Got it...

Barely made it for sunset but managed to capture a few pix of the Opera House! Wish I had a better camera like some of the guys out there but these will do for a disposable. Saw some wildlife out there as well...animals too

Back

Back in Sydney finally...have had my fill of Greyhounds for a while. That trek was only 13 hours though. Saw some incredible countryside! Today is a beautiful sunny day here in Sydney even though the autumn chill is in the air.. Crazy how its Saturday morning for me and happy hour time on Friday for you. Since I haven't really cruised the city yet I am going to do that today. Gona strap on my fanny pack, tighten up my money belt and toss the camera around my neck and see what the city is all about. You know those post card pix of the Opera House with the Harbor Bridge in the background at sunset? I am going to try and duplicate that tonight after a cocktail in the Opera Bar. Should be a pleasant evening...

I keep narrowly escaping being hit when I cross the streets...cant get it in my head to look the other way...

Byron Bay

Have been chillin in Byron Bay for the past few days. Incredible town! The vibe here is pretty chill. Did a fair amount of hanging at the beach and getting some much needed R and R...not to mention the walks down the beach tend to be easy on the eyes;-) So I keep forgetting to take pictures of my food the few times I have broken down and purchased a real breakfast...well that is as real as they can do over here. I am use to the nice big hearty breakfasts we have all come accustomed to in the states. If you don't want toast and butter you have to pay a pretty penny for it. Each time I buy bfast that is somewhat comparable to Country Host's Farmers Platter it not only costs me 15 bucks but the taste isnt 15 bucks worth of taste. Throw a coffee on there at the bill is 20 green backs. I am not trying to complain...well yes I am...I just want a hearty bfast that is going to get me going in the morning lol. On the subject of food I have only had three meals that have been fantastic! 2 were cooked by my host and the other was at a restaurant in town. Otherwise everything is just ok.

Went out last night with a couple Israelian girls (or is it Israelite girls?) I met. Learned some Hebrew and had an interesting time..

Here are a couple pix from today. I took a long hike up the the lighthouse here and grabbed a pic of the furthers eastern part of Australia. Heading back to Sydney tomorrow. Only a 12 hour bus ride this time.

Thats it...

Oh..that one pic....not sure what I was feeling...

I was offline for a few days and just got off a lovely 23 hour bus ride from Airlie Beach to the final stop of Byron Bay. Damn Australia is huge! The pix below are obviously from my stay in Airlie Beach. Had a fantastic trip cruising around the Whitsundays for a couple days and nights. Took my 2 first scuba dives and what could have been a better place the the Great Barrier Reef? Well...maybe somewhere with a bit better visibility. The dives were still an incredible experience though. To be honest I wasn't sure how my mental capacity would handle it with the last time being in the depths of the ocean was when I had my incident in '95. Going under was quite frightening at first as I began gasping for air through the little hose. Once I realized how fantastic the tank of air was on my back I relaxed and wow! The experience of swimming with fish is like no other. I and definitely hooked! I stayed another night in Airlie Beach and the decided to make my way down the coast rather then fly. I heard Byron Bay is a beautiful chill place so we shall see tomorrow. Might learn to surf or might just lay on the beach and do nothing.

I am gona shower and grab so food...tchau

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First Dive Maybe?

Flew up to Hamliton Island today and caught a ferry over to Airlie Beach. Heading out sailing tomorrow for a few days around the islands and the Great Barrier Reef! Thinking it might be as good a place as any to start diving ya? Quaint little town it is with just a couple things to do...well besides drinking that is. The locals say the only reason to be here is for sailing and diving. Realized I really haven't taken any pictures except of maps to get my way around towns so hopefully I will be coming back with a card full of photographs. Oh..here is a quick one of the Opera House. Hope to get better sunset pix when i get back to Sydney. Nothing to exciting to talk about this time since everything has been going along smoothly. Hope to wrestle some sharks soon though.

tchau