20 - Family BBQ at Nick and Cathy's

Our last night in Sydney the whole family gathered at cousin Nick and Kathy's for one last family dinner. Upon our arrival, we looked at the back yard where Nick and Cathy have planted plum trees and oregano plants.


Everyone hung outside on the patio having a few drinks and chatting as usual, doing more catching up and laughing all the way through. One big and very happy family.





After we ate, Nick and I played a few games of pool, which has been dad and my favorite bonding activity as I've grown up (that and going to see movies...yeah dad likes activities where silence is golden, haha). The radio was blasting modern pop/dance music, so Luke busted out his moves...




The kids played video games, built up the play houses, ran circles around the whole house a million times and even started their own rock band!

19 - Mom And Shabd's Rain Walk On Bondi Beach

Needing one last trip to the beach, rain or shine, Shabd and Mom went to Bondi Beach. Bondi is one of Australia's most famous beaches and surf locations.



It started to rain just as they arrived, so they fashioned rain caps out of trash bags and wandered the landscape, enjoying every bit of the scenery.






The rock formations are crazy cool...

18 - Family Ferry Ride To Manley Beach

After again hopping on the conveniently placed train from Revesby to Circular Quay we boarded the ferry to Manley Beach.




The ferry has a great view of the sights on its route to the beach, including the skyline, bridge and the Sydney Opera House.




Nick and his son Theo hangin' on the ferry.




We were all surprised to see a FREE water station where it actually asks you to fill your water bottles with spring water. Ever seen one of these in the US? That will be $5 for a bottle of tap water, please, is more what we're used to...


This guy...


He was playing 1920s style silent film music and we thought he was putting on an act like the Charlie Chaplin type characters...But then we watched for a while, and realized there wasn't really much similarity...We never quite figured out what his angle was, but then again he seemed to be enjoying himself while entertaining so who cares!

And then there was one...HUGE UGG BOOT


...


...From Sydney, Australia to all of our family and friends!

17 - Thea Vicki's Birthday

After about five hours in stand-still traffic on what should have been a two hour drive home, we all gathered outside the house to surprise Vicki with a family version of "Happy Birthday".

She had a relaxing day at home, so we took her out to party at the sports club Irene works at. In the US, a sports club usually refers to a gym. In this case, however, it refers to a sports betting club with slot machines, multiple bars and restaurants, a dance/karaeoke club, and much more.

Mom and Vicki led the way to the restaurant, across a stone walkway/rainforest section INSIDE the club.

It has a really crazy "It's A Small World" type theme going on - the inside is designed like a small European city - where you walk on the stone streets and see the restaurants and shops as buildings along the way. What a wild place.



Some cool lighting/design on the stairways. The entire club was designed with a ritzy flavor.



Karaoke dance party going on in the background...I think the age requirement was 50+


Awesome entrance to a restaurant. Smile!




When we returned home, we gave Vicki her birthday cake. She made her wishes, blew out the candles, served up the cake, and then we all went to bed.