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'SYDNEY'
episode 1- G'DAY AUSTRALIA
episode 2- coming back from the Blue Mountains
episode 3- sorting out
episode 4- more sorting out
episode 5- back to where it all started

G'Day Australia!

We finally made it, Australia... We arrived at Sydney airport early mornings. Had to check in at the customs. First thing the Australian bloke at the customs said to me was: "G'day mate!" Typical. Well this is it: Australia, couldn't be better. Already liked the country and its people...

Someone from the organisation picked us up and brought us to our hostel. That was in Coogee Beach, just below the famous Bondi Beach.

We stayed in a very good hostel just up the (steep) road from the beach, Coogee Beach Backpackers. We were all together in 2 rooms. We spent a lot of good late nights in there...

The first days were full of exploring and sorting out. We visited the heart of the city (George Street, Pitt Street, etc...) where the orgination was based, got ourselves a bankaccount, a taxfile number, and had a sort of sightseeing drive in a bus. We also got information about how to travel around, they showed us the OZ-experience, which seemed very cool.

It took us about an hour to go into the heart of the city from Coogee Beach. At nights, we went out to the clubs in Coogee or at the beach or stayed in our rooms. Every night was a late night, but it was great.

We bought our food or the girls cooked for us. It was different than the situation at home. No filled frigde. I remember once I got thirsty, I had to go to the shop to buy me a bottle of water. I was just not used to that back home, but those things are cool...

Also met a lot of other people from all over the world. Michelle chatted with someone from Sydney before we got there, and he seemed to be very cool: Monte. He had as mate as well, Antony, as cool as well. Spent very cool times with them during our whole trip. We are Still in contact... That's a nice thing, you meet friends for life. At the first I didn't bother meeting a lot of other people as you don't know anyone at all, but that it just one of the best things of travelling...

I also started to loose and break things. Lost a sweater, shirt, can't even remember all the things I lost anymore. Damaged my '5-days-old'camera. Put it in my pocket while being on the beach, though there was already a pile of sand in it... Thought it was smart to put it in my pocket...

Almost bought a car with Menno, a guy from Holland, though I'm glad Johan and me didn't. Wonder how the trip would have been if we did. It probably would have been totally different... Met him last year in Leiden with a mate from my old school. What a small world...

It was a great feeling, being there. The other side of the world, not knowing anyone. I was already proud of myself that I took the flight to Australia and now I wanted more.

Sent lots of postcards those days. It was the time of my first introduction with the internet and e-mail. I couldn't believe that such a thing was possible. With a press on a button a person on the other side could read straight away what you just typed.
I was not into computers at all, I hated them and now I'm studying Information Communication Technology...

We also went to see a few places. Went to Darling Harbour, Circular Quay, Kings Cross and a few other places. Kings Cross is really filled with all sorts of people. There is always something going on... One day we went to Taronga Park Zoo where we've seen our first kangaroos and koalas. We also did a beautiful boattrip around Sydney Harbour...

But now it was time to move on. It has been a week now and I didn't just want to stay in Sydney. Had a vague plan that we wanted to see everything except for the westcoast (to be realistic) but didn't had a clue when and how. So we decided to join the girls who were going to the Blue Mountains.

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