Bali or bust

[Ziggy]

Pretty much just wandered around a part of the harbour (Darling Harbour) and town in this part of Sydney, what they call CBD...central business district.
Nice city, great public transportation. Similar but different than what we're accustomed to.
Lunch by harbour and surrounding area.

Dinner and sights in the CBD.

Where everyone knows your name...lol

Move to another hotel tomorrow closer to the Opera House.

 

[Ziggy]

New hotel room view.

4Seasons just a slight upgrade from Travelodge(sarcasm).
Note to anyone considering visiting here for New Year's. Book rooms at least a year ahead cuz at 8 1/2 months advance it was difficult to get a room at all.

 

[Ziggy]

Wandered around another part of the city today. Sydney Harbour Bridge, adjoining harbour and of course the Opera House with a stop to grab a bite and drinks. My feet and legs are toast and my blown up knees ache from all the walking these past few days. All worth checking off a bucket list item.

Group of people at top of bridge doing the climb tour

 

[Ziggy]

Couple signs that caught my attention today

 

[Ziggy]

Saw Two odd cars today we don't have in the states.
ElCamino looking thing, guessing a GM product since it had an SS badge on rear.

And a goofy looking Ford flatbed thingamajig.

Found a familiar name at the local Barber, I think.. No fucking idea what a blow bar is but it gave the Mrs a good laugh.
And an Aldi grocery store.

 

[Ziggy]

Oh, and a visit to Wicked Weasel was another list item today.

Geewhiz my wife loves her Premium Quality Trophy Husband....lol

 

[Ziggy]

Going to Manly Beach is our goal for tomorrow. Supposed to be nearly 100* tomorrow. Weather has been mild since arriving, upper 70's-low 80's SoCal June gloomish.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Saw Two odd cars today we don't have in the states.
ElCamino looking thing, guessing a GM product since it had an SS badge on rear. View attachment 830690
And a goofy looking Ford flatbed thingamajig.
View attachment 830689
Found a familiar name at the local Barber, I think.. No fucking idea what a blow bar is but it gave the Mrs a good laugh.
And an Aldi grocery store. View attachment 830691

The blue El Camino looking car is a Holden Ute. Used to be made in Australia till last year.

Yes, GM owns Holden.

 

[Kachina26]

Saw Two odd cars today we don't have in the states.
ElCamino looking thing, guessing a GM product since it had an SS badge on rear. View attachment 830690
And a goofy looking Ford flatbed thingamajig.
View attachment 830689
Found a familiar name at the local Barber, I think.. No fucking idea what a blow bar is but it gave the Mrs a good laugh.
And an Aldi grocery store. View attachment 830691

We have the blow bar thing here. Basically a wash and a blow dry.

 

[sirbob]

Manly beach is cool - pine trees on the beach. There used to be a South African restaurant we would eat at there regularly - it’s called Rumps and Roasts I think?

On Saturday and or Sunday there is a real neat flea market bazaar in the Rocks area - whole block closed off -

I used to spend a lot of time around that area, I used to stay in the hotel with the square hole in it - at the time is was the ANA. Walk that botanical garden just past the point of the Oprah House early in the morning and get ready to be surprised by birds so big you think you about to be attacked - used to scare the heck out of me running it in the morning!

 

[Ziggy]

The blue El Camino looking car is a Holden Ute. Used to be made in Australia till last year.

Yes, GM owns Holden.

Yes Holden, knew that just couldn't think of the name.

 

[Ziggy]

Manly beach is cool - pine trees on the beach. There used to be a South African restaurant we would eat at there regularly - it’s called Rumps and Roasts I think?

On Saturday and or Sunday there is a real neat flea market bazaar in the Rocks area - whole block closed off -

I used to spend a lot of time around that area, I used to stay in the hotel with the square hole in it - at the time is was the ANA. Walk that botanical garden just past the point of the Oprah House early in the morning and get ready to be surprised by birds so big you think you about to be attacked - used to scare the heck out of me running it in the morning!

Currently staying in the Rocks area overlooking the ferry/cruiseship docks and Opera house. Walked the garden. Old government bldg and yeah the birds are kinda scary.

 

[Ziggy]

Last night after our day out we decided to go out for a drink and explore Barangarooo park a bit. That was mostly just a long walk for us, lol, but got a cool bridge photo.

Also walked the Sydney bridge for different angle of Opera house and city view. Amazingly beautiful at night.

 

[Ziggy]

Quickly checked out an archeological dig site that they've built an education center around.

 

[HallettBill]

Great pictures, can’t wait to hear about the trip. Gas Lamp here we come!!!’

 

[Ziggy]

Now here's the odd thing about last night for us, I mentioned we were wanting to go get a drink. We left the hotel around 9pm, mind you it's Friday night. After our wandering around we were looking to plop down and enjoy an evening cocktail. Every restaurant we tried was closed or closing by 10. They only served those already inside. We were lucky to get an gelato icecream only to be booted out the moment we finished our last lick. Ran into another couple baffled by the same thing.
Seems the only open venues were a couple nightclubs with lots of young locals waiting in lines to get in.
Interesting custom indeed.

 

[The Prisoner]

Since it's tomorrow there, what's the score of the Patriots game?

 

[Ziggy]

Great pictures, can’t wait to hear about the trip. Gas Lamp here we come!!!’

Looking forward to it.
As if anywhere we'll be going we can hear ourselves talk...lmao
I'm betting we'll still be a little goofy in the head timezone wise.

 

[Ziggy]

Since it's tomorrow there, what's the score of the Patriots game?

Lol, a gamblers dream.
Turned on TV around 11:30-12 last night to see Joaquin Nieman is first round leader in Maui. This day difference has been kinda fun for me to get in Rich's Good Morning threads cuz normaly it's at least noon before I see them.
Flight home we leave at 11am and land at LAX 7am same morning

 

[TITTIES AND BEER]

Saw Two odd cars today we don't have in the states.
ElCamino looking thing, guessing a GM product since it had an SS badge on rear. View attachment 830690
And a goofy looking Ford flatbed thingamajig.
View attachment 830689
Found a familiar name at the local Barber, I think.. No fucking idea what a blow bar is but it gave the Mrs a good laugh.
And an Aldi grocery store. View attachment 830691

They those stores in Il

 

[Ziggy]

They those stores in Il

 

[Sleek-Jet]

You need your Hanslator turned on...

"They have Aldi stores in Illinois."



Actually, Aldi's north American headquarters in in Batavia IL, west of Chicago, a few miles from my house.

 

[Kachina26]

View attachment 831044 View attachment 831045

Dan will be along shortly to translate...

 

[Ziggy]

You need your Hanslator turned on...

"They have Aldi stores in Illinois."



Actually, Aldi's north American headquarters in in Batavia IL, west of Chicago, a few miles from my house.

Got em in California too.

 

[Ziggy]

Yesterday took ferry from Sydney to Manly and had a day on the beach. First day in Australia for us with 90 degrees or more, otherwise it's been rather mild in mid 70s.
Beautiful pine tree lined beach. Lifegaurds kept people who wanted to swim in 50 foot wide areas due to "hazardous conditions". We kinda got a laugh out of that cuz it looked like herded cattle. To us it seemed like any ole day in SoCal, even water temp was much like our late summer temps. As we were walking off beach around 4:30 they called everyone out of the water including surfers, etc......a shark had been spotted. Another new experience for us, almost comical.
However, the sights on and around the Manly area are great. Aussies are not bashful.

 

[Ziggy]

After the beach walking back towards ferry we chose to get drinks and early dinner at a local pub called Donny's, had a Wagyu burger that was off the chart delicious
Met several local folks that are regulars there(for good reason)and chatted up a storm for a few hrs

 

[Ziggy]

As the locals in bar had told us and I'd already noticed, the winds had shifted and were bringing the smoke from the Bushfires back into the area.
The ride back on ferry you could see the smoke clouds and once again a fantastic view of the Opera house

Today we relocate to Coogee beach for our last few days. This will be near the well known Bondi beach.
See how the weather holds up, supposed to be less than ideal(at least in a vacationers perspective)
Cheers Mates!

 

[HNL2LHC]

Wow, the smoke is so clear in those photos.

 

[Ziggy]

On a side note.
These bushfires down here are as bad and extremely serious as they seem. They make our California fires look like a campfire. Many lives have been lost, thousands upon thousands of homes and structures, an entire national park and its facilities destroyed with hardly any end in sight. They predict these fires will burn throughout summer. They are extremely grateful for the firefighters that have come from the US and other parts of the world.
So if you can, please put these folks in your thoughts and pray for their safety.

 

[TITTIES AND BEER]

You need your Hanslator turned on...

"They have Aldi stores in Illinois."



Actually, Aldi's north American headquarters in in Batavia IL, west of Chicago, a few miles from my house.

See he’s in the loop

 

[Ziggy]

Pulling one of @BUDMAN's well planned photo bag of tricks.
This mornings breakfast at a historic bakery location in The Rocks location.

 

[HNL2LHC]

Pulling one of @BUDMAN's well planned photo bag of trick.
This mornings breakfast at a historic bakery location in The Rocks location.
View attachment 831314 View attachment 831313 View attachment 831312

OMGH Ziggy are those.....banana pancakes? They look incredible. What kind of syrup do they have down under?

 

[Ziggy]

OMGH Ziggy are those.....banana pancakes? They look incredible. What kind of syrup do they have down under?

Why yes, yes they are and Jan said most excellent. This place used maple but other places in Bali had honey, blueberry, nutella or occasionally maple.

 

[Ziggy]

Had a fuggin awesome dinner tonight, so delicious.

 

[Ziggy]

In case you're wondering what it is........
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.
.

 

[TomD]

Very Cool Zig & Jan!!! Thanks for sharing.

 

[BUDMAN]

Pulling one of @BUDMAN's well planned photo bag of tricks.
This mornings breakfast at a historic bakery location in The Rocks location.
View attachment 831314 View attachment 831313 View attachment 831312

This message is approved by BUDMAN

 

[The Prisoner]

In case you're wondering what it is........
.
.
.
View attachment 831377

After you ate were you a little jumpy?

 

[Ziggy]

This message is approved by BUDMAN

Validation!

 

[Ziggy]

After you ate were you a little jumpy?

Had a spring in my step.
Jan was pleased with my bouncy-bounce too

 

[TITTIES AND BEER]

What’s it taste like ? Beef?

 

[Ziggy]

What’s it taste like ? Beef?

Before ordering waiter said it's kinda between beef and pork. To me it was a really super tender but milder beef flavor. Texture was like a perfect med-rare tri-tip. I loved it.

 

[Ziggy]

Coogee beach area.
Last day. Low key. Beach for a bit, and some walks along cliffs. Weather was overcast and threat of drizzle/light rain, which came around 7pm. Nice community, reminds us a little bit of Leucadia mixed with Pacific Beach, lol.

 

[Ziggy]

Heading home

Tuesday morning here. Departs 11:25am
Sad to leave but glad to be getting back home.
Edit:30min delay.

 

[The Prisoner]

Heading home
Tuesday morning here. Departs 11:25am
Sad to leave but glad to get back home.

Just in time for WW3.

 

[DWC]

Heading home
View attachment 831827
Tuesday morning here. Departs 11:25am
Sad to leave but glad to be getting back home.
Edit:30min delay.

So you’re saying that the beach pictures are done?

 

[Ziggy]

Landed safely at LAX

 

[Ziggy]

So you’re saying that the beach pictures are done?

Foreign beaches at least

 

[buck35]

Welcome back,loved the pics of you're trip.

 

[DWC]

Foreign beaches at least

Thanks again for taking us on the trip. What an incredible adventure.