I am so far behind in updating this blog it's unbelievable. I think the last time I wrote in here was in January, so like three months ago. Things have just been so crazy and you get so caught up in every day life that it makes it hard to write and reflect on it all! I will try to keep this short and sweet and to the point (LOL in advance though).
January:
Started solo adventures outside of Sydney. Wrote about Cronulla, and The Entrance, but not about Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park or Woolongong.
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| Ferry ride to Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park |
I went to the National Park alone expecting a peaceful getaway. It was extremely peaceful and I met wild wallabies, and napped in hammocks while reading my book under the stars...all super nice. However, then daytime hit and I thought I could go hiking on my own. THERE WERE NO PATHS. I was waist high in bushland with random vines tripping me and every so often sliding down rock boulders. I wasn't the most prepared bringing a giant purse with me on this hike..but whatever. The best/worst part was when I decided to sun bathe on top of the rocky mountain and as I undressed, my shoe fell down the cliff. So typical! So I tied my jacket around my bare foot and hobbled down and managed to find it. Such an odd trip. Glad I did it, but would only return if I had a friend with me.
Woolongong was another nice place, mainly known for the Buddhist Nan Tien Temple. Absolutely stunning views there and unbelievably serene. Would love to go back with my kindle and relax there all day. There was also a beach in Woolongong with amazing views and a brewery with cheap beer so overall a nice trip!
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| Nan Tien Temple in Wollongong |
Also January 17th my baby brother was born! George Francis! Can't wait to meet the little guy!
Australia Day: Basically Australia's version of Fourth of July. Got a little too excited and celebrated a bit too hard and fell asleep at the restaurant. Night ended early for me with a crepe from the corner shop.
February:
Ground Hogs Day---it's not a thing here. Explained it to a few people, they gave me odd stares which further made me think about how much we LOVE celebrating a holiday in the US. Any excuse for one right?
BRITTANY VISITED ME IN SYDNEY!!!!!! Basically all of February is summed up by Brit being here! It was the MOST AMAZING THING!!!! Finally I had someone from home who just GETS me to spend time with. Don't get me wrong I love everyone I've met out here, but there's just something about being together with someone who has known you the past five years of your life. So amazing being able to mix my old life and my new life here in Sydney. Will try to narrow it down to the main highlights of her visit:
-Tall Ship Cruise around the Sydney Harbour: Basically an open bar on a pirate ship and we were the youngest people by decades. Also was the day before Valentine's Day so everyone seemed to be a couple, so definitely an interesting crowd!
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| Opera House Performance! |
-Valentines Day: Brit got to meet all my English friends and it was so great seeing them together! Seeing Brittany not understand a lot of the British lingo also made me realize how far I've come since November (sorry babe)! ALSO FINALLY HAD SOMEONE TO DANCE WITH THAT DANCED CRAZY WITH ARMS IN THE AIR. None of that hip swaying, arms down, head nodding thing. We went to Newtown to start off, then ended at the Casino, slept for about an hour at the friends house, and managed to walk home, heels in hand around 7 in the morning through downtown Sydney...always keeping it classy.
-Featherdale Wildlife Park. Oh what a great disaster. Took an hour train, and then managed to walk another 30 minutes from the train station to the park. And then when we got there the wallabies were not eager to see us or very playful. Understandably it was later in the afternoon and extremely hot outside. Burger was fabulous though!!!
-Sydney Opera House Greatest Hits Performance: Rushed home from Featherdale and barely made it on time to the performance, but we did it! WAS SO INCREDIBLE. I can fall asleep in the matter of seconds if I'm sleep deprived, so I was extremely nervous I'd sleep through the opera. I loved it though and stayed awake for the whole thing! Even though it was in different languages, I thought it was the coolest thing and was so engrossed! Inside the Opera House was stunning as well.
-Bondi Beach Grease Singalong: We did the past three things all on the same day with literally no sleep from the night before so I 100% slept through half of Grease. However, what I did see was really cool! Outdoor cinemas are a big thing here and they are so nice! Basically like a drive in movie theatre, but instead of being in a car in a lot, you're on the grass in a park. Oh yeah and no cars.
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| Luna Park in North Sydney |
-Luna Park: In North Sydney there is a little amusement park called Luna Park. Most people say it's lame and overrated, however, we LOVED it! There were absolutely no lines so we did all the rides and most of the workers kept us on the rides for longer, which was great!
Manly: After Luna Park we met the friends at Manly Beach. Tanned, relaxed, drank, overall a great day! The trip back became very messy and included a few bottles breaking in the train station, and quite a few laughs! Went out to eat afterwards with everyone where Brittany managed to not screw the tomato sauce lid on and my friend went to squeeze a bit out....the tomato sauce poured out all over his plate LOL.
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| Wine Tasting in Hunter Valley |
Harbour Bridge Climb: Hands down the BEST thing I've ever done. Well in Sydney at least. Would be right up there with going on a hot air balloon in Turkey and riding a camel in Morocco. We had an amazing tour guide and learned so much about the construction and history of the bridge! We had to wear suits which was quite fun and also had to practice climbing ladders lol. Brittany snagged the first spot in line so we were in the very front of the group and got to lead! When we got to the very top of the bridge, we noticed there was another group nearby with a disco ball singing karaoke. Chinese New Year was going on and a group of Chinese people were celebrating on top of the bridge! My favourite part was how the ladders you climb on the bridge are actually in-between two lanes of traffic. As I was climbing down the ladder I had a train on either side of me and was in the middle! It was honestly the coolest feeling...like when does that happen? How was that real? Amazing!
Tamarama Beach: Showed Brittany another beach. Smaller but still quite nice! Did partial Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. Later that night saw Fifty Shades of Gray and managed to sleep through the whole movie (snored apparently too..lovely). $22 for a nap...just great!
Sydney vs. Melbourne Basketball: Baskebtall isn't really a thing here either, so we went to one of the Sydney Kings games! It was against Melbourne too so we thought it would be a decently big thing. Majorly different from the US! The players don't even all wear the same shoes, there were only 4 cheerleaders, the announcer constantly tried to get people amped aka there was constant background noise during the game, just totally and completely different! Made me realize I actually kind of miss sports back home, especially because I am still clueless about the ones here aka cricket and rugby. Anyways, went out in Darling Harbour for a few drinks and had a good night!
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| View from Pylon Lookout |
Sydney Pylon Lookout: took AGES to figure out how to get into the damn Pylon Lookout...quite an adventure in that one! Also I'm mixing up my days, but went to the country bar and got some nice whiskey apples and saw the Lanterns of Terracotta.
Last night out together: Stayed out once again all night, ended up leaving the casino after the sun had rose...realizing dumbly I agreed to work 7am to 9am. Literally got a cab home, raced to work, delirious off of no sleep. Brittany met me at my work a bit after and she got to meet my coworkers and I got to eat as a guest and see my restaurant from the customers point of view! Then took Brittany to the airport and cried my eyes out and was beyond sad. Stayed awake all day with the boys and was dead by dinnertime, but when I tried to walk home to the flat I couldn't get through because of the Chinese New Year Parade. Never have I ever been so miserable and craving sleep as that night. My flat was completely blocked off and it was the most frustrating thing after such a long, emotional day.
AND THAT WAS THE TRIP WITH BRIT! That took FOREVER to write....so much for this being short and sweet eh? And we're only on February! LOL!
Trampoline Bounce Place: So fun! Trampoline dodgeball and basketball and giant foam pits! Something different to do!
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| Future Music Festival |
Future Music Festival: I've never been to a festival before so it was definitely something different! My sandal (just one) broke as soon as I got there so I walked around all day with only one shoe. Two Chainz, Drake, and Avici killed it. Got a massive migraine though and managed to puke all over a business building on my walk home. Once again, defining classy American.
March:
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| Wet N' Wild Water Park |
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| Riding Bikes in Centennial Park |
March is kind of a blur even though it just happened. I am such a baby saying goodbye to people but it's so difficult when you click with people so well! I was lucky and had this group of friends since the beginning here so it was super difficult! Luckily two of the girls stayed in Sydney as well, so I moved out of my old apartment (too expensive) and into a cheaper one with the girls. My walk to work now is literally three minutes..equivalent of walking Marianist to the Science Center. Moving out was the most stressful thing because of dumb rental agencies and their damn contracts and I've never dealt with a company like that before. They kept trying to trap me in and make it nearly impossible for me to leave/scam for me as much money as they could. Eventually they let me move out for a small penalty to my bond..which I should be getting back in the next couple of weeks. All is good housing wise now though! I'm in a two bedroom apartment for 8 people. It's definitely not what you would expect to be living in after graduating from university back home, but it's all an adventure! Time has flown as well, only here one more month...so crazy!
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| Mardi Gras Parade |
I also started working for a gym (LOL TO THAT ONE!) on the side to make a bit of extra cash by handing out flyers. We do this at Central Station and it was absolutely hilarious watching the way people react to you! Some people would literally walk in the complete opposite direction as soon as they saw me with flyers in my hand! Others would avoid eye contact at all costs. It was honestly so hilarious, I could not stop laughing! Looking to become a more permanent leaflet distributor as well..going in for an induction meeting tomorrow! The job is about 8 hours of walking a day, beginning at 7 in the morning, and you just walk around Sydney suburbs placing leaflets in people's mailboxes..seems easy enough right!? Will keep ya updated ;)
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| Blue Mountains trip! |
Random things I've learned about myself:
-Apparently I am a very messy eater and do not use silverware properly (thanks for enlightening me English friends...)
-I am a complete sap when it comes to Nicholas Sparks movies.
-I do better budgeting money when I have no money.
-I am extremely independent. Being out here it's developed a lot more, but I am happy spending hours alone or going on trips by myself. I don't like constantly being surrounded by people.
-I love to read for pleasure. I've always known this about myself, but I really, really, love reading and love being able to talk about a good book with someone.
-I am the complete opposite of picky when it comes to food. Everything tastes great and I like it all.
-I can fall asleep in the oddest public places instantly, yet when I'm at home I am the lightest sleeper and wake up to the quietest noise.
-Also have been very unlucky lately in matters of getting locked out of my flat, getting locked in work basements, not being able to sign in at work, getting stuck on elevator floors, and missing three buses in one night because they all came and left early. Go figure, all a part of the adventure right? And let's be honest, I can't change too much right? At least here there's no chance of me losing my car keys or locking them in my car lol!
-I REALLY need to learn how to cook when I eventually move home. The whole college 2 minute pasta thing won't cut it forever.
-I officially have tried different kinds of tea...and like it!!!
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| Overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Watson's Bay |
