For the past two months, Sydney has been my home. I have gotten to know the streets, picked out my favorite hangouts, joined in the festivities, made amazing friends, got to ring in the New Year, and just lived life. It is hard to look out the window at this magical place unsure whether or not i'll see it again. But, a new adventure awaits! First to Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road and then to the Outback!! But, before I get ahead of myself here's a recap of the past month.
New Years
New Years was AMAZING. I got to join in with a bunch of friends I met through the lovely Shani for an awesome day of shenanigans. We spent the day in Kiribilli almost right underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Got there around noon-ish with some sport balls, snacks, and whatever drinks we could get in. It was a beautiful, albeit a bit cloudy of a day, and so the volleyball, football (soccer), and nerf ball all got an insane amount of use. There were also a few things put on mbefore the fireworks---plane show, people riding around on the water, a random pirate ship went around (that one may have not been part of the show hah). When the fireworks did start we seriously had the most incredible view. We got to see everything at the bridge up close, and then the Opera House was right across the way. In fact the only thign even remotely annoying were the bathroom lines. When we got there they were like oh 5-10 minutes. By the time it ws 10pm you seriously stood in line for like 45 minutes to get there. It was the perfect way to get to know someone hahah. Wanna go to the bathroom? haha anyways, eventuaally we all made our way home down the eerily empty streets of sydney. Although everything I just said does not nearly do it justice, know that it is something I will remember for the rest of my life.
Beaches
There are plenty of beaches around Sydney and I got to experience the top three. Bondi, Coogee and Manly. I do regret that I never got to do any of the beach walks which are supposed to be beautiful. But, i loved living somewhere that allowed me to get to the beach in 30 minutess or less. Manly was probably my favorite beach even though I didn't get there until the day before I left. In order to get there you have to take a 30 minute ferry ride across the harbour. It's so beautiful and I just loved it. Also, some things I should mention about beaches in Australia. Unlike in the US, there are flags on the beach thhat you have to swim between. If you're surfing it's a bit different, but swimmers are to stay between the flags for safety reasons. It was strange to have so many restrictions at beaches when I'm used to the silly East Coast beaches that go on for miles and allow you to swim wherever. Also, Bondi is way smaller than you think it is. Weird.
Blue Mountains
I spent an incredible day wandering around the blue mountains. I started off by heading to this gorgeous waterfall that runs down the side of a cliff, then headed over to the Three Sisters. The Three Sisters are a rock formation that in Aboriginal stories were three sisters (shocking!) who after falling in love with three boys from a competing tribe were turned into stone by an elder tribe member in order to "protect" them. Unfortunately, that dude died and no one was ever able to turn them back. So, lesson learned. Make sure if you have a spell cast on you, make sure someone else knows the reversal...just in case. After hitting up the Three Sisters, I headed out to see the Cascades which is a beautiful giant waterfall that starts on the very top of the mountain and then reaches a cliff overhang and just glides down the rest of it pocohantas-style. Although, much smaller.
Goodbyes
Sydney was a city of hellos and goodbyes. It is where I made real friends for the first time in Oz, but it is also where I had to watch them leave. Sydney gave me an apt full of awesome girls and a workplace filled with the coolest people. But, slowly but surely I had to say goodbyes as people left for farmwork, new cities or just to new jobs. It was sad, but you sort of become immune togoodbyes after a while I guess. Plus more often than not goodbyes turned into an awesome night out with people I loved. So there's always that.
Australia Day
This past Sunday was 'STRAYA DAY! It celebrates the landing of the British in Australia. I was blessed enough to have an apartment about 5 minutes walk from Darling Harbour where some of the biggest festivities were going on. So while I didn't spend the day drinking as is the norm---I did get to see one of THE BEST fireworks displays i've ever seen. And i'll have you know that includes New Year's Eve. The two German girls who moved into the apt went with me and we had a great time listening to the live music, watching kids wave flags, and generally enjoyng the excitement that goes along with national pride.
Random
Some other things I did before I left are:
1. Hit up the Australian Museum
2. Went to the Museum of Modern art
3. Try Harry's Cafe d'Wheels---which is a famous pie shop in Sydney
4. Met a bouncer who had family in Woodbridge. Real life. That happened.
5. Walked the Sydney Harbour Bridge
6. Enjoyed a drink at the Opera Bar
7. Strolled through the Royal Botanic gardens
8. Went to Hillsong for church! WOO! actually though. Super fun.
9. Saw a Doctor Who exhibit....WITH THE TENTH DOCTOR'S SUIT. OMG.
10. Got insanely burnt after spending an entire day at the beach
11. Went bowling!
12. Had my haircut by a friend---looks SO good.
13. Saw 5 different movies. Two of these were in the worlds biggest IMAX and one of them was at an outdoor cinema FOR FREE courtesy of my girl Shani.
14. Roadtripped to the edge of NSW with work.
15. Went to the ZOO!
