A night out down Oxford Street and romance on Lady Bay Beach

Please note this next entry is somewhat adult in flavour and not for homophobes. If you fit that category then it might be an idea to skip this next piece of writing

Today was easily the best day of the holiday in what has been an extraordinary trip.

One of the most famous gay clubs in the world up there with Heaven in London, Splash in New York, Le Boy in Rio and Le Queen in Paris. Downstairs is the real "Sydney scene" with people of all ages around a dancefloor and bar area

It all began last night. I wasnt going out it was windy and wet outside and I was tired from wandering around Sydney all day. The Australian Sunrise Lodge does not inspire trust in leaving your belongings behind with its 'Don not let anyone in' signs and padlocked doors. So I fretted about security at the hotel but decided to go out anyway.

I took the train to Museum and crossed Wentworth Avenue to Oxford Street. I promised myself a Saturday night in one of the most famous gay destinations in the world. The pavements were crowded with a diverse bunch of Sydneysiders trying to dodge the roadworks and the rain. My first stop was "Stonewalls" which had a reputation as a place for the under 25's. There they were watching the video wall and drinking their Tooheys. A few doors down was "The Colombian", the hippest bar in Oxford Street. It was very busy and squashed with all kinds of men. About 11.00pm I went to the famous "Midnight Shift".

One of the most famous gay clubs in the world up there with Heaven in London, Splash in New York, Le Boy in Rio and Le Queen in Paris. Downstairs is the real "Sydney scene" with people of all ages around a dancefloor and bar area. There was a mixture of ages and was very very cruisy. I clicked myself into "cruise control" and out of the corner of my eye I spotted the Singaporean I had met before. Behind him was a latin talking at a table to some of his older mates.

I stayed to 1.00am and was just getting ready to go home.

"Excuse me? Are you Brazilian?"

I was getting chatted up. The latin was standing in front of me.

He had caught sight of my Project Tamar T-shirt I bought last year in Brazil. "No actually I've been on holiday there. I'm British"

The conversation was very stilted but very flirtaceous. Then we relaxed with each other - each one appreciating the other. His name was Milton Braga. He was very handsome and was originally from Recife (Brazil) with coffee skin, dark hair and brown eyes (just my type). He was educated and raised in Stockholm and now found his way to Sydney. We connected and retired to a sofa...

I took his number and said I would call him today. I mentioned I was thinking of going to Bondi and he said he would take me to the gay beach at La Perouse. He lived beyond Darling Harbour and was staying up all night. I headed off about two o'clock. The next morning I was up and took the train into Circular Quay and rang him from there. The promise of the beach was still on. I was to meet him at the ANZAC memorial in Hyde Park at 11.30am.

I had breakfast and duly met him at the reflecting pool. He suggested the closer Lady Bay beach and we caught the bus. He teased me on being English and going home early but there was definitely something going on between us. We were both each others types and were beginning to really warm to each other. A definite romance was on its way.

We pulled into Watsons Bay which is the home of millionaires and took the trail to the appropriately named 'Camp Cove'. A sandy cove blocked by enormous cliffs was our destination. It was also the abode of gay naturists and men in various states of undress were dotted around. We found a bare patch and spread our towells but after half an hour wanted somewhere more intimate and and went up into the foresty cliffs overlooking the harbour. Hopefully none of the passing pleasure cruisers had long lenses to their cameras.

We spent the rest of the afternoon there relaxing in the sun. From where we were you could see the length of the habour with the skyscrapers of the CBD being prominent in the distance. Then about 4pm we had a dinner of fish 'n chips.

The whole day was heavenly. We finished it by watching sunset from 'The Gap' huge sandstone cliffs where the sea crashes