Winding up the Australia leg..

Since the last full length update we've seen some amazing things and stayed in some very cool places, including the spectacular places in the Blue Mountains - try not to miss them if you ever come to Australia-as hopefully you can see from the photos (lucky for me a picture speaks a thousand etc. etc. and I don't have to bother writing about them!) We predictably have almost run out of cash though.

Dropped the van off a couple of days ago and have just been hanging out in Sydney since. We caught a ferry over to Toronga Zoo yesterday which offered some spectacular views of the harbour. At the zoo we saw the new baby elephant that was born a few weeks ago here. It was really cute. His trunk was still a bit floppy as he hadn't learnt to use it properly yet.

Last night we went to the best cinema in the world, Govinda's on Darlinghurst Road. Sam and I went the last time I was here and it is still going strong. It's run by the Hare Krishnas and has a cheap, delicious vegetarian, karma-free, buffet before you go up stairs to a small cinema with sofas and beds to watch the movie in total comfort - except if you eat to much at the buffet and feel too full to be comfortable! I learnt this lesson last time.

Today we are heading down to Paddy's Market in Haymarket and then later I'm taking Tom to for a drink on one of the liveliest streets in Sydney and gay capital of Australia, Oxford Street.

Tomorrow we fly to Aukland where we get to stay in a house! Thanks to Tom's auntie Shirleywho is very kindly putting up with us while we have a break from living in a van. In a week though we're back on the road to see what NZ has to offer....