Going Walkabout, Sydney, Australia

Being told over the phone you can enter a country and having a sticker in your passport proving it are two very different things. First order of business for Tuesday was to find the Royal Danish Consulate General to get my passport fitted with a visa allowing me to enter Iceland. After Kristine and I sorted out the small issue of me having written the Consulate's address down incorrectly, I found myself filling out a very familiar looking "application form." An hour or so and $AU103 later I had what I came for. Unfortunately this visa only allows me to enter the country, and I need to visit a local official in Iceland to procure my actual residence and work permits. I can't hardly wait...

Entry Visa for Iceland in my soon to be cold little hand

With my freshly printed visa tucked in to my back pocket and a week to kill, I wanted to soak up as much warmth and sunshine as possible. The afternoon was bluebird and I hit the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, coastal walk and Taronga Zoo in quick succession.

Sydney Opera House and the city beyond

The iconic image of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge

Wednesday was just as beautiful and I decided to check out Darling Harbour. After visiting the Aquarium and feeding the sharks (which lets be honest sounded very exciting but was not so much) I had a couple of beers and some lunch before wandering through the Maritime Museum. I spent hours reading the diary of Australian teenager Jesse Martin - the youngest solo yachtsman to sail around the world. His inspiring account of heading in to the unknown and coping with all of the challenges that such an adventure presents motivated me to keep a record of my own journey and share it with others.

The (not so) deadly Leopard Shark

By Friday the weather had deteriorated, but I was determined to see the beautiful Bondi Beach - despite the probable lack of bikini clad women. Half an hour or so in to the walk the wind really picked up and I was at times getting belted by sea spray as I hurried along the clifftop track between Coogee and Bondi. After a quick look at some of the graffiti along the promenade I bailed in to Bondi Junction on the bus to cruise the shops and catch a screening of "The Dark Knight."

Too cold for bikini's today perhaps ladies?

Unfortunately not too cold for speedo's at the Bondi Iceberg's Club