s2 & nix travelz

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Sydney Janauary 2025

Day 3

Sleep in today. Planning a tour with New South Wales department of parks? It’s a place called Susannah Place. A restored 19th century dwelling. Oddly no photography is permitted. We shall see.

Hit the MCA after breakfast near the hotel. Not bad, a big brekkie, and a coffee. Strolled on to the MCA spent an hour or so perusing the art. Then off for our tour of Susannah place. The last set of buildings that have survived since 1880 or so.

Back into town to collect our bags, a quick snack then onto the train to the airport. I have to argue that the transfer at Sydney airport feels like one of the easiest smoothest I’ve ever encountered. coming home through the security at Sydney was another story all together!

Some other thoughts about Sydney, office space occupancy seemed low. The city itself seemed quiet. Still it is January after all.

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Sydney 2025

Day 2

A big day of culture. Spent most of the morning at the SLNSW. First though breakfast at a nearby café. Egg and bacon roll and a croissant and coffee for me. Also. Two coffees in the room before we met up, using the pod machine. Special note remove the bottom accessory and do a double shot in a mug. Much more taste and flavour.

The SLNSW had several photo based exhibitions I wanted to see. In the end though the one about the illegal aliens from the ship Dunera was the most engaging. The “PIX” exhibition was more about the magazine than photography.

The SLNSW had several photo based exhibitions I wanted to see. In the end though the one about the illegal aliens from the ship Dunera was the most engaging. The “PIX” exhibition was more about the magazine than photography.

After the SLNSW, we tried to find somewhere to eat. This proved more problematic than I could have imagined. It basically hasn’t stopped raining since we got here, so moving around was contingent on us not getting wet.

Nik’s umbrella was cheap and wasn’t much chop. It coped, barely. Anyway we found a food court. I ordered a sandwich and got more than I asked for, ie toasted with cheese. Nik graciously fixed it. I left a negative review on Yelp.

We then worked out we could walk back to the hotel and not get too wet. Then spent an hour or two in the rooftop bar. Nik had 2 free cocktails, I had beer.

Dinner tonight at Mr. Wong’s. A banquet is the plan.

What an epic night it was. So much food. Great service too. And we got a little treat as we said it was our wedding anniversary.

[s2nixtravels]

Sydney 2025

Day 1

Drove to and parked at Tullamarine, the cheapest option. Walked to the terminal from the carpark. Our transit through to the gates was smooth and efficient as well as our boarding. Flight was uneventful.

Exiting the airport at Sydney was super smooth. We walked a few hundred meters to the station. A train arrived within minutes and when we alighted at the other end 6 stops later it was another short walk to the hotel. We were checked in immediately. The room is lovely not much in the way of views though. Still it is very central and walkable to most things.

We then decided to have lunch down by the rocks. A work colleague of Nik’s suggested a pub called The James Squire. After taking a wrong turn we finally got there and if it wasn’t for the gigantic docked ship we would have had views of both the “Bridge” and the “Opera house”. Surprise, surprise, they had Stone & Wood, Pacific Ale on tap, #winning. We spent a pleasant afternoon watching the ship reload and reading about the ship itself.

We headed back to the room after collecting treats at a bakery/cafe on the way back. Then a quiet afternoon and evening watching TV. Nik, ducked out and grabbed Asian. More Tele then called it a night.

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Day 3 Vietnam

Another tour day. We saw the, Saigon Post Office, The Reunification Palace the War Remnants Museum and the Pagoda temple. Then off to the airport for our return flight home.

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Day 2 Vietnam

Tour day today, first the Cho Chi tunnels then the Mekong Delta. Dinner in the restaurant at the hotel followed by Desert in our room.

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Day 1 Vietnam

Arrived in Saigon, exhausted, did an open top bus tour, which I mostly slept through and wandered the streets a little. Ate in our hotel room as well to avoid any nasty surprises on the streets. Visited the zoo, so sad, then a fancy sit down meal. Ended the night on a rooftop bar in district 1.

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Day 4 Amsterdam

More street wanderings, in search of a good breakfast, we found one; run by Kiwis of course. Ending the day with a guided tour of the red light district.

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Day 3 Amsterdam

The pursuit of a good breakfast continues. We eat a fabled stroopwaffle, and visit the 'Unseen' photo festival, even after getting on the wrong tram, then end the day with a boat ride along the canals.

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Day 2 Amsterdam.

Culture, Food, Booze and the oddities of the street.

Also a visit to the Anne Frank house.

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Day 4 Paris to Amsterdam.

A travel day so only a few snaps. But a 300 k an hour train, now we’re talking.

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Day 3 continued, so tumblr only permits 10 photos per upload via mobile, here’s some more snaps then

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Day 3 , Paris.

More walking today, as well as the hop on hop off BatoBus. A great way to move between Arrondisments and discover some hidden gems. Then we headed to the Lourve even though it’s closed on Tuesday I was hoping to get some good shots with less people around. I didn’t. Next the Palais Royale, sadly undergoing renovations but not the usual teaming mass of humanity found there. Other sights included and outdoor photo exhibition that documented the environmental crisis many parts of the world are suffering through. We also made it to the Trocadero where “everyone” goes for that shot of the Eiffel Tower. We got one too. Then back on the BatoBus, to head home for Dinner at Le Gran Vefour. And what a night and meal it was. More late night wanderings as we walked home from the restaurant.

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Day 2, Paris

Lots of walking today, discovered many weird and wonderful shops. Wandered through some, passages, that from memory had strong literary connections. Especially Walter Benjamin. We trekked up to Montmatre, and had a drink in the café where Amelie was filmed. A movie we saw on our honeymoon. Finished the evening with a river boat cruise with attentive service and great 3 course set menu, the whole deal had free champagne, 1 bottle of wine as well a choice of entreé, main and desert.

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More pictures from our walk. Mostly along the Seine and around Notre Dame.

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We made it!

After a long layover at Saigon, and a gruelling 10 hours plus to Paris we are ensconced in our lovely little hotel. We caught the train in from the Airport, I was surprised at how busy it was for a Sunday morning at around 7:00 am. Spent the remainder of the day walking around checking out some markets and the streets themselves. Lunch was purchased, a baguette of course. Then heading off to walk along the Seine and having a look at Notre Dame.

Ending the day with an early dinner at the hotel.

[s2nixtravels]

Melbourne- Saigon - Paris - Amsterdam - Saigon - Melbourne

Day one, slumming it in the “Lounge”

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London 2010