Manly to Spit walk

Woke up really early........or rather I think I was woken up around 4 am by two of the girls in my room. They are both young Italian girls - very sweet - and they must have just been coming in to go to bed - he he - I hope they were partying and not working! I'm in an all female room of 4 this time at Zen Harmony House: 

There are quite a few older residents here and a guy who has taken a vow of silence. It's that kind of place - they hold meditation sessions three times a day - pictures of Buddha etc.etc. i have to say it has a very friendly atmosphere and everyone seems nice. They also have a 'no alcohol on the premises' policy - to keep out the riff raff I think!

The other girl in my room is Lizzie from California - she wears some amazing outfits!! - short puff ball skits with long socks, lovely long dresses and wild footwear. I have to say its really handy, as the layout of the place is mirror imaged and all the doors look the same (apart from the names like 'compassion' 'mindfulness' etc) so I keep getting lost, until I spy Lizzie's furry green boots, so I know I have the right room!

I had a walk through the city, which was so quiet as it was early, past all the posh shops and buildings

This one, like the post office tower in London - an observation tower, I think

and Hyde Park:

I got to the harbour just in time to catch the ferry out to Manly, by the skin of my teeth,

You can do a coastal walk from Manly to Spit which is 10 K. 

......didn't see any penguins...........

It felt a bit like doing the coast path, but quite different scenery in places. Sydney is very spread out with lots of little beaches, like the famous Bondi beach - popular with surfers.

The scenery was beautiful with lots of little coves.

I was having a bit of a plant appreciation day!

The scenery was wild - I guess like it was before the buildings came

This Kookaburra was beautiful, and the lizard:

On the pic above - if you zoom in to the right, you can see the observation tower in the city.

Interesting rocks & trees:

Over hanging rocks, dripping with water 

and some with amazing markings

and aborigine carvings of fish, animals and boomerangs:

It really enjoyed the walk and I tried again to capture some of the strange bird sounds

I realised towards the end that there was a symbol to guide you - although the signage was good - a bit like the SWCP acorn

........after the peace of the walk, I didn't want to return to the city, but I did and I had a walk about again later, taking photos etc. of little observations & differences. 

I'm sure this wouldn't pass health & safety in the UK and yet Australia is Super Safety Concious! - no barriers across the tracks like in Indonesia

An original/old Coles sign

The Anzac memorial

James Cook

A lot of different abuses!

Later - back at the hostel - I got chatted to by an older lady called Marjorie (around 70 ish) - she had obviously led a very interesting life and talked a lot about her Mother who sounded a little wild and independent for her time, a military nurse, (who was married 4 times). Marjorie herself liked to talk and name drop about famous people she had met. She is a self published writer.......she certainly had some stories to tell.

We got watching the film 'Eyes Wide Shut' with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman........well....kind of... 

She would not stop making weird and bizarre comments and questions continuously throughout the film which was irritating this young German chap who was also watching - he couldn't stop himself saying to her, 'why don't you just watch the movie!'

It was hilarious, 'cos he kept saying, 'This must be a Directors cut - I've not seen this scene before'......

......thing is, he was saying this for most of the film and at one point he said it during one of the most important and biggest scenes, which made me wander if he was on some serious drugs when he last saw it or drunk, or if he'd even seen it at all or was perhaps mixing it up with a different film!?

Never mind the 'directors cut'. It was more like the 'Mad ladies cut' with extra commentary.

He did know about the twist ending, however, which completely went over my head!.......No Spoilers!