Sydney on a Shoestring

Monday

9am Check in to D*lux Budget Hotel (beds from $21, Kings Cross for week of fun and frugality. 
9.10am There is a God. Am in four-bed dorm with two Swedish girls, Karina and Lotta. Identical twins. Could be interesting.
11.00am Visit Sydney Observatory (Observatory Hill, The Rocks). Free.
1.30pm Food court on George St for lunch. Cost = $6.
2.30pm Visit Art Gallery of NSW (Art Gallery Rd, Domain). Free.
5pm Back at hostel. Some bloke’s stuff has appeared on top bunk. Mostly Coq Sportif. Hope he’s not French.
5.02pm Ben Affleck’s stunt double walks in. “Allo, my name iz Jean Pierre.”
5.05pm Reception politely refuses my request to move him to another dorm.
5.10pm Return to find him chatting up Swedish girls. In French. Overhear the word “Scubar”.
7pm Slip Inn (cnr Sussex & King St) for $6 pizza and pasta Monday.
10.30pm On to Great Southern Hotel (717 George St) for free trivia night and a couple more schooners ($12).
12am Turn light on in dorm. Everyone in bed. Not popular.

Tuesday

5.30am Swedes spend an hour whispering and rummaging through endless plastic bags. Apparently they’re off “Scuba” diving for the day. Ahh...
10am Breakfast at Krave’s Café (37 Darlinghurst Rd, Kings Cross). Cost = $6.
11am Read papers in Kings Cross library. Free.
1.30pm Sushi rolls for lunch. Cost = $5.
2.30pm Take on old bloke on giant chessboard in Hyde Park. Lose. Then kid in school uniform. Lose again. Cost = dignity.
5pm Pavilion (580 George St) for drinks specials; schooners for $3.50 (5-8pm, $4 spirts and wines). Cost = $7.
7.30pm Cheap night at cinema. Hoyts in George St. Cost = $10.
10.30pm Early night. No sign of Swedes or Ben.

Wednesday

10am Climb Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout. Amazing views of Opera House. Cost = $9.50.
11am Free tour of Museum of Contemporary Art (Circular Quay).
1.30pm Golden arches for lunch. Cost = $7.
3pm Movie at IMAX cinema in Darling Harbour. Save 20 per cent with YHA card. Cost = $16.50.
6.45pm Headed over to The Gaff (Oxford St) for a free meal with a voucher from TNT (when I bought a schooner).
7pm Swedes are here! With Jean Pierre. Damn. D’oh!
9.30pm Long chat with Lotta about Abba’s early work. Might have been Karina. Still can’t tell them apart.

March 16th, 2009