch another one up for the Embro Boys!!

Day two actually had me up at 8:00am (no hangover again...I love life!!) I found my way to the Sydney Aquarium which is one of the coolest places I've ever been. I could have stayed there all day. Unfortunately, I found out that my camera is CRAP and most of the pictures I took didn't turn out because it was too dark for my camera. (once again...insert four letter words here) I've seen some amazing sites here in Australia, but the Aquarium rates in the top 5 to date. You have to see it!!

Even though Sydney is a pretty big city (over 5 million) it still has a laid back atmosphere. Besides "G'Day Mate"... "No worries" is the second favourite phrase of the Aussies and Sydney is no different. I can't believe that phrase pacifies so many situations that could easily escalate. In Toronto...there would be fist-a-cuffs.

I actually expected to be "let down" by Sydney as so many people had built it up in my mind. However, it's even more awesome than I could have hoped for. I've walked the Sydney Harbour Bridge; I've partied in King's Cross; I've been up close to the Opera House and so much more. I went to the "Rocks" district today which is a fairly high end neighbourhood to buy you all a Christmas gift, but I couldn't decide between Gucci or Dolce Gabbana so I went and had a beer instead. I'm sure your response will be "No worries mate!"

I have two more days in Sydney before I fly to Perth for the holidays. I can't wait to get back to Sydney in Febraury to see the Blue Mountains; Manly beach and Bondi beach.

I want to wish each of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a safe and wonderous holiday season.

My next blog will be coming in the New Year as I'm sure you're all too busy to read my blog...or you should be!!

Happy New Year!!! My thoughts are with you all!!

Twins and the Gold Coast...

Finally...a few extra comments. Thanks... However, I definitely see where your loyalties lie and they are certainly not with me as only Anita has ever asked to see ME in a picture (thanks Anita)...no...I mention Swedish twins and everyone wants to see a picture of them (and I'm guessing without me in the picture as well) I curse you all!

So let's talk about twins...no...not the Swedish twins, but your twins. They say everyone has a twin "out there"...well...I've found most of them in Australia. I know all of you think you're unique and special (and you are in my eyes...yeah right), but it's been freaky how many times I could have sworn I saw some of you lurking here in Australia. Damn twins. Unless...are you guys stalking me?

Australia's Gold Coast...heaven on earth. Even with sketchy weather right now, it's the promised land. I suggest everyone hop on a plane right now and experience the Gold Coast...and meet your twins. Once again...as you can see from my pics...I'm getting trigger happy with the camera. Who really takes pictures of the sky as many times as I have? I know I've always been close to "the edge", but something has now pushed me over. I guess you guys were right. I'm not quite "all there"

The picture with the lighthouse above was taken in Byron Bay and considered to be the most Eastern part of Australia. Just some trivia for you.

Only in Australia can you find a huge Christmas tree beside palm trees. Bizarre. Not even seeing the sight of a sweat-drenched Santa Claus clone seems to get me in the Christmas spirit this year. I'm going to have to switch to alcohol, close my eyes and pump carols through my ipod.

You have to be a proud Cdn when you see a rock (along the Aussie coastline) painted with the Cdn flag. In Port Macquarie, they encourage people to paint the rocks...it was actually very cool.

Also in Port Macquarie...I decided to try out my diving abilities with two more dives...and all I can say is SHARKS...lots of sharks! I've now progressed from the smaller reef sharks, to the very menacing looking gray nurse sharks. Yes, people say they're harmless, but when you see a 7-8 foot shark swimming about three feet from your head...it's still a little disturbing.

CRIKEY...crickets!!! The crickets down here are absolutely deafening in some parts. It's unbelievable how loud they are!!

And since we are talking about insects...the cock roaches are starting to get bigger as well. Careful where you step!

I'm proud to inform you that I've copyrighted a card game and promoting it to an international audience. I had five Israelis teach me a card game, but the Hebrew name had no English translation so of course...I named it "Joe's Game" So far it seems to be a hit with the Backpackers.

I'm also proud to inform you that my trivia team and my beach soccer (OK...football for you Europeans reading this) team were victorious and I have the wounds to prove it. Bloody hell... backpackers are competitive. Even the girls were into high shin tackles. I'm getting too old for this... but I'll die before I let some young, punk-ass backpacker get the better of me. I still haven't met a true contender to challenge me at the bars. I'm not sure I'll be bringing my liver home with me at the end of the trip. Oh well..."it's only a flesh wound!"

See you in Sydney...actually...I'm already here, but you don't know that yet. Cheers!!!