Sydney again

      The next morning we got up and I was a little apprehensive about the fact that I had two days with about 6 or 7 hours driving each day if we were to make it back up to Sydney in time to see Bindya's folks. I started getting a few twinges in my back as I made breakfast but just ignored it. By the time we'd packed up and I went to put my shoes on I was in agony and couldn't stand up. I flailed around for a bit, half in and half out of the drivers seat, getting soaked in the rain. Bindya helped me to hobble round to the door of the van, me bent double and shaking with pain, then I just lay curled up on the bed for about 2 hours. We were 2 hours late for check-out, it was still lashing down with rain and our plans of being back in Sydney in two days were starting to look doubtful. I managed to sit up straight, took a couple of painkillers, Bindya put my shoes on and we set off. Driving was OK as long as I didn't have to change gears, slow down or turn corners and we headed for Split Point lighthouse where Round the Twist was filmed. 

The lighthouse from Round the Twist

By the time we got there it was still pouring with rain, I could only walk like a 90 year old and neither of us were in a particularly good mood. We took a couple of pictures from the van window, I lay down for another half hour then we headed off to find a caravan park as I couldn't drive any more that day. We went out and got some really nasty take away (I had some sort of fish and chips and B had a 'souvlaki' – kind of a poor kebab) then went to sleep with the rain dripping through our roof. The next morning I was no better but we had to make a move so I just popped a few more painlkillers and we headed off. I don't remember much about this drive except it was around 1100 km long and it hurt. We took the main highway which kind of cuts through the country instead of following the coast and it is not particularly scenic. We rolled into Sydney at around 10pm, just in time to catch Rach and Broph heading out to Broph's flat.

      Rach and Row were moving out of their flat in a few weeks so had already started packing. We just crashed out for the night. The next morning we had a very big lie-in, enjoying the big bed and not banging our heads or arms every time we turned over, then we phoned up Bindya's folks' hotel and told them that we'd be there around 5. We went into Bondi Junction and I went to see 'my doctor'. She told me that I had a bad back and that I should take things easy. She prescribed some 'really strong' painkillers and anti-inflammatories that I was really looking forward to having, then we had a quick bite to eat at a chinese place which turned out to be far bigger than we had expected. We jumped straight on a train for town to see B's folks, I took my first pill – I was only allowed one a day and no other painkillers, the pharmacist told me to take 'as few as I possibly could' before stopping – it all sounded like they were going to be proper, full-on, hard-core painkillers and I couldn't wait for them to kick in. We were in town and at the big posh Swissotel in less than 15 minutes. The bloke at reception phoned up then gave us a swipe card and directed us to the lifts. This was the biggest hotel foyer that I had ever seen in my life. We got in the lift, pressed the button for floor 15, the doors shut and we stood there for a bit until the doors opened and we were still in the lobby. Someone got on and we realised that you had to put your swipe card in the lift in order for it to work. A few moments and a lot of fiddling later later, we managed to get the lift to work and we got upstairs. B's Mum was in the room, her Mami was resting and her Dad and Mama were out at the shops getting a new camera because the other one had got sand in it. It wasn't long before everyone else was there and we caught up on what everyone had been doing and stuff. We all moaned about the weather and the high cost of alcohol then headed off to The Rocks as it was the only place we'd been to in Sydney. This is just the 'old town' in Sydney and there's a few bars and cafes there. 

The Chauhans in Sydney

It's right by the harbour so has great views of the Opera House and Bridge etc. (and yes it really does look like a big Tyne Bridge – built by the same company...). We wandered around there, unable to find anywhere decent looking for dinner then found a little pub that did cheap pizza. We had a few beers and ate pizza. At no point during the evening had the painkillers kicked in so I was still very uncomfortable. We went back to the hotel for a quick whisky then headed home. Everyone had planned a tour to the Blue Mountains the next day and had an early start.

      The next day was pouring with rain again but really heavy this time. Me and Bindya spent the day lounging around the flat and feeling sorry for everyone on the trip. My back was still extremely painful. We had to wait for Rachael to get home before we could go and meet the family again so we headed off about 6ish. We had done a bit of research earlier and found a Thai restaurant not that far from the hotel. There wasn't a single Indian in the middle of town, all of them were a little way out in Surry Hills. We walked for longer than it looked on the map and eventually found the place when we were about to give up. It was right in the middle of 'Thaitown' and was a small but popular place. It was the first time people had had Thai food before and it got mixed reviews but I thought it was nice – very filling and cheap as well, including the drinks, so I was happy. It was really nice to see everyone after all this time and catch up on how everyone was. Everyone seemed to be fine and enjoying their trip. We walked back up to the hotel and left everyone to get the train back. Bindya and Rachael stayed up to have a bit of a gas but I just hit the sack again as my back was still bad.

       The next day it was still raining so we just lolled about the flat again, hoping that my back was going to get better. We watched TV and ate pizza and that was about it. We did all our washing and I cleaned out the fridge in the van. We vaguely planned where we were going to go when we headed North - first stop, Newcastle...