TALES FROM SYDNEY PT.II

Just sitting in the cyber-lounge of the Kooromba YHA in the Blue Mountains at present. The plan was to explore this 'diverse and scenic landscape' but a huge fog has fallen over the area so the plan seems to look something like getting lunch and watching a movie instead.

The trip so far has consisted of the following:

-Praising Jesus at Soul Survivor festival in St Ives. An amazing time made even better by the opportunity to hear from Jim Yoost, a missionary in Papua with a heart for church planting in the third world.

-Beaches. Pretty much every day. So far we've done Collaroy, Dee Why, Manly & Newport. Great places, particularly Manly.

-Monorail. Amongst a number of things I didn't get to do on my brief trip through here in November has been the Monorail. You can't see the track so it feels like you're flying!

-A model-crafts and hobby shop in Central Sydney. The above photo shows me geeking it with model railways. INCREDIBLE!

-Krispy Kreme Donuts. The perfectly soft-baked and glazed experience delivered by one of these puppies borders on sinful.

-The McDonalds Double-Quarter Pounder. A half pound of questionable meat sandwiched between three slices of smoked cheddar, pickles, onions, mustard, ketchup and 2 warm buns. I've had 5 of these since arrival.

-'Cause of Death', a recorded lecture Sam and I watched in a dingy motor lodge (a la 'Bates Motel') last night where they disected people right in front of you. Fascinating yet vomit-enducing! There's nothing quite like the sound of a scalping cutting through cartilage, or the squelching noise of a brain being removed from it's cradle.

-The Company: All round legends Chris Darnell, Rosemary Poland, Callum McKinnon, Thomas Read and Helen Nicholls were wicked people to hang out with. Now it's just down to Sam and I but the fun continues...

-Hill$ong. An amazing production right up there with U2 but sadly not much more. An eye-opening experience to say the least.

So there's the trip as it stands. I'm looking forward to getting back to work on Friday. The chats Sam and I have had, as well as those with the international crews from Soul Survivor, have been incredibly challenging. I can't wait to get back and put some of this thought into action.

UPDATE: Later that day we began our hunt for the Blue Mountains. Apparently they lurk somewhere amongst the fog shown in the pictures below. Much like Big Foot, they remain illusive. We'll keep you posted as the chase continues...