G'day mates. Matt and I are now safely in Australia. We left Singapore early Wednesday morning after having a great dinner at this wonderful vegetarian restaurant called Original Sin. It was perfect weather and was just a great way to end our trip in Singapore. We got to the airport only to have the agent tell me I didn't have a visa showing up on the system for Australia despite having a reference number and knowing the money had been taken off my credit card. After about 20 minutes waiting for him to hear back from Canberra, we were no closer to a solution (as I was reluctant to pay for another) and then I realized he was typing in the wrong passport number. He claims to have tried mine, but it was after contacting the Oz officials with the right number we got the go ahead. I know that Changi Aiport is rated one of the best in world with a movie theatre but I wasn't impressed, although there was free internet there. Our flight left a bit late and the movie system was pretty crap on the flight. Got in and made it through passport control alright and even flew thru quarantine despite bringing in wasabi peas and medicines (interestingly enough medicines are included in the same tick as weapons and illicit drugs). Matt's cousins Jo and Andrew and their friend met us at the airport and we headed back to Matt's aunt and uncles house which is about 1.5 hours north of Sydney on the Central Coast. Saturday Matt, Andrew and I went to Tarrigal beach and played in some GIANT waves and major heat. Singapore may have been humid but Australia is hot! After the beach we hit the mall to get Matt a SIM card for his phone and then headed back home. We hung out at his aunts and learned to play a great new card game called "May I" which is much like Gin Rummy. Sunday Matt and I went to the Leagues club which is kinda like a glorified Casino for sports clubs. Matt and I played the "pokies" which are just really computerized slot machines and had a drink.

Me playing the pokeys--we got our $1 back


Then we went across the road and had lunch at Iguna Joes for lunch. Afterwards we headed up to a beach called Avoca.

Avoca Beach


On the way home, we stopped at an empty parking lot and i got a lesson on driving a manual car and driving on the left hand side. I even impressed Matt with my skills!

Check me out!


We headed back and Jo, Andrew, Matt and I stayed up playing "May I" again all night. Today we went up to a place further up called "the entrance" where they do a pelican feeding. Pelicans are huge!




I'm not sure I've ever really seen one before. But they're huge! Afterwards we went and played a game of mini golf (I came 2nd, tied with Andrew) but managed to hit 2 holes in 1! Tomorrow we're off to Manly and Bondi beach actually in Sydney. I'm looking forward to getting a chance to actually check out the city and we're heading to a bar made completely from ice on Wednesday after going to the zoo! Not much else to say at the moment. I'll hopefully be able to update more before we leave for Adelaide on Friday afternoon. :-)