Travelog for: (Playmo)Bill

I went into the city today on a ToyVoyager expedition with Mei, Boone Racoon, Twinette Kani and Alpina - who is staying with Bec's sister at the moment!
Our first stop was the city shops in the CBD so Alpina could check out the fashions.

Here is Sydney Tower, it is Sydney's tallest free-standing structure, and the second tallest in Australia (with the Q1 building on the Gold Coast being the tallest). It is also the second tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere (after the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand).


Next we did some window shopping so Alpina could check out the fashions in Sydney. Bec showed me lots of surf shops, but said we could look more closely at the merchandise when we go to Bondi.





After lunch we continued our sightseeing expedition and stopped to have a look at the flowers in Martin Place.
Martin Place is surrounded by many heritage buildings and it is very popular at lunchtime, often crowded with office workers and bicycle couriers. Sydney's largest Christmas tree stands in Martin Place every year. A Christmas concert is held in late November, when the tree is decorated. Martin Place is also the home of The ANZAC Cenotaph, commemorating the soldiers ("Diggers" ) who fought in World War One and all wars since. An ANZAC Day dawn service is held at the cenotaph every year on 25 April.

I was very taken with these flower gardens as their designs celebrate the Year of the Surf Lifesaver Did you know that the difference between a Lifesaver and a Lifeguard is that the Lifeguard gets paid, while a Lifesaver is a volunteer?

These flowers were planted to represent the colours of the lifesaver's caps.


As features, these gardens included some Lifesaver tools:

A reel and flags (you must always swim between the flags at the beach!)
And a rescue tube, which a Lifesaver might throw to you to help you stay afloat if you get into difficulty at the beach.

Continuing on our tour, we walked down George St towards the Harbour and Circular Quay, where we came across this interesting water feature (one our hosts / tour guides had never noticed before, seeing as they don't usually come to this side of Circular Quay station!) It marks where The Tank Stream once flowed. In the earliest days of White Settlement in Australia, the tank stream provided the colony with fresh water - until it was turned pretty much into an open sewer! To protect the settlers, Tank Stream was covered and now can't be seen at all.


I was just wishing I'd thought to bring my surfboard with me! Look at those gnarly waves!!!


Our next stop was Circular Quay,


where we stopped for ice-cream and to get the obligatory pictures of Sydney's most well known landmarks -

The Sydney Opera House

(would you believe that the weather the last few days has been wet, overcast and generally yuck?)

and The Harbour Bridge


Again I wished that I'd bought my surfboard, but Bec told me that you are not allowed to surf in Sydney Harbour. It's even getting so that small pleasure craft, kyacks and jet skis have difficulty accessing the Harbour! On the plus side, Sydney Harbour is much, much cleaner than it was even 5 years ago.


We enjoyed watching the ferries and cruise ships coming in and out of the piers in the Quay. I think this one though is more my speed! Look - we're even in matching colours!


This is part of the Museum of Contemporary Art. The flag in the photo is the Aboriginal Flag. The black represents the Aboriginal people, the red the earth and the yellow the sun. Many people believe that the Union Jack on the Australian flag should be replaced with this flag. It is a topic of great debate every time it comes up!


Around Circular Quay are these plaques in the pavement which make up the Writers Walk which is a series of round plaques with quotations commemorating various literary figures who have some significance to Sydney or New South Wales. I think I agree with the sentiments of Arthur Conan Doyle:

Or at least I probably will once I get to experience the beach culture for myself!

Have you ever seen Mutiny on the Bounty starring Mel Gibson? If you have, you will know who William Bligh is.


But, the reason he has a statue in the Harbour is that in 1805 he was appointed Governor of New South Wales, and his failure to deal with the corruption in the Army Corps lead to the only successful armed takeover of government in Australia's recorded history (ie another mutiny!), otherwise known as the Rum Rebellion of 1808. He doesn't have the greatest career on record, does he?


Next stop:
The Rocks was established shortly after the colony's formation in 1788. For most of it's history the area had a reputation as a slum, but was "refurbished" in the 1970's/1980's and is now a historical and tourist area full of little lanes containing mainly shops and restaurants. Today (and every weekend) the main street in The Rocks is closed for the Rocks Markets. Here you can find all sorts of interesting things.....


This sculpture is called First Impressions and has three sides depicting a soldier, farmer and convict  which symbolise the beginnings of the colony of New South Wales. (Mei and Twinette Kanihave the other parts in their logs).
I have the farmers (free settlers) in my photo.


Also in The Rocks you'll find A LOT of pubs! It is said that once upon a time, there was a pub on just about every corner of The Rocks area! Many of the pubs are historic buildings, but this one is only around 80years old.


Almost the last stop on our tour of Sydney, Observatory Hill, which is the highest natural point around Sydney Cove. From the hill you get great views of the Harbour Bridge and west  side of the Harbour (Parramatta River).

An Observatory was built here in 1858 to provide accurate time readings for the colony and to observe stars in the then fairly unknown southern sky.

Well, that's it - end of expedition!

I got my surprise today.

Look at this sink!! It's in Bec's classroom.


Sadly, no plug so you have to surf quick before the water escapes through the sponge stuffed in the plug hole!!

We've all been a bit quiet lately. It's school holidays here and we've been relaxing and taking full advantage of there being no schedules to keep.
Yesterday I checked out the new deck in the back yard. A nice place to hang out. (Especially when the builders / roofers / painters etc have gone home!)
These nice people offered me a ride in their hot air balloon. Never one to pass up a new experience, I leapt at the chance!


I enjoyed the new perspective of my current lodgings, despite the fact that they're a little messed up due to the renovations!


Later I found this container of sand one of the roofers had left behind. I can't say I enjoyed the feel of it. It was very coarse, but Bec assures me that the sand at Bondi is much nicer!


I've also been checking out how to become a Surf Lifesaver! I was very excited about the part where you don't have to be 6 foot tall. I wonder if they'd accept someone who is just shy of 3 inches? I do have a super positive attitude to surf life. Surely that counts for something?????

Another mission complete: Surf in the Sea!

Today we took the Bondi Explorer Bus to the famousBondi Beach


I was so excited to get to the beach. Despite the less than perfect weather, the beach was extremely busy (which is the reason we took the bus, not the car. Plus the price of parking at the beach is astronomical!)




I couldn't wait to get on my surfboard and hit the waves!


One problem though - Bec wouldn't let me out of the shallows. She was too worried that I'd be washed out to sea and never seen again! After she got wet up past her knees by a surprisingly strong wave ('Thank goodness for fast drying board shorts!!' says Bec) I had to forgive her.








Boy that water was cold. I think if I'm going to do much more surfing in the sea I'll have to invest in a full wet suit!


After going surfing we walked along the beach for a bit (to dry off!!)

and reached the Bondi Icebergs Club.


This club is famous for its membership conditions. The swimming membership rules are that a member must swim with the club on three Sundays out of four to a total of 75 swims in five years to become a full member. Nothing special about that you might say? How 'bout the additional criteria - their swimming season starts in May and concludes in September (ie WINTER!). And, to start the season they dump a tonne of ice into the pool!

Hello Areir!!
Here I am in St Orens with Mood my new host...

... As you can see, Becka Kate left this postal card of the famous Bondi Beach ...
When I came out of my travel package, what I saw was quite strange : white and hairy ...

After enquiry, I've learnt it was Romeo the cat ... I told him I could learn him to surf, but he just bristled when I said it was about sinksurfing ...

By the way, you can imagine what my very first preoccupation was... How does Mood's sink look like ???


And I couldn't wait a minute more to try my board



hey, look at this floater !!!



After one hour trying several freestyles, Mood announced she had a surprise for me...

I suppose, she felt sorry for me as I was standing dreaming on my sink


In fact, she said she was going to take me to the Atlantic ocean so that I can surf for real !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Youuupyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here I am on the road to the beach !!!!!!!!!!

This morning we got up early, fixed my board on Mood's car, and took the highway to the Atlantic ocean ...
You can't imagine how excited I am !!!

look at the road signs ...

In fact we are going to  Hossegor and Capbreton


It makes me really nervous ! Indeed, Mood told me that Hossegor was well known as a seaside resort and surfing center, and even considered as one of the best surfing locales in the world!!
It has become one of the premier surfing locations in Europe, with a series of world class beach breaks such as Gravière, La Nord, Capbreton, La Piste and Seignosse... woaouhhhh!!! I can't wait !!!!!

At least, here I am in Vieux-Boucau, our first step to this crazy surf journey. Behind me, two surfers with their boards

As you can see, the weather is sunny, but quite windy ... and I forgot my wet suit !!!
So I just wandered in the surroundings to immerse myself in the atmosphere of the town ... Is surf really a religion here???

Let's see ...


sounds good ...


Hey, I even found a club !


and a school !


I would have liked to come in, just to offer to be THE new surf master, but it was closed ...


so I went on my way ...

Hey, have you seen ? Hawaï ... I hope some day I will go there !


It's a shop where I spent time looking at their boards


hmmm ?? Which one ??


Why not a long board ?


Dommaaage !! It seems I came too late to take part to this competition


Anyway, long board isn't my speciality !

Today, I have decided to buy a wet suit and to go surfing in the sea!

First step : find a wet suit

I'm afraid, they don't have my size ???? Anyway, I said I would surf, then, I WILL surf !

Second step : Find THE wave ... Let's go !

These three guys behind me told me that the water was too cold ... anyway ...
(Playmo)Bill said he would surf, and nothing will stop him ..

He's the master of the wooooorld!!!

Well .. let's see, how the waves look like ?


Let's FEEL the waves


Seems to be good


Hey look at me !!!!!!!!!

I think I have found THE fabulous spot !!!!!!

I'm flyiiiiiiiiing !!!
Unfortunatley, Mood took the picture too late ... (so pathetic photographer this girl is!!!)

Anyway .. It's time to have a break


My new surf friends joined me, as I have found the very good place to surf .. They came with their four-wheel drive


Their technic is not as good as mine, but they are not too bad


Hey, look, my board is nicer than theirs don't you agree?


Well, as you can see, it's time to go back and have a drink ... Look at the girl behind me, I think I have a ticket with her as they say in french


Here we are in a surfers bar ...

We talked together a long time about each others life ... She told me her name was Odile ... she was coming from Lille (not a real surfer town!!!) ... Anyway ... she's a good surfer too


I told her about my different travels around the world, looking for THE very good spot  ...
I even told her about the time I surfed against a ferocious shark in Greece...

She was very impressed I must say !

Then we talked and talked ... She promised me to make me visit the best places in Vieux-Boucau ... and make me look like a REAL surfer ... I don't really know what she meant, as I AM a surfer .. anyway ... we'll see

I was waiting for the wave ...


... when Odile from Lille came to me.. .
She wanted to introduce me to some of her (strange) friends ... the (Play)Bics as they call themselves... Odile told me they were crazy about skiing, indeed, they ARE !!!

They ski everywhere, even if there is no snow ... sand is perfect as you can see!

So here is Cedric (the one in green), Patrick (on the sledge), and Soizic, the blond haired-girl ...


Soizic is Odile's best friend, and a haidresser (as I could learn later...)

They took me to their own shopsurf called "Bicsurf":

and while the girls were trying new "bikinis" (look the collection behind me)


I just dreamt I had won the quicksilver pro


and pose in front of my new sponsors !!

If only it could become true!!!


Then I looked for some postcards for Areir ...


and then we went to the restaurant

SURPRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISE !!!!

Here I am !!!! with my new surferlook !

This is an idea of Odile from Lille... She says I really look cool and sexy this way !!!!

Yesterday, after the restaurant, Odile and Soizic took me to their home called "Hurle-vent" (behind me)


and then, Soizic dyed my hairs blond.. I must admit it suits me well, don't you agree?

Of course, I HAD to test my new look as a cool and sexy surfer, so I went to the sea

but as you can see, there was no good waves ...

So I have decided to go to the beach

to take a cool meal


Hey !!! look behind me !!! Odile asked me if the terrible greek shark looked as ferocious as this silly one

Of course, I just laughed as I am a cool guy now ...

Then we took the Bics (cool) van


to go to Hossegor !!!


Where I saw weird things, like these strangelookingguys looking for something hidden in the sand


Seemed to be something important ??


In fact, Odile from Lille explained it was a rescuer contest ... look at them, diving in the sand !?


I left them play in their sandpit


and went surfing ... But still no good waves..

Only wetsuits drying

So I just wandered in the town, found this bar

where I met new surfers friends ...They told me they would take me to a good spot, so I followed them


hey, have you seen, we've got the same haistyle !!!

Days have past away... and on the last news, (Playmo)Bill was still waiting for THE spot in Vieux-Boucau


which gives him some kind of Robinson Crusoe look


or Tom Hanks in the Cast Away movie

Arrived in Munich just before Christmas.

I had a nice, long walk in the English Garden today and had a mulled wine at the Christmas market at the Chinese tower.