Ghost Village, Koalas, Paddington & Pirates

Yesterday I left my visit to the Olympic Village until 3.30p.m. and left an hour later... It felt ghostly, hardly anyone was around... It seemed sad an area once filled with hundreds of thoudands of people was now virtually empty.

I walked up to the stadium where there was a forest of metal poles containing the names of every participant in the 2000 Sydney Olympics... Stories of sporting achievement echoed out of the speakers but that seemed so long ago..no one was listening now...well just me and an old couple.

I wondered whether all the millions we will pour into the development of Stratford will create such desolation after the storm has blown over.........

Today I took the early boat to Taronga Zoo just to see a Koala bear..I realise this is desperation but with only a few days left in Australia, I had to grab any available opportunity...I just sat there staring at these beautiful creatures for what seemed an hour..there is something wonderfully innocent about them..I felt a little uneasy about the rest of the zoo..any place that creates an environment where animals walk round and round in circles on a regular basis and are forced to be 'photgraphed' with tourists desperate for that special shot.......... Well, zoos have moved on...this one, still has some of that to do.

Desperate to see another side to Sydney I headed to the outskirts of the city, Paddington. I really liked the area. It was a little more rough around the edges but the houses were really old and had great character. The place has a reputation for being 'expensive' and up and coming..

Paddington definately had a New York feel...like Greenwich Village.. It was also an opportunity to shop for some great clothes...unlike London, boutique shopping in Sydney is very reasonable and so I was able to pick up some great original designs at a very small price! I had some really interesting conversations with some of the shop owners about the area and how they are in danger, along with the artisits, of being priced out.

I have just come back from a production of 'The Pirates of Penzance'. I am not the greatest fan of G & S but I found this a wonderful production. Of course, the fact that at the interval, you walk out onto magnificent views of Sydney harbour, does add to the experience. Water and cough sweets are complimentary to all...nothing must spoil the performance! The lead pirate definately had a Johnny Depp swagger and most women will agree with me...this does help!

I'm off in jeeps to the Blue Mountains tomorrow and then I find myself with one last day before my flight to San Francisco. Although my hotel is in Darling Harbour, despite one delicious tuna steak, I have had no other reason to go there yet...so I plan to go to the Powerhouse Museum and Aquarium.

I have to admit, all this travelling and exploration, have caught up on me now...I feel exhausted and will not put myself under any pressure to see Manly or Bondi...there's always another trip.......I don't think I have walked so much in my life........ My bed is calling me!