My mate Mike (from the US) sent me a write-up I did of my first trip to Australia. I made the trip back in 1997 and upon my return sent him this review of the trip.
I went. I saw. I came back.
I'll pretend that you care and I will give the summary of my trip.
I flew on Olympic Airlines which is like British Airways was twenty years ago, but with food by Pedigree Chum.
First two days in a hotel in Kings Cross. Last four days in Manley. I saw: Botanic Gardens; Opera House; The Rocks; Darling Harbour; Aquarium; Zoo; Centrepoint Restaurant; Museum of Contempory Art; Ferry's; Bondai Beach; Bronte Beach; Palm Beach; Newport Beach.
I caught up with my cousin Vicky and an old work mate (and her Husband).
Sydney was hosting the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras - unfortunately I left Sydney on the day of the main parade - so many moustaches in one place and more leather than walking the meadows of England. Transvestites all over the place (some having real tits!). I was propositioned by three men and three whores in my six days there. First day a bloke asked if I wanted to suck his dick - shame, I'd already eaten so had to decline his kind offer. A whore said that she'd go the whole night for 100 dollars - it would have been a waste of money as my record is 23 seconds! Sydney is a buzz. People are friendly and there is loads to do. I loved it.
I was basically there to hang out with Murat and relax. I did: Barbeques; Queen Victoria Market; Fitzroy Gardens; Old Melbourne Gaol; Dandenong Mountains (William Ricketts Sanctuary and Healsville Sanctuary); the Zoo; the Yarra river. I saw the Australian Grand Prix and went to an Australian Rules Football match. I saw lots of people that I already knew from when they were in the UK. On my last day in Sydney I had got some serious sun burn on my back and over the first three days in Melbourne I couldn't lean back on anything and then it got worse - my back bubbled and blistered - yuk.
I preferred Melbourne to Sydney - the people I met were so nice and friendly - I felt so comfortable there - I loved it. I ate well (and lots). Ok, so I nearly had a fight at the football game - but that's life).
I saw the Grand Palace and a couple of temples (very impressive). I went for a Thai meal and saw traditional Thai dancing (in costume). I wandered the streets and shops and was stunned by the squalor of the place - it was dirty and smelley. Food being cooked on the streets as rats run about. The roads are a series of potholes and the pavements are tracks - as shit holes go - it was a shit hole. I was also running out of money, so that limited what I could do anyway. The hotel was the most impressive I have ever been in and I spent my last day and a half staying inside there. It had a superb outdoor pool on the 8th floor plus a gym, sauna, indoor and outdoor jacuzzis, Italian, Chinese, American and Thai restaurants and good shops - so that meant that I didn't really have to leave the place - It was totally relaxing. Bangkok was so hot and humid that it bred an apathy that suitedme very well.
<<I then described what I witnessed at a girlie show, but I have decided to remove that bit as it isn't really very important and was a bit uncouth>>
All in all, I had a superb time and loved the whole three weeks and three days of it. I have a bit of a tan (and a scabby back) and I feel like I have had three holidays - which I have had.
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