more Photos uploaded and Journal entries updated

Sydney, Australia

If you’re checking these postings regularly (i.e. not signed up for auto-updates), please note that we’ve uploaded some photos from China and Australia. We’ve also added journal entries for everything leading up to our stay in Melbourne. Cheers!

Manly beachLovely Manly Beach - another quaint suburb of Sydney across the harbor. We had lunch with an old work colleague's of Grant's here - Andrew Kennedy with wife and son.

Sailing in SydneyWe couldn't resist a chance to sail! A little shaky on our skills, we decided to take a two day skipper course to get some international experience under our belts, and some night sailing. Pretty similar to North America, but the harbour light colors are opposite. i.e. good to know that the familiar "red on the right returning" would have led us directly into a rocky shore down under!

Sailing backHere we are returning after our two day compact course, sea worthy. The weather was brilliant with breezy days, and a calm night in the middle. We had to brave a very busy harbour on the way home, as apparently everyone in Sydney with a yacht agreed the weather was great for sailing! Now who has the right away again?

St. Patrick's Estate, ManlyBy pure coincidence (honest!), Nicole Kidman, and Keith Urban were tying the knot right around the time we were in town - so why not stop in for some champagne? Unfortunately, they wouldn't let us in...

Keith and NicoleLot's of fan's sharing the special moment with some refreshing drinks. We decided to go for our own celebration back in Sydney!

Surfers on the beachNow that looks like fun! Maybe we'll give that a try - in a week or two when we're in warmer waters?

Bondi BeachA skater showing off his latest bone breaking maneuvers at the beach.

Bondi Beach Icebergs swim clubThis famous beach is part of the Sydney suburbs, and draws some hardy folk in the winter for icey swims. To cold for Grant, who has grown soft. Brrr....

Sydney AquariumThis aquarium was fun - we got to see our first pair of platypus here, and finally agree they must really exist (it's not an elaborate hoax by the Aussies to bring the tourists here!) Here's Jo in awe at the sharks in the tunnel that goes right through the middle of the tank...

Shark from belowIn case you always wanted to know what a shark looks like from the "down under" perspective.

Sydney Opera HouseAnother view of the land mark at sunset

Sydney Opera House 2We braved a prime position on the bow of the ferry coming back from Manly to get these shots. Rather chilly with white knuckles frozen around the lens of the camera. Such a brilliant building!

Darling Harbor at nightThis little harbor in central Sydney had some fantastic night life with upscale restaurants and bars a plenty. Also home of the aquarium, an Imax and dozens of other touristy things to do.