Gettin Manly

There is nothing “Mystical” or “Magical” about Manly, NSW (New South Wales), but really I can’t imagine a better place for me to start my journey. I started the first night there as a seriously scared virgin traveler, and at the end of two weeks I had enough confidence and drive to go onward to my next destination. The place was great! I walked in on a busy Friday night at the hostel without another person to push me into a crowd or introduce me to some friends, and finished up with friends from all over the world. I spent most of my days going out to the beach with random people in the hostels (Aussies call them “Backpackers”) to go boogie boarding, walk around making our own little discoveries that would seem insignificant to anyone else, and picking up little pieces of the local flavor.  The rest of the time I spent going to my buddy Richard’s house to go fishing. Richard was the guy that I met on the plane from LAX to New Zealand. His family was amazing, and I was lucky enough to have a few home cooked dinners with them. No matter what there was something to do if you were willing to get out there and try something new. I fished, tried slack roping (sucked at that by the way), fished forty baskets and watched ferry penguins along with the rest of the wildlife there.  Queen’s cliff (Just a little quiet spot off the north side of the main beach in Manly) was a great place for me to soak up the new chill out, “no worries” attitude that I was lucky enough to pick up there. Just watching the waves crash into the rocks and watching the surf crabs was more than enough for me. Not that I didn’t have some killer international dance offs with my fellow backpackers at the local pubs J This was also a place that I unfortunately found out how freaking expensive EVERYTHING in Aus is, (you are lucky to get a six pack of crappy beer for $14) but that is where “Goon” came in handy (only $10AD for 4 liters of the crappies box wine you can imagine) but, of course, what you don’t pay in cash you pay for in the massive hangover. I spent 16 days in Manly and loved every minute of it, but it had to end at some point.   

I’m done writing for the day yo! So here is a digital “show and tell” to finish up this one.

First night in Australia. Didn't know where I was going to stay that first night but I was lucky enough to find a backpackers in Manly ( a suburb that is just a quick trip across Sydney Harbour).

I got in at 8:30, so I didn't get the view of The Opera House that I had hoped but cant say this is too bad either.

One of my friends out at Queens Cliff. Quannah, the 6'8 Canadian from Vancouver.

 This is one several tidal swimming pools that are off the beach in Manly. Every time at high tide the water is replaced. Coo huh?

 Massive iron bridge that spans Sydney Harbour.

 Queens Cliff

 With Richard, and Jeremy after a long day of fishing at 40 Baskets Beach.  Bacon rolls, Steak, and good company with a seaside-sunset view of Manly Harbour. Not a bad way to finish up a day.

 Quanna, Kim, Laura, and Pito out at Queens Cliff.

 This was the day I headed out of Manly. I took a bus to the far north side of town and tried to hitchhike to Newcastle (about an 1 1/2 hrs north of Sydney). After walking about 6 miles and having people laugh at me I met a then stranger Brian Mortan. I had sat on a corner, with my massive backpack and day pack at my side just off the side of the road on the Pacific Highway, with people laughing at me. After about two hours of sitting around with nobody even considering picking me up Brian walked by. I said "Am I just wasting my time? Or do you think anyone will pick me up?" He said "You know what...probably not here. Why don't you let me show you where the bus station is?" He was nice enough to point me in the right direction and we exchanged e-mails. I have still kept in contact with Brian. I'll try to get together with him when I come back through Sydney. That was a long day! I didn't get to Newcastle until 9:00 and I had no idea where I was going to stay. When I got into Newcastle it was a GHOST TOWN. I didn't have any clew where I was going to stay, all I had was an address to go off of. (701 Hunter Street, Cambridge Hotel Backpackers) I walked up a street and was lucky enough to stumble upon Hunter street and went right (again lucky enough to go the right way). I don't know exactly how far it was to the Backpackers but probably about 2miles or so. Anyway, got there to a locked door again just like in Manly. There was a number on the door for "after hours check-ins", so I went walking to find the nearest pay phone. I was so happy to find a bed that night, and I found out in the morning that I was the ONLY GUEST in the Backpackers. Like I said GHOST TOWN!

View of the ocean from Sydney National Park.