off a recommendation from a Hell's Kitchen waitress

(Manly Wharf and Cove)

I have already been to Bondi Beach. so I decided to try out Manly. MP and I had a waitress at Chelsea Grill that was from Manly and said it was a nice place. so I said ok.



checked the weather. I was going to lie out, work on the tan that no one will ever see when I am back in NYC all bundled up for the cold weather. but I guarantee you my face will be tan!



was going to be cloudy, chance of rain. put on shorts and tank. went outside. went back inside to change clothes that included a tshirt. left bikini in hotel. dumb move.



yesterday the QE2 came into Sydney and was in Circular Quay, so I got a few good pics. hopped on the 30 min ride to Manly. got off the ferry and what comes out of the sky? hot sunshine and lots of it! it was a little cool with the wind, but I was still pissed at myself for not bringing the suit.


at lunch at Blue Water Cafe. had a flat white (coffee) at Jellyfish Cafe. I am checking off recommended places in my Lonely PLanet Sydney City Guide. it makes me feel accomplished! walked about for a little bit. offered to take pics for couples in exchange for a photo opp of my own. works out for both parties :)



hopped on the ferry back to the city and ran some errands for strategically packing these overweight bags: extra 3rd duffle bag, packing tape, razor blade, free FedEx boxes, a scale. you should see the way I molded those boxes to form fit my painting and wood carving. perfection I tell you.



here's the baggage deal: flying Quantas to LAX. flying American Airlines to EWR. both flights have different baggage regulations. which majorly sucks. so this is what I'm doing:

chelsea's bag: currently 26kg -> paring it down to 23kg, free for both flights
rizal's bag: currently 37kg -> paring it down to 32kg, free intl & $50 domestic
3rd bag: putting all those extra kgs into it -> max 23kg, $140 intl & $132 domestic

now, sending a medium size box back to the States would be $320, as a starting point. so this totals $322, so it's about the same. I am seriously going to look like a crazy person at the airport on Wednesday. wearing very comfy pj clothes and carrying all these bags. I am gona be ready for them if they try anything. and I will unzip those bags and shift stuff around if I have to. I'm ready, man.

in the immortal words of Kirstin Dunst, "Bring it!"