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An un-expected opportunity reared its head today, the chance to go to the ASIMO live and unplanned tour!!! (Mr P, are ya jealous??)

It was awesome!!! He came out to Robot Rock from Daft Punk and was just incredible. The range and fluidity of movement, the way he can interact with humans and objects… so coool.

I also went to chinatown, Paddy’s Market, Darling Harbour and the Chinese garden of friendship, I’ll post the pics up later.

Great day.

              

Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, Meerkats, Giant + Blue tongue Lizards, Fishing Cats, Koalas… escapee animals… it’s all below… and its a biggie… wooop!

The ferry ride from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo

Yay!! Komodo badboy! Always wanted to see one of these big boys… An alligator (love the shadow) and the blue tongued lizard.

Turtleus Ninjatatis (an actual, real Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle!)

A selection of animals including Meerkats… which apparently, is the animal I’ll most likely be re-incarnated as… umm… ok… thanks Ben…

View from the zoo, a native to the Sydney area… a sea eagle display (check the backdrop) + spot the snow leopard.

One of the best things about the zoo, was the animals that weren’t supposed to be there… just kinda mooching around like “hey this place is cool, lets chill here”…

Exhibit 1 - the Hippo + Duck enclosure (wasn’t that an ad?)
Exhibit 2 - pelicans near one of the monkey enclosures
Exhibit 3 - cheeky red parrot, on the wrong side of the tropical bird display!

More assorted animals, lounging around in the sun

More escapees:
Exhibit 4 - Cookaburra sitting on a fence near the crocs
Exhibit 5 - a feckin turkey who was wondering around the path near the meerkats! (maybe he escaped for thanksgiving??)

The incredibly stealthy and cunning “fishing cat”, didn’t think you’d believe me such a sneaky feline existed so here’s the sign too!

Oz animals - Crocodilus, Echidna (see previous post), Roos and wallabies! And of course Koalas, aawwww ~ would of had my pic with one except it was $20 yikes… and you don’t even hold it… booo.

              

3 photos lurking on the camera, first up the view from Chez Benton, my second home in Oz… and then a pic of Sydney Museum… wow.. thrilling eh?

**updated**
and the first thing I saw in Sydney, a Waggamama mini… hmmm waggamama’s…

While I’m on the subject, THANKS to Benton for the primary Oz residence, collecting me from the airport and everything… thanks to Andy n Emma for the few days of chill time in their lovely (rustic bucket flush toilet included) “unit”.. thanksto Gemma, Paul and Lara for showing me a good time in Melbourne… shouts to Neil + Lucy, Felix, Kate, Lauren and all other cool peeps I’ve met out here.

I’m starting to feel a disconnection with Bomo… and whilst I’ll miss the weather, random animals, “how ya going?”s and the yummy choc/mint biscuits (think viscounts, without the wrapper and more minty), I’m looking forward to my return leg.

So what’ve you lot all been up to???

First up though, a trip to the bush/outback this weekend and then Thailand for 5 days, finally booked a hotel… well, i’m still waiting for my confirmation, but, cross fingers its all sorted…

Pics from yesterdays trip to the zoo to follow… took quite a lot so taking time to upload

              

Hmmm.

This trip so far, has been fantastic.. catching up with old friends, seeing cool things… learning about wine (hic)… Sydney, Melbourne, Hunter Valley, Great Dividing range… gigs… well now thats another matter.

Originally I had 2 dates set up with a promoter I used to play for in Bristol… they (he) dis-appeared into thin air.

Then I had a gig lined up for the first Friday I was here (kings, sydney), which clashed with my planned 4 day mission to Melbourne, so I chose Melbourne… then I’ve had the chance to play at exchange on a sunday with my old sundays at the terrace (and former flatmate) Neeeeil… I chose the hunter valley wine country expedition instead… this weekend coming I face another choice, camping in the outback with the boys or another sunday session with Neil.

Australia adventures 3 - Gigs 0

Slight tinges of regret I’ll most likely not play out here, but so what? Life’s too short, how often can I play gigs in the UK? What difference would it really make to my profile to of played a few places that most people have never heard of? Very little, how many times will I get the chance to taste wine in the hunter valley?? Or visit melbourne with a local…

Maybe this marks the start of a new phase. From when I booked my flights, its changed from playing some gigs and seeing friends inbetween to doing lots of stuff, seeing friends and not playing gigs.

“Life moves pretty fast, you dont stop and look around once in a while… you might miss it.”
(ten points for naming the quote… unless your name is Chris)

I chose to look around… and I like what I see.

              

The barracks, Hyde park… hyde park with an Ibis! (that ones for Mr M)

The Art Gallery of NSW, plenty of cool art… old, new and indigenous. cool giant match sculpture outside with view across to the CBD skyline - Mrs Macqueries chair, with views to…

Sydney harbour bridge and some weird pointy building…

The botanical gardens, including a rare pine that is 90 millions years old and they thought was extinct until about 50 years ago. (Wollemi pine)

Fruit bats loitering, lower botanical gardens and… one of the judges for Australian Idol planning the final at SOH this saturday!! haha

              

In the beast on our way to hunter valley - Arrival drinks on our balcony - Andy, after a glass or two… trying to eat grapes gracefully…

a stick insect (3 inches ish) - the “other guest”… who not everyone welcomed

Off for a day of wine tasting, First stops Rosemount Estate + Lindemanns, the brokeback mountains… what the sign says really! Beer tasting (for variety) at the Bluetongue Brewery

The main tasting session (and lesson in wine) at Pepper Tree Wines… hic…

Sunday (post swim and breakfast) views on our way down through hunter valley, across the great dividing range, a pub lunch in the middle of the bush and the view from near hunters ferry.

Back in Sydney now, no more wine for a week… probably…