Australia Museum

Well we had to go to at least one museum. This one had exhibitions on aboriginal culture, animals bones, as well as a special exhibit of pearls. The pearl exhibit looked like a bunch of old ladies had pooled together their jewellery boxes. The aboriginal exhibit was interesting in parts, showing their farming tools and craft work. The animal bones area was pretty cool, showing elephant, turtle, whale and giraffe skeletons as well as many more. All in all it was pretty ok although we have seen exhibits of this kind back in London.

Hyde Park

Another pleasant walk surrounded with weird looking Australian birds. There was a large statue of Captain Cook in the middle. Every good park needs a good statue in the middle.

Channel 7

Walking through the city centre we went past the Channel 7 building. They shoot the news on the ground floor where everyone walking past can see in through the large glass windows. The presenter was a right poser. He was sitting fiddling with his tie and preening himself like he was on a date. Also the background of the office workers that you always see on the news is totally fake. It was just a screen behind him. Guess it prevents any angry employees from mooning at the camera during peak hours. Later in the evening they change the screen to a night scene. Sorry if I've spoilt the illusion for anyone out there.

Minus Five Degrees

Along the harbour we popped into the novelty bar Minus Five Degrees. It was a bar made pretty much entirely of ice. The chairs, chandeliers, statues, the bar its self, and even the glasses we drunk out of.
They gave you a coat, gloves and even boots if you needed them to keep you warm during your visit. Needless to say it was freezing but we had a great time.

They have one due to open in London in November.

Martin's Place Mall

There was some really great architecture around this area, the buildings were really grand. There was also I bit of a modern touch to it with all the designer stores resident there. There was also an old style arcade area on Queen Victoria Square nearby.

We met some folk from Greenpeace there who tried to offer us a free trip back to China, heh heh. - not even if he paid us!

Sydney Harbour

The view of the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House did not disappoint. The Opera house was even more impressive in real life. The Bridge was enormous, much larger than the one they built back home in Newcastle upon Tyne (built first as the test model so I'm told).
You can walk the upper arch of the bridge right at the top which takes about 3 hours to complete. So far we haven't got to doing that yet, hmmm we'll see.
The area around the bridge and opera house had such atmosphere with its bars and cafes. It was a lovely place to spend the evening.

Cockington Green Gardens

This was a garden of miniature buildings. They were little models of loads of castles, temples and parliament buildings from around the world.

Each of the displays were quite pretty and well done but we did think that they could have included some more tourist pleasing sights such as the Eiffel Tower or the Egyptian Pyramids. I don't think I recognized a single building from real life. Still, a pleasant enough experience.

My Sweethearts b-day

We were stuck in dead city Canberra for my darling's b-day - although we enjoyed a great meal and my darling had happy b-day sung to him in a restuarant full of people. We decided to make it Pau's b-day week, which would spill into Sydney where I could give him a b-day to remember.