Australia day makes for a long weekend - so we took off for a few days and escaped the city and festivities with our rental car to see some more of countryside Victoria. We went south to Mornington Peninsula and Wilsons Promontory, driving around, eating fish & chips, swimming, walking, playing frisbee, sleeping in our ridiculously small tent and taking photos.
Living in Melbourne one often sees this city compared to Sydney, Australia's famous-er beachfront metropolis to the north. Not unlike the Montreal - Toronto rivalry to compare it to back home. As a semi-recent transplant from Canada I have always tried to stay neutral in these debates, not wanting to appear either ignorant or biased. "After all" I might say, "I've only been there a few times" or "It's not all bad, they do have a very nice Opera House." From this recent trip, my opinion of Sydney has since tipped from a formal indifference to a I like you a little less.
Having heard glowing reviews about Sydney's Annual New Years Eve bonanza, Gen and I decided to make the most out of a long weekend and go visit the Harbor City for what was to be a first-rate fireworks spectacular. In this regard I must admit that we were rewarded with a truly breathtaking display of pyrotechnic mastery. It was epic to see it in person.
We first booked our flights wihout trying to find prior axcomodation, thinkink it shouldn't be too complicated; mistake. Turns out nearly everything was booked out in the city, or required a minimum stay of a week, or some were available at a nightly rate that was close to my monthly rent fee. After a dedicated reasearch and many phone calls, we did end up finding something that we knew would be a bit on the sketchy side, but was in a good location and would allow us to get to spend new years in Sydney - so should be great!
Once in Sydney, It started with lost hotel bookings - "do you have a reservation? You are not in the books and we are booked out over the new years-sorry!". Right. We had payed for the accomodation already and did have email confirmation. They did find a way to adcomodate us after what seemed like hours of waiting (everything else being fully booked out by then, we had very little options). It was the worse place ever! Aside this drama, the thuggish behavior from the local riffraffng and general disarray were all too prevalent. If we go again next year I'll remember to book my accommodation months prior, bring some brass knuckles and pepper spray.
Nevertheless, this new years eve will be a night to remember!
Happy 2010 everyone - welcome to the future!
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