I actually made it! Finally touching down in Australia was almost surreal. All that planning and I actually made it. The shuttle was easy to figure out and I was set up pretty easy. The hostel is better than I executed. There are 10 people in my room but I couldn't have asked for nicer roommates. They are super inclusive. Some of them have been here for a while.
I have somehow made every mistake I was warned about before coming. My first day at the beach I got incredibly burned, though Bondi beach's clear waters and white sand may have been worth the discomfort. At the Chinese garden of friendship where I read my book for a couple of hours, I was mauled by mosquitoes. And I ignored my opportunity to get duty free alcohol and decided to waste lots on grossly overpriced bad wine.
There were a bunch of other backpackers and everyone seems to have the same general plans. While I love meeting the people from all over the world, part of me is disappointed at how common and mainstream this trip seems to be. Also I was told that because there are so many backpackers throughout Australia, it will be rare for me to actually get to meet and run into actual Australians. Hopefully I can prove this wrong. I may go to Western Australia just so I can get away from the tourist traps.
I only just saw a koala today and haven't seen a kangaroo yet. I haven't left the city though. I'm not too worried since I am volunteering at that koala sanctuary and kangaroo island. There will be plenty of animal time.
My first week has been filled with tourist attractions. Went to a couple of museums. There's a Yoko Ono exhibit at the museum of contemporary art. That woman has done far too many drugs. The Australian maritime museum has an exhibit on US propaganda from world war 2. Apparently they were our allies after Pearl Harbor. Sydney harbor bridge is massive, I might pay to climb it next week. The opera house is nice, but it's just a weird building. Darling harbor had a festival for Chinese New Years all week.
There is a royal botanical garden that is gorgeous. I went for some morning runs there and read my book for a while there. The views are quite nice and it seems people go there on their lunch breaks.
My favorite tourist attraction was the Chinese friendship garden. I had a nice tea and lunch there then read my book for hours. I went to the Sydney mardis gras festival. It was cute but it was so hot I couldn't stay long. There was a
There is a bar attached to the hostel that we have gone drinking at a few nights. The music is cheesy but the happy hour is cheap. I went on a pub crawl Friday night and they showed us a bunch of different bars. Alcohol is just as expensive as everyone warned me. We all get cheap boxed wine called goon. It's disgusting but does the job.
This next week will be filled with adventure with the ultimate oz tour I booked to get me started, then off to Byron bay to a hopefully more beach city atmosphere.