The JaYmes Escape

1) The emergency telephone number is 000; the international access code is 0011.
2) Burger King isn’t called Burger King, it’s called Hungry Jack’s. But they still sell whoppers and have the same logo.
3) Australians don’t generally eat Kangaroo or Crocodile, or drink Fosters. These are things they just export to the rest of the world with a sly chuckle.
4) There are only five terrestrial TV networks; despite the fact that three of them are called Seven, Nine and Ten.
5) The towers on Sydney Harbour Bridge don’t actually have any functional purpose; they’re there only to make it look safer.

Sydney was a proud and fine Olympic host in 2000; let’s hope London can live up to the promise and match that enthusiasm for 2012. Please Mr Blair, can we now finally build Crossrail?

With the exception of one crazy freak day when I first arrived, Sydney has rewarded me with fine weather. Today’s clear skies had me jostling with thousands of cameras on Mrs Macquarie’s Point to capture one of the world’s best known sunsets. A selection of Sydney photos is now online along with the last of my stay in Auckland.

Some things I miss about New Zealand - Kiwi hospitality, coffee in bowls, big mountains, boysenberry jam, all public places smoke-free (sorry smokers but it’s great).
Some things I don’t miss about New Zealand - Hot dogs on sticks, losing the rugby, rain, Auckland’s Classic Hits 97.4, Stagecoach buses.
Some great things about Sydney - Weather, nightlife, beaches, cheap internet access, big landmarks and great public transport.