Skywalk - AMP Sydney Tower

March 31st - 'Earth Hour' starting at 730pm. Its Sydney's way of participating in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (Kyoto Protocol - Australia hasn't actually ratified the protocol. So is the US!!!). Turning off your lights at 730pm for just one hour. Sydney is the first city in the world to do this initiative hoping other countries will follow in the next years.

Of course I'll be participating! I won't be home to use any electrical devices. I'll be walking on top of the tallest tower in Sydney. And it just so happens that our booking is set at 715pm. But only lucky enough to see the lights turn on (well, we had to change to this blue and yellow suit before going up there).

It was still a fantastic view, although I was a little disappointed as they were still a lot of lights turned on. You could see the bridge on the top left but not the hanger itself. Right next to it is Australia Square (the round bldg) just turning on its lights. North Sydney CBD was blacked out...great job...including our bldg.

It was pretty exciting that Channel 10 got to interview us! I thought being interviewed on National TV was more nerve racking than actually doing the walk. I checked the news - I think we ended up on the cutting room floor.

We ended the night with dinner at the 360 degree restaurant just below the Skywalk.

Newcastle

I didn't think I was going back to Newcastle so soon after I blogged about it not having too many things to do. But so be it. I actually went there for a babyshower...surprisingly, babyshower with lots of booze served. That's how babies are made in the first place, right? Oh, don't you worry. I've got nothing to do with all that. Just a few sips is enough for me.

On the paper, they mentioned about the finals of a surfing competition. So we checked out the Toyota Maitland International Surfest Competition by Merewether Beach. I guess its pretty big coz Kelly Slater was the champion a couple of years ago (he's pretty much the only surfer I know coz he was on the TV show 'Baywatch'). Sort of disappointed...waves were too small. It was cold. No Kelly Slater.

I've got this video, though. This one's for you, Brad Pitt!!! Surf's UP!




P.S. FYI - Sydneysiders is to Sydney as Novocastrians is to Newcastle

March Madness - 2007

Here it comes! My 3rd year participating in the so called "March Madness" in the world of College Basketball (NCAA). It has always been exciting for me even before I won 3rd place out of 40 something in my first year...and to almost last place in the second year. We'll see how I do this time around. I hope the amateurs I'm competing with this year will have as much fun as I always do.

Here are my picks for the Final 4:

Midwest: Florida Gators
West: Kansas Jayhawks
East: North Carolina Tar Heels
South: Ohio St Buckeyes

Its all a guessing game!!! If you remembered last year, none of the #1 seeds got into the Final 4 - and nobody expected that!!! If you want to follow or copy my bracket (not that I can guarantee you its gonna win), click on the picture below:




There's about $50 in the pot, I think.

Here's brother Mike's picks