As anyone reading this already knew, we are in the middle of a long awaited jaunt around Australia. I'm just sitting in the Perth airport waiting for Gen's plane to land after her version of the epic 2 day journey to get here. My pilot informed us that the 16 hour Dallas to Brisbane flight I had is the longest commercial flight, so there's one for the bucket list.
I've just spent 8 days exploring Sydney since I had a little more time off than she could get from work and I really wanted a chance to get to know the city a bit better.
I've wanted to visit Australia for a very long time, when we were feeling a little bored in Vancouver the choices for a working holiday were either London or here. I kinda felt like Australia wouldn't offer enough of a change since it's basically a warmer Canada. I think we made the right choice going to London, but since getting the snub back then Australia hasn't really left my mind. The unexpected move to Montreal nearly threw a wrench in the plans, and though it's not exactly the lengthy meandering adventure I'd envisioned I am really glad that we were able to get here in some capacity.
As I often do, I planned and researched the absolute hell out of this trip. In reading about Captain Cook and idolizing the crazy adventurous spirit the explorers and early settlers had I couldn't help but laugh at the irony, considering all the google maps and street views and trip advisor reviews I've used to make the trip more seamless. I couldn't be further from an explorer.
I stayed at a dirty old hostel in the somewhat offensive area of Kings Cross. I think it's safe to say that my backpacker hostelling days are very nearly over so I guess it was a last hurrah of sorts. Luckily I don't look my age so I think I was able to pull it off. I did meet a few good people, almost all of them Brits, but my days were entirely solo missions to various beaches and skate parks and spots. Manly and Bondi were both beautiful beaches, and if those are the city beaches I can't wait to see what a little exploring find us.
Hyde Park had a little plaza area that a bunch of skateboarders take over in the evening so I found myself there most nights. I couldn't believe how friendly the guys I met there were, typically I find skateboarders can be pretty cliquey in Canada but that wasn't the case at all in Sydney.
I knew Sydney was a beautiful city from all the photos I've seen, but it never really occurred to me how big it is. At over 4 million people it's a huge city with a massive downtown skyline and tons of diverse neighbourhoods to explore. It's funny but shouldn't be surprising how much parts of it remind me of London. The English really made themselves at home here.
While I was taking some photos of the harbour bridge one night I heard some rustling in the bushes that I assumed was a little rat or something, then shortly afterwards a possum about the size of a small dog ran and jumped right over my legs as it scampered along the rocks. This was while the evening congregation of thousands of giant fruit bats was taking place in the trees above me. Add the fact that every bird is a new species to me, and I haven't even seen the animals I had hoped to yet, I think I am really going to enjoy the wildlife encounters here.
I'm really looking forward to sharing the rest of the trip with Genevieve, and seeing some friends from London here in Perth.
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