Bullet to Beijing!

The image of Chairman Mao at the Gates of Heavenly Peace- the entrance to the Forbidden City

The Bullet Train

Always being asked to appear on photos, this one over looking the Forbidden City

Suitably wrapped up on the shores of the frozen lake at the Summer Palace

I started my journey to Beijing aboard the bullet train which was a great experience, these trains go twice as fast as anything at home.I had booked into Sleepy Hostel, a recommendation that I am grateful for as the location was superb, in the Jishuitan area by a beautiful lake ( which like all the other lakes in Beijing was frozen over for the whole of my stay and I saw people skating, taking walks and playing ice hockey every day on the frozen ice)

Beijing's history is rich and it emerged as a political and cultural force following Mongol occupation in which Genghis Khan razed the city to the ground in 1215 having penetrated the Great wall. His grandson Kublai Khan reigned over the largest Empire the world had ever known on the site of present- day Beijing. Affectionately known as Peking in the days of colonialism( still called this today by many Chinese) it has also been known as Dadu ( Great Capital) and by the Mongol name Khanbalik ( Khan's town).During the Ming dynasty it was renamed Beiping- the only pure Chinese dynasty to rule from the city. During Ming rule hallmark architecture such as the Temple of  Heaven and the Forbidden City date. Beijing's hisory is indelibly linked to that of China and was subjected to power struggles and invasions from amongst others the Anglo- French,the Boxers, warlords, the Japanese and Kuomintang. It changed hands one last time on 1st October 1949 when the People's Liberation Army entered the city and Mao Zedong proclaimed a People's Republic to 500 000 citizens in Tiananmen Square.
Beijing today has retained its historical core with the Communists leaving their own Stalinesque touches alongside the modern day skyscrapers and shopping malls that have transformed it.

It's size is formidable- roughly the size of Belgium- and is one giant grid with the Forbidden City at its centre.

On my first day I started at the symbolic heart of Beijing, Tiananmen Square. It's the largest public space in the world and did not disappoint. It was quite overwhelming as it obviously means so much to Chinese people and big groups were everywhere capturing the moment. I can honestly say I didn't see another Westerner until a couple of hours later as I left my bag before visiting Mao's mausoleum! ( see separate section). The Gate of Heavenly Peace is at one end of the square, hung with a vast likeness of Chairman Mao, and from where he proclaimed the People's Republic in 1949.
*Mao died in September 1976 and his mausoleum constructed immediately after. Still revered by Chinese people today, it is a place of pilgrimage for many Chinese. No bags or photography are allowed and you are rushed through at breakneck speed. Debate rages as to whether its Mao's actual body or a waxwork! One thing I did notice is that he seemed remarkably small although the history books tell us he was just short of 6 feet! Believe what you will..
Next stop was the Forbidden City or Dongcheng to the Chinese, now known as the Grand Palace, directly behind Tiananmen Square.
This is the largest and best preserved group of ancient buildings in China and home to the Ming and Qing dynasties. The largest and most important hall at the heart of the Forbidden City is the Hall of Supreme Harmony, built in the 15th century and resorted on the 17th, it was used for important ceremonial occasions such as the Emperor's birthday and coronations. The Supreme Harmony Gate also overlooks a courtyard that could hold audiences of up to 100,000 people giving you some idea of the scale of this enormous complex of halls, temples, bridges and gardens.Simply stunning. Immediately after leaving the Forbidden City I headed straight over to Jingshan Park which gives priceless views back over the City.It did not disappoint despite it having been a hazy, cloudy day.

A section of the Great Wall at Jinshanling

On my second day I visited the Lama Temple, the second largest Tibetan temple in the world. It's an active temple where locals congregate to pay their respects to Buddha.My Chinese friend John visited the temple to say thank you upon finding out he has a place at an American university to study for his Masters!

Another site I visited was The Summer Palace , a wonderful place to spend an afternoon, walking along the frozen lake to the famous bridge and admire the stunning setting.

No visit to Beijing would be complete without a trip to the Great Wall. I visited the Jinshanling  section  of the wall which was less touristy than some of the more popular sections.It was about a 3 hour drive from Beijing so after an early start we arrived at  our destination having glimpsed sections of this iconic structure as we approached .I had a wonderful day ( one of the best in China so far) as the scenery was stunning and I was in such a historical place. The Great Wall is also known to the Chinese as the 10,000 Li Wall ( one Li is about 500m ) which makes the wall  roughly 5000km stretching from Liaoning Province to Jiayuguan in the Gobi Desert. The original wall aawas begun over 2000 years ago during the Qin dynasty when China was being unified as a way of keeping out nomads and invaders. Hundreds of thousands of labourers worked to their deaths in its construction. Although it never performed well as a defensive structure ( Genghis Khan said the strength of a wall depends on the courage of those who defend it) but it did work well as a transport link.
Sections of the wall no longer exist as it was largely forgotten although many have been rebuilt for the tourist industry. I was really pleased that I got to see an original and unrestored section of the wall and we didn't see any other tourists all day. It is in sharp contrast to the most popular and dramatic section at Badaling which has a cable car, souvenir stalls and a fairground feel. However, it is a myth that you can see the Great Wall from space. The first Chinese man in space confirmed this in 2003!

                                        A view of the Great Wall in all its glory

The group who I shared the day wit- me, two American sisters, an Australian couple and our guide

This man climbed to the Flower Tower everyday to sell drinks and trinkets. He was 74 years old, a fact he was keen to share. There's a lot of living in that face!

I met some great people in Beijing which again added to my experiences and enjoyment. Scott, an American studying Chinese and his Chinese girlfriend Rachel ( many Chinese also have a Western name), another American guy David, in China to teach, and a great Chinese guy who spent days showing me around areas such as the 798 Art District ( a former industrial area that has been transformed with a thriving art scene, cafes and funky shops), the Confucius Temple and Beihai Park as well as many hutongs ( narrow alleyways on the traditional Chinese style) . There were once said to be 8000 in Beijing although many were taken over in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. These thriving communities are wonderful to wander or cycle and every rickshaw driver shouts 'Hutongs' at every street corner!
I was also impressed with the cost of things in China. I love eating at street stalls and local restaurants - I think the cheapest I found worked out at 60p for a big bowl of noodles with egg, tomato and greens.Similarly the cost of transport- a ticket anywhere on the Beijing subway will set you back 2 juan ( about 20p) and my cheapest bus ticket worked out at 4p!

An ice hockey game on my local lake

Me at the 798 art district sign doing my Chinese salute!

Me and my Chinese friend Johnny (who I met at Sleepy Inn). He showed me lots of places around Beijing, always good to know a local!

Johnny again (most Chinese have an English name to use with foreigners!)

Next stop: Xi'an

First stop: Shanghai

Walking along the Great Wall of China- all will be revealed in my next blog!

Just one of a million artefacts in the best museum in China

The early coins on display at the Shanghai museum

My Chinese journey began in Shanghai ( after an 18 hour train journey from Hong Kong where I slept most of the way as my bunk/ hard sleeper didn't allow me to sit up!)
 China's largest city has a population of 23 million and it clearly typifies  the contradictions of modern China. Glitzy department stores and skyscrapers on the one hand, poverty and prostitution on the other. China has the biggest gulf between rich and poor in the world.

Shanghai doesn't have the history of other Chinese cities but it's a great place to feel the pace of modern China. Even from my limited time in the city, wandering down East Nanjing Road with its big named stores- Cartier, Louis Vuitton, etc then turning into a side street where street vendors, local cafes and stalls selling anything and everything predominate. It really gave you a sense of East meets West, the modern and the ancient.

It's name means by the sea and as the gateway to the Yangzi river it was an ideal trading port. By the 1930s it was the busiest international port in Asia thanks to the British ( and later the French and Japanese). It was a city built on the trade of opium, tea and silk.

Shanghai's has both historical and contemporary importance. It was where the Chinese communist party was formed in 1921 and during the Cultural Revolution it was the power base of the 'Gang of Four'. Many of todays leaders hail from the city. Central government would love to see Shanghai viewed as the the leading city in China, rather than Hong Kong (as a former British colony).Time will tell..

So my introduction to China was in Shanghai. After finding my hostel ( the wonderful Blue Mountain Bund) with a little bit of help ( thank you to a lovely German guy who pointed me in the right direction as Chinese road signs are not always that helpful) ! I set about exploring the immediate area and was soon to discover what a great spot I was in. East Nanjing Road is at the end of the street- one way to People's Square, the other way the Bund. Two of the most important areas in Shanghai. One my first full day I headed to the Shanghai museum having heard that it is a must and you need at least half a day. It did not disappoint.
Established in 1952 it is a world famous showcase for Chinese art. It houses one million exhibits in sections including bronze, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, jade and ivory.

I particularly loved the bronze and ceramics sections. As a history teacher I was aware that ancient Chinese civilisation was well ahead of its time but even so I was amazed at the craftsmanship of artefacts that were over a thousand and in some cases several thousand years old. I've included a tripod Ding (used for cooking) which weighs over 200 kg. It is extremely rare and suggests the power and influence of the nobility for whom it was created in the 11th century BC.

Another area of interest was the coinage system. China is known as the birth place for paper money but it's history of coins goes back before the 3rd century BC with its first cast coins followed by round coins with central holes from then on. It's first paper money was introduced from 960AD. (see pictures) .The ancient Silk Road coins help record the economic history of the ancient nations along the Silk Road.

I also visited the Propaganda Museum which showcased posters from the days from when the Republic was proclaimed up until the time of Mao's death. There were lots of posters in chronological order with
examples of utopian life and anti-capitalist anti Western sentiment as you would expect. Having studied some Chinese History, I could identify with the Cold War images of Mao alongside Stalin, Lenin and Marx, the importance of images in History never clearer.

One of the many images of Chairman Mao in the Propaganda Art Museum

The views along the Bund. I'm sure they would be better if it wasn't raining!

I wandered the area known as the French Concession where there was a real European vibe.  Shanghai's reputation  as the 'Paris of the East' evolved from here. Walking down the tree- lined streets with imposing European villas , you realised that this is certainly a chic area of town. I imagine in summer it would be wonderful here, with green on the trees and alfresco dining.

Another highlight was the Jade Buddha temple, Shanghai's most famous. Pyres were being lit and incense being burned, the importance of religion so obvious yet the atmosphere felt strangely at odds with the mass consumerism on the streets beyond.

I loved Shanghai- the hostel, atmosphere and simply experiencing the 'real' China only a few streets from the main shopping area and sights.

Next stop: Beijing

Farewell Land of Oz, Hello Hong Kong

Relaxing on the grass at the Australian Open

The show I went to see in Macau featuring my friend, Anaelle

I had a slight change of plan following my stay in thye West in that I decided to return to Melbourne for a few days. My friend Nat had managed to get tickets for the Australian Open tennis event and that was an offer I couldn't refuse. Although it was only a day pass for the outer courts, it was the day of the women's semi finals so we were able to follow the action on the big screens. Bands played and drinks flowed, there was something of a carnival atmosphere about the day.

I spent 3 days back in St. Kilda, enjoying the vibe and relaxation of Nat's local beach before heading back to Sydney for my last day and night. It was great to see Matt and Bridget again and my last evening was ever eventful, being treated to tacos and drinks by a group of their friends in the trendy Surrey Hills area of the city.
Once again I have been humbled by the generosity of people on this trip and my heartfelt thanks go out to all those who have looked after me. You know who you are!

So, next stop Hong Kong. Matt and Bridget dropped me off at Sydney Airport ( it was another emotional farewell) for the 9 hour flight. I had booked a hostel in the Kowloon area of the city, in the Chungking Mansions ( rather notorious as it's a cramped high rise building where locals and backpackers co-exist and has a somewhat seedy reputation). I had heard horror stories but have to say I was pleasantly surprised. My hostel is cramped for sure but clean and the location, on Nathan Street, in the heart of the commercial hub of Kowloon, suits me.

Hong Kong is now part of China (the area was ceded from British rule in June 1997) although has retained independent status. It's name means Fragrant Harbour. It comprises a number of offshore islands, Hong Kong and Kowloon being the principal urban areas. Kowloon is the southern part of the peninsular and Hong Kong the island off it.This is the main financial and commercial quarter.

On my first full day in Hong Kong, I left to go to the island of Macau. Like   Hong Kong, Macau is a former European colony although belonged to Portugal. In 1557 it became the first European settlement on the Chinese coast.It was returned to China in December 1999  after 442 years of Portuguese rule. Many say it was more historically significant than the Hong Kong handover in that the Portuguese were '  the first in and last out!'
Macau is known as the Monte Carlo of the Orient due to the huge numbers of casinos here which underpin the economy.It is also known as an area where prostitution and criminality flourish, the Triad gangs in particular.
Macau is 95 per cent Cantonese and less English is spoken here than in Hong Kong.

The reason for my visit was that my friend Anaëlle had got me a ticket to see the show she was performing in, The House of Dancing Water. This show has been created by Franco Dragone (of Cirque du Soleil fame) and has been running since September 2010. Anaëlle ( who I had met on a bus in Cambodia) had got me super tickets and the show completely mesmerised me. Made up of acrobats, gymnasts, divers and daredevils, the dancers are in a minority in this show! Some of the stunts performed leave you gasping as the performers dangle from trapeze swings and dive into the pool from great heights. To read more about the show the link is http://www.thehouseofdancingwater.com/. Or try finding a clip on youtube.

After the show, it was wonderful to see and catch up with Ana who treated me to cocktails at the Atari Tower hotel which gave awesome views of the city of Macau, lit up by night. As we walked back to her apartment I felt like I was back in Europe as the Portuguse architecture is evident everywhere. The next day I had a few hours to explore the centre of Macau with the old city centred around Largo de Senado (Senate Square) with its beautiful Portuguese buildings mixed with Chinese culture- everywhere there were signs of the Chinese New Year which I had missed by only a few days.

The main square in Macau where there were signs of the recent New Year

Back by ferry in Hong Kong I spent a couple of hours at the Chinese Embassy ( sorting my visa) before getting the Star Ferry back to Tsim Sha Tsui which gives amazing views of the Hong Kong skyline. I took a trip to Lantau island to see the largest outdoor seated Buddha in the world (see picture) which also has some breathtaking scenery and to Victoria Peak with its stunning views of the city.



The Star ferry makes the run between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon every few minutes



The big Buddha at Lantau



More than anything, Hong Kong is a place to wander. As always in Asia, there are food stalls everywhere selling everything from tea to juices of every description to weird looking satays and colourful sweets.Like in other parts of Asia, it's all about the food and people seem to never stop eating! I felt like a local when I was using chopsticks with one hand and was playing with my phone with the other!

Next stop: China

The Land of Oz- Adelaide and the West Side

It was an Oz fest at the WACA as Australia won the test series against India in dramatic style

The beautiful Rawlinson house at Mandurah

My friend Chloe

I left Melbourne by bus for the overnight journey to Adelaide, the capital of south Australia. A cosmopolitan city, surrounded by the Mount Lofty ranges, Adelaide is a city of learning with four separate universities. Like Melbourne, it is famous for its food and wine culture.The well known wine growing areas of McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley are on the doorstep. Wine florishes here due to the Mediterranean climate, shiraz being a favoured grape. 
I had a wander around the city on arrival, trams florished and the grid system present in many Australian cities made it easy to navigate. I stayed the night in a suburb on the beach, Glenelg, situated on the sandy white shore of Holdfast Bay. This was the original mainland settlement of south Australia (1836) and its centre, Mosely Square, is the home of the Adelaide Jazz Festival.
I stayed in a wonderful hostel (The Glenelg Beach Hostel) in a beautiful old building (see picture).The beach was stunning and coastal paths made exploring the area an easy one.

The Glenelg Beach Hostel

From Adelaide, my next destination was Perth, Western Australia. Known as the most remote city in the world, my 3 hour flight from Adelaide gave me an idea of this. From the air, the area looked reddish/ brown and arid.
My friend Chelsea met me at the airport and took me back to where I would be based, at the house of my friend Chloe's parents in Mandurah, about 80km south of Perth. It's location is stunning, right on the beach and overlooking the Indian Ocean. The house itself is a beautiful beach house (built by Chloe's dad) with the most amazing balcony from which to soak up the stunning view of the ocean. I had to pinch myself that this would be home for the next week!

I walked on the beach every day (sometimes 3 times) with Momo

Perth is a modern city with a feel of the small town about it. It is an outdoors city with an awesome climate. The Swan river flows through the city and its Kings Park are two locations where people walk, cycle and jog. The white sandy beaches in this part of Australia are known as some of the best in the world and surfing and kite surfing are part of the culture here. It was quite windy many days so when the swell was good, the surfers were out. Always great to watch.

The balcony at Chloe's house. I spent a lot of time here!

My time in the Perth area was designed to catch up with friends. I took the opportunity to get to know Chloe's family and have some relaxation time too. It was the perfect place for it. I spent days just walking the dog on the beach and chilling out in Chloe's lovely home. Jim's parents had a bbq on the first weekend and I spent the day in Perth catching up with friends Lucy and Sam (who I met in Laos). I also found time to spend another day at the cricket, this time at Perth's home of cricket, the WACA!
 I also had luch with Chelsea at her parents beautiful home and had a weekend in the gorgeous port town of Fremantle with its alternative vibe.
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in WA and would like to thank all my friends here for their kindness and generosity.
 Next stop: return to Melbs then Sydney.

Chelsea in her garden

Lucy and I in Kings Park

The Land of Oz- Memorable Melbs, Yarra Valley and the Great Ocean Road

Janine and me on the Southgate of Melbourne

I left Sydney, saying farewell to Matt, Bridget, Holly and Nicola, and meeting up with Hanh who I had last seen in Chiang Mai much earlier on my trip. We went to a 'couch surfing' meeting/picnic in the Botanical Gardens and it was a chance for us to catch up and meet fellow travellers/ couch surfers. For those of you who aren't familiar with this term, couch surfing is a concept that unites likeminded people who are willing to host travellers in their homes or even just show them around their city/area.

I got the overnight train to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia's second largest city. Victorian architecture, grid planned streets and a European vibe make this Australia's capital of cool. It is known as the arts, culinary, sporting and shopping capital of Australia. It is a very cosmopolitan city where waves of immigration have created a lively ethnic mix. Italian, Greek (the biggest community in the world after Greece itself) French, Indonesian, Thai and Japanese communities are well established here and there is evidence of this all around the city.

On arriving I had my first taste of the tram, taking a ride to St. Kilda (where my friend Natalie lives). A great spot right on the waterfront with views of the city beyond, St. Kilda is one of Melbourne's most lively and cosmopolitan areas. In the past it was a popular seaside resort for the fashionable to escape the city. During the goldrush of the mid-19th century many built mansions here and Fitzroy Street (the main artery through St. kilda) became one of the most stylish boulevards. It later became a less desirable area and in the 1960s and 1970s it had a seedy reputation. Today it has regained its fashionable status and it is full of continental cake shops, delicatessens, cafes and restaurants. It is also home to one of Melbourne's most famous restaurants, Circa.

The pier at St. Kilda

Once I had settled in to Nat's ground floor apartment just over the road from the pier and beach, I went for a walk to explore. I walked along the restored Pier and took in the views (see picture). I then headed into the city to meet another old friend, Janine. I met Janine in the Gili Islands where we had the best time. Meeting up in Melbourne was great and we spent a few hours catching up. Federation square is in the centre of the city and a great meeting point. We walked over to the other side of the Yarra river and chilled in the sun on the Southgate riverfront area over lunch with great views of the city (see picture). We had plenty to chat about, catching up on each others' travels.

The beautiful facade of Flinders Street station, the oldest in Melbourne

Seeing Nat again (who I had met in Mexico last year) was wonderful. She had arranged a night out with a group of her friends and we ended up spending a very pleasant evening in her neighbourhood. She also looked after me over the weekend, with a trip into the city (always good with a local)  and a drive into the Yarra Valley where I got to see the beautiful Victorian countryside and do some wine tasting at one of the many wineries in the area.

My wonderful friend Nat in the Yarra Valley

A highlight of coming to Melbourne was always going to be the Great Ocean Road, one of the most scenic  coastal drives in the world. The road runs from Torquay to Port Campbell and on our trip which lasted the whole day, we made a total of 10 stops. I was lucky to be joined by my friend Janush (who I met in Bali) who happened to arrive in Melbourne the previous day. The first stop was in Torquay at Bells Beach (where the Australian leg of the world surfing championships are held each year at Easter). It was a beautiful spot and there was even an early morning competition for us to watch. This is the area where Ripcurl started (one of Australia's most famous and iconic brands) and is one of the homes of surfing in Australia. From there we made our way along the Bass straight, stopping for a photo at the official start of the Great Ocean Road (see picture). We took a tea break in Lorne, where Janush and I walked along the beach. We lunched in Apollo Bay and from there the drive changed quite dramatically with towering limestone cliffs all along the coast. another stop in Port Campbell was followed by some of the highlights of the day at London Bridge, Lockard Gorge and the famous Twelve Apostles. These amazing rock formations have changed and been eroded over thousands of years. London Bridge even famously collapsed a few years ago!

Janush at the sign that begins the Great Ocean Road

Janush and I looking a bit windswept!

The beach to myself at Lockard Gorge

London Bridge post collapse!

Some of the remaining 'Twelve Apostles'

Yarra Valley wines

My final day in Melbourne gave me the opportunity to visit the city once again and this time I chose to take the free tourist shuttle bus which takes you to 13 points of interest around the city. It helped me to appreciate the scale and variety that this wonderful city has to offer and whilst there are places I didn't get to see or explore, I know I will be back again before too long. Bye, bye, Nat and Melbs!

Next stop: Adelaide (briefly) then Perth to see my other favourite Aussies!!

The land of Oz: Sydney, fireworks and a day at the SCG!

Me and the Harbour bridge

The stunning Opera House taken from the ferry

 A very busy Opera

I arrived In Sydney on the day before New Year's Eve to be picked up at the bus station by Matt (who taught PE at Ellis Guilford for a couple of years and had very kindly offered me a place to stay over New Year). After driving back to his flat in Abbotsford, inner west of the centre of Sydney, we headed back into the city. Even though I'd visited Sydney (Australia's largest city although not the capital) a few years ago, the journey in along the river (Matt's flat overlooks the Parramatta- in Aboriginal meaning  place of many eels ) was ever special. It was a beautiful day so the Harbour Bridge and Opera House looked stunning against the blue sky. Even Matt admitted that you never tire of the view of two of Australia's most famous monuments. Matt and I walked around Circular Quay amongst the crowds and through the Royal Botanical Gardens. We took in the views from Mrs. Macquarie's Point (one of the main places to watch the New Year firework display) before heading on a scenic walk to Woolloomooloo Bay where we stopped for a drink and admired the beautiful houses in this part of the city-both Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman owning properties here. We then headed back to the Opera House to meet my friends Gemma and Mary and enjoy a drink at the Opera Bar which was full of people enjoying the views and setting at sunset.


New Year's Eve arrived and we had decided to see in the show at Balmain Park which affords fantastic views of the Harbour Bridge. We were some of the earliest there (Gemma and Mary had secured the spot at 9am) so had a great vantage point. We spent a wonderful day experiencing the build up to one of the most famous firework shows in the world. I had been joined by two other visitors and friends of Matt, Holly and Nicola. As the New Year approached there was an atmosphere of anticipation. At 9pm there was the first firework show which certainly whetted the appetite. Watching beautiful fireworks in such a fantastic setting was so special. The skyline looked magnificent as explosions of colour were launched off the buildings and Harbour Bridge. By midnight the crowds had grown but we had secured our front row position for the greatest show many of us had ever seen. For twelve minutes we were totally in awe of the spectacle all around us, greetings and hugs to wish people a Happy New Year had to wait as we watched, mesmerised by the amazing show. Once the fireworks had ended we broke into a rendition of Auld Langs Syne and wished everyone a belated Happy New Year! Back at Matt's the following Day, we opened a bottle of champagne to usher in the new year back home before enjoying a walk in Centenial Park and an afternoon on Coogee beach (along with tens of  thousands of others- see picture). We drove home via Bondi beach and were amazed at the crowds there too.


A trip into the city the following day was a more tourist affair. I walked around Darling Harbour and visited the National Maritime Museum and had a cup of jasmine tea at the Chinese Gardens. As I walked back to meet Matt and Bridget at the Opera Bar, I took in George Street (the main shopping thoroughfare through Sydney which is like London's Oxford Street) although I was strictly doing window shopping only! Later I managed to do a ferry trip to Manly and visited Hyde Park (Sydney has one too- many places here have English names!)


Another highlight of my trip so far (there are so many!) was the opportunity to go and see the second test match at the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground). Matt plays cricket for the Sydney Tigers and he managed to get places in a corporate box for the first day of Australia v India (Australia had won the opening Boxing Day test in Melbourne). Holly and Nicola came along too and we had the most fantastic day. The sense of occasion was palpable as it was the 100th ever test at the famous ground and could possibly be the place where the famous India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar (some argue the greatest ever player of the game) scored his 100th ever century. India batted first and when Tendulkar came on the crowd erupted. It wasn't to be a fairytale for him, however, as he was out for 41 and the Indian team finished on 191 all out. We got to see the Australians come into bat before play finished for the day. As I write this, it is now the third day ( called McGrath Day in honour of cricketer Glen's McGrath's wife. On this day everyone is asked to wear an item of pink clothing. We bought pink bandanas on our day at the SCG.The McGrath Foundation is a breast cancer support and education charity in Australia, which raises money to fund McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities right across Australia and increase breast awareness in young women. The charity was originally founded by Australian cricket player, Glenn McGrath, and his English wife, Jane McGrath, in 2002, following Jane’s initial diagnosis and recovery from breast cancer.^[1] Jane died on 22 June 2008 at the age of 42. Australia are having one of their best ever innings of recent times with 3 players having scored a century (Clarke, Ponting and Hussey) and with Clarke aiming for his triple century. Watch this space.

Sydney has been such a memorable experience for me. The people I have met have contributed to making it so special. A big thank you to you guys, especially Matt who has been the perfect host.


Next stop: Melbourne

Relaxing on New Year's Eve at Balmain Park with Gemma, Mary and friends

New Year's Eve celebrations with Holly and Nicola

Celebrating the English New Year at 11am in Sydney on Matt's balcony

A very busy Coogee beach on New Year's Day

Off to the cricket at the SCG

Holly and I in the box!