day five in Aussie

This morning, we had breakfast at the hotel's cafe.

Unfortunately, the muesli wasn't as interesting. Tasted like cold oatmeal with raisins.

But the flat white was nice.

Max is on her way to Manly Beach. I could've gotten some boy watching in, but Stasha and I had a different agenda -- Taronga Zoo.

A$37 ($27.70) for a ride to Mosman, a lift ticket over the zoo, admission, and a ride back. Not bad, I say -- considering it costs $20 at the Seattle Aquarium!

9:20am -- our boat arrives, and away we go!

Bye Max!

	Just as our boat launches, I catch my first close-up view of the Sydney Opera House!

We also get an awesome view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

(By the way, did I mention I was climbing that structure today?)

We also get a fabulous view of the city!

Within minutes, we arrive at our destination.

Onto a cable car, and into the wild green yonder.

Gotta stop and take advantage of their beautiful view.

Watch out Stasha!

It's a peacock!

Lunch time for the animals -- ten or more mokeys, big and small, come out to eat... and play.

Little monkeys run around, swinging on the ropes, chasing each other.

One chimp steals food from another... only to get it taken back by the other kid's Momma... and to get slapped on the head.

Taking a moment to enjoy the flowers.

Or is this a weed?

And a great tree that's been here for a long time.

Okay...maybe one more.

The ferocious Me and the deadly Bug-Eyed Turtle.

Above the ferry, it's the Australian flag... except the colors seem to be inverted.

	... that's where I'm gonna be in a couple hours! =D

Back at the dock, some guy does his street act.

Stasha and I didn't stay long to watch though... It's 2:00pm and we're hungry!!!

Around the corner to the left, we see nice little place where the menu sounded pretty good.

While Stasha enjoyed her Pumpkin Ganocchi (above, A$17.50), I had the Tasmanian Salmon (left, A$35.50), on a bed of rice with some creamy sauce. The salmon was a bit dry (I prefer the Alaskan Wild King Salmon here) but the rice was delicious. :) Not bad.

3:25pm - Upon arrival, Max and I joined a group of 10 others, took a breathalizer test, and signed our life away before going through a series of very well-organized preparation

steps.

We were instructed to change into a well equipped jumper suit and lock our personals away - we could not bring anything with us (except my glasses which the jumper provided a hookie for). Optionally, they had caps, beanies, and scarfs - all had hookies for the jumper.

After changing, we were greeted by our guide, Arial (are-re-ul). He asked us our name once,and was able to later recite all our names with ease! Cute and excellent memory -- 2 points. 2 more points for the smile and accent. ;)

We strapped on a belt that had a patented mechanism, securing us to a rail running along the entire route of our climb. The mechanism had teeth that rotated as it crossed each junction point where the rail branched off to the wall. There were always two teeth locking the mechanism to the rail. Those who know what I do for a living could understand my fascination with the thing.

The other cool gear was the headset we put not over our ears, but over the bone just in front of our ears. Supposedly they're the kind used by the military. With the radio slipped into the holder on the back of our belt, and the headset plugged in, we could hear Arial quite clearly.

Headlights on our forehear, and one test climb up and down a ladder, and we're ready to head outside.

Total number of steps: 1439 Total number of floors: 44	Group picture as we approached the top.
The bridge is the widest single-span steel bridge. The design was taken from the one in New York.	Max and me at the top as we crossed from one side to the other.
There's also a patent on the Bridge Climb in Sydney - in other words, no other place in the world can host a bridge climb.	On the way down, Max and me, after sunset.
Back inside, we systematically stripped off the equipment -- first the hankerchief and hats. Each item had their own bins; even the hookies. Then the headsets. Then the radios. Then the belt. Then the jumper (in the changing room).

5~6pm - Max and I walked over to the Hemmesphere where we met Stasha at the corner of the block.

Hemmesphere was rated as one of the better places to grab a drink.

Apparently, we were underdressed. But nothing a couple of drinks couldn't take care of:

Paloma - Havanna anejo rum massenez froise liqueur freshly muddled pink grapefruit shaken with guava blood orange and lime juices served in sugar rim glass. A$16. Max's.

Hot Date - Provocative encounter of vanilla infused dates, fresh lemon chivaz regal whiskey and grand marnier served in martini glass with a twist of lemon. A$17. Stasha's.

Clerico - assortment of raspberries blueberries & strawberries laced with massenez framboise and chandon brut served in a flute finished with a lime twist. A$17. Mine. Pretty nice.

Then someone told me the fruits absorb the alcohol.
Never been tipsy in my life.
Til now.

As we approached Henry's on wheels, the taxi guy pointed out there's a bit of a que. But the line faded pretty quickly and I soon had my hands on a chicken pie with peas on top!

The chicken pie was okay... but the peas were awesome!