January 01, 2005

New Years!

Then at 0h it started! The bridge was magnificient. With some on either side also. Really a lot! There was not much wind so the smoke kind of blurred the bridge after a while which was a shame. The display lasted about 15 minutes. I took photos but mostly videos because with videos I could really watch the fireworks and enjoy them (just let the video record on its own!). After the fireworks we stayed a while and I helped pack the best I could. We did not want things rolling out in the water of the harbour. There was a bag of ice there near the side. Two girls were kicking it closer to the water. I asked what they were doing and they said they were looking at the ice and went away. A bit later they came back and kicked it into the water laughing. I thought that was so childish of them, come on, you're polluting your own harbour! Oh well... After that me, Andy, his collegue from work and his mom walked back to the house. I tried to race Andy but he was way too quick. Was not a good idea to try to run fast, it got me really tired! After at home I had some juice to drink and then went to bed after we got the spare mattress down from my room for the guest. I enjoyed the fireworks a lot.

New Years I spent resting in the morning. In the afternoon Andy and I went to a beach (near a golf course, tiny one). We stayed about 2h. I went in the water once and swam around a bit but it was so cold (compared to the nice green/turquoise water of further North up the coast)! It was still very nice. Then back home I did not much, computer, tele. Andy's mom made a nice meal for dinner and after that Andy and I watched Donnie Darko, a film they had on DVD. During my trip up to Cairns I had seen the end of it but had missed the beginning. So this time it made more sense! After that I went to bed.

January 03, 2005

Laundry, Packing, TV

It's time for last laundry, packing and spending the rest of the time watching television! I'm leaving soon! Also I prepared a "thank you" meal for the Watson's: vols au vent aux fruits de mer. But my sea food was not as I expected it so the taste was not as usual. Luckily they still liked it!!!

January 04, 2005

Jenolan Caves

This morning I woke up at about 7h to get ready for the trip to the Jenolan Caves. We left at 8h exactly, Andy driving and me the co-pilot! At 10h45 we arrived at the Jenolan Caves through a grand arch which served as an entrance through the caves! Very impressive. Then Andy got the tickets (Lost Underworld passport for 40$) and I used the ladies room and we were off to wait for the first tour: the Orient cave. "There are three richly decorated chambers in the Orient Cave and their visual impact will leave you breathless with the rich display of colour and the massive size and extent of it's decorations (From Jenolan Caves Website)." It was true! There were so many crystals, stalactites, sparkling decorations, shawls, etc. It was everywhere you looked and very bright. The passage ways between the chambers reminded me of early passage ways, very narrow, etc. It seemed to me the less touristy of the caves we visited that day. We then tried to grab lunch but it was so full that we opted for chocolate and raisins to snack on until after the tour. The next one was Lucas Cave. "If you only have time to visit one cave, the Lucas is the best general cave offering the visitor both the highest and widest chambers at Jenolan as well as a glimpse of the underground river (From Jenolan Caves Website)." It was big and much more tourist oriented. The group was huge too! The chambers were nice and big but the decorations less jammed packed together. There were nonetheless very nice pieces. They had a light and music show in one chamber and another was colored lighted. The nicest was the Broken Column area for the size of the chamber and the Cathedral chamber for the little music and light show they do. Was very different from other caves. Then we went to have lunch. I got a sandwich and a yogourt (7,70$). It was nice to get some good food in my belly. Then we went on to the next cave, Imperial Cave with the Diamond extendion. "By choosing to inspect the Imperial with Diamond Cave extension (a 1½ hour tour) you will experience the standard Imperial cave plus the beautiful Diamond branch with exquisite decoration including Bridal Veil and Gem of the West (From Jenolan Caves Website)." The Imperial Cave was neat, it was very cold! All the caves were around 17-15 degrees but this last one had a bit of wind drift making it colder. I put my jacket on for the first time and realized I had my gloves in there (I prepared for Canada by putting them there for my arrival)! Yay! I had nice warm hands and got comments of being well prepared and smart for bringing these from other people on the tour... If only they knew it was just luck! The Imperial Cave was pretty but it was when we got to the Diamond Cave extension that it got really nice so I am glad we choose that one! We also got to see the northern underground river (going down a narrow spiraling staircase). It seemed like there was not even water running in that river it was so clear! Really impressive. On our way out a part of the lighting of the cave blew out so we had to get to the outside without light!!! It was so dark! The guide brought the first part of the group outside. I wanted to be adventurous so I went as last with Andy's dying torch. It was so fun! I had to not only see but help two old grannies in front of me see! We made it out safely! The second part of the group came out behind us with the guide and his bright torch. Then it was time for the long drive back to Sydney at about 17h35. On the way back we saw a big truck turned over on the Great Western Highway near Hartley. It was blocking our lanes and was turned over on the side! I hoped the driver was alright. There were cops, ambulance and fire crew on site already. Someone directed traffic allowing us to pass the truck using the other side's lane. First time I was so close to a big accident. Hopefully the last! Then there was also rain falling very hard, bark falling off of eucaluptus trees and onto the road, etc. So it was not the perfect conditions to be driving but Andy did pretty well! We arrived in Sydney at about 20h15 and went out to a restaurant for dinner with Glenys, Dylan and Andy. The two first restaurant choices were closed so we had to go back and choose another one which would hopefully serve us. We choose Jolly in Leichhardt. It was a cute little restaurant/cafe, seemed like a real family business. The lasagna I first wanted was sold out so I ordered Atlantic Salmon. We also first had bruschetta and garlic breads which were delicious. Then we had mains and my meal was delicious but bit big and it left me so full!! The service was pretty good and it was a nice dinner! I was very thankful. Then we came back home and I went to bed after quickly looking at my Jenolan Caves photographs.

January 06, 2005

Singapore Airport and the Trip Back Home

At the Singapore airport I used the free Internet. The previous night I slept alright in the hotel room that was given to me, but just not long enough. I went to bed at 00h, did not fall asleep until 12h45 or so and woke up at 5h15 because I was hungry and people were showering and the water in the pipes was very noisy! Still it was nice to sleep a bit in a bed and shower. At the airport, I then had time to grab breakfast with the 12 Singapore $ I had kept from September and then was going to get on the flight to Vancouver, Toronto and finally MONTREAL! So I went to the Subway and got the breakfast bread with eggs and bacon. Then I went to 7 Eleven to get a magazine. I gave away the rest of the money (4 Singapore $) to a Tsunami Red Cross donation box. I then went to the gate of my flight. There I went through security and passport validity checks. While I was going through the security swiftly, I saw someone being confiscated a Swiss Army knife and another guy being brought to a interview room because his passport seemed to be counterfeit. Pretty interesting I thought! Usually you don't see much happening at security checks...