Sydney Synopsis

An hour in – already after my first nap – I’m grateful for having decided to take the train from Sydney to Brisbane. Two hours in, not quite so much. Half a day later and still on the train, I regret my decision. I had hoped that the train would provide a nice scenic break. I wanted to gaze out on the East-Australian coast in awe as we passed unique landscapes lit by an ever descending sun. To be fair, I did see some nice forested hills, lakes, and quaint towns, but all of that passed by within the first hour or so and I was left staring at pastures roamed by cows and horses. Later, when darkness consumed the countryside, I was left to reflect on my time in Sydney.

During my first day in Australia, I arrived early at the Y Hotel Hyde Park. To pass the time before check-in, I roamed the streets and managed to see some of the main attractions of the city: the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and Hyde Park. When I travel, I like to split my money unevenly among accommodation, activities, and food. Some trips, I’ll splurge on good food and sleep in the cheapest hostel I can find. Other times, I need personal space, so I spend a bit extra on a hotel room, live off of instant noodles, and walk everywhere. To get settled in, I did just that.

On the second day, I wanted to relax on Bondi Beach and do the coastal walk. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the right bus stop and walking wasn’t an option. Instead, I headed to Darling Harbour and looked around the piers packed with summer vacationers. Outside of the National Maritime Museum is a long wall of names dedicated to those who immigrated to Australia. I read through the excerpts of interviews and journals from the past and struggled to imagine the excitement and fear of settling in a new country. I guess I appreciate what I have in Canada too much to really get in the right mindset.

                                                 

                 

Possibly the greatest sights in the city are all of the smiling faces. I had hoped that the numberless sun-streaked beauties who passed by me were checking me out, but I couldn’t be so vain. By the scenes that surrounded me, it was clear that no one but an ice cream deprived child could hold off a smile.

My only complaint with Sydney (and the other Australian cities I have now visited) is its traffic system. I don’t mind the whole driving-on- the-left-side thing, but the traffic lights could do with an adjustment. Canada isn’t a role model, but Australia could really do with having some mathematicians taking a stab at the problem.

During my last full day, I did manage to catch the right bus to Bondi Beach and was rewarded several times over by the amazing views. Although the area is a huge tourist destination, I didn’t feel overcrowded on the coastal path. It was morning runners that I had to watch out for. I wandered off the path a few times to sit on the rocks and watch the big waves crash in. Surfers, runners, and bikini models marked the paths, but when I returned to the main beach, the mass of people made individuals indistinguishable. It was a place to get lost and relax.