So back to Sydney.. where my first stint of travelling began 6 years ago. However, this time around it was all about reunions with friends I've met on my travels rather than checking out the sights of the city.

My first of four reunions came in the Leichhardt area, where I'd be staying for the next 4 days with the lovely Italian girls I'd met on Bounty Island in Fiji. Stella, Flavia and Rossella were kind enough to offer me a place to stay which was an amazingly kind gesture.

I rocked up at their house late in the evening to an overworked and sleepy Flavia, before Rossella and Stella arrived home from their shifts. After a mini catch up we all hit the sack.. it was great to see them!

Both Flavia and Rossella were working on Sunday, so Stella and I decided to go for brunch at the cafe which Flavia is the manager of.
Stella drives a scooter, so she threw me a helmet, I jumped on the back and clung on for dear life. Brunch was delicious and personally made by Flavia herself.. nice touch!

After that, we jumped back on the scooter and headed for the beach. It was actually fun riding around Sydney on the back of a scooter while Stella gave me a mini tour of the city.

She took me to Bronte Beach which neighbours Bondi, where I'd arranged to meet up with some old friends who I haven't seen for a long time. I met Matt and Leanne 6 years ago during our farming days in Stanthorpe.. in between a few catch ups in Manchester we've stayed in touch with one another. They also met each other on the farm all those years ago and have been together ever since living in Sydney.

They recently got married in Spain which I unfortunately missed, and they've also had a baby boy named Gene so I was really looking forward to catching up with them again.

We chilled out by the beach, had a great catch up over a few beers, did some reminiscing, and then their friends invited us to a proper Aussie BBQ in a nearby park which was loads of fun, and the spread they put on was phenomenal. We even managed to steal a kids football and had a kick around.

It was so good to see them both again, as well as their new little G-Man.. it had been way too long. And it's great to have friends who you can just pick up with where you left off regardless of how long it's been since seeing them. I hope to see them sooner rather than later next time around.

I made my way back to Leichhardt in the evening to catch up with the girls while they were having dinner with their friend Dennis.

The following morning Stella and I, along with their friend Mario, went for breakfast at the second of Flavia's workplaces. This time at a vintage styled cafe called The Tiny Giant in the Petersham area, where people come from afar to try out their unusual and quirky creations.

Having seen their colourful array of dishes online, I was looking forward to trying it out for myself. It didn't disappoint either, with Flavia personally making our food again. I had their famous brioche toast with berries, maple syrup, mascarpone and pink fairy floss, while Stella opted for an Over The Rainbow Bagel - a rainbow coloured bagel, with banana, maple syrup, and white fairy floss. Soooo good!! Thanks Flavia.

I then caught the train to Circular Quay down by the harbour where it was time for reunion number three. I was meeting up with Duncan and Emily, a couple from Watford, who I had a great laugh in Bogotá with. They've been travelling all over the world too and now they are looking to find work in Australia.

We had a few beers at the beautiful setting of the Opera Bar which sits outside the Opera House and overlooks the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

After that, jumped on the train for a few more afternoon beers in Newtown where they were staying. The popular Newtown area neighbours Leichhardt and is a diverse, bohemian neighbourhood bustling with activity.

Once again, it was wicked to see Dunc and Em, they're great people and a lot of fun, and we had a top afternoon catching up. Hopefully somewhere along the line I'll get to see them again.

Later that evening Flavia and I caught the bus into the city to meet with Stella after she had finished work, to go for some Thai food and a few drinks. Giulia, a friend of the girls, who I also met in Fiji, was also meeting us so it was nice to see her again too.

On Tuesday afternoon it was my fourth and final reunion. I met Amanda, who's originally from North Carolina in the States, about 6 months ago in Santiago, Chile. She now lives in Bondi so it was the perfect opportunity to meet up with her.

Her friend Ashley, also from North Carolina, had just arrived in Sydney that morning so Amanda was giving her a guided tour of the city and I caught up with the both of them down by the harbour. We had a beer in a nearby German boozer and then Amanda took us to an delicious ice cream joint where they were dishing out some insane flavours!

In between catching up with Amanda and getting to know Ashley we had a wander through the city and further on to Darling Harbour which is a beautiful place down by the water, penned in by some flash restaurants and bars.

After another late afternoon beer and hotdog in a speak-easy style bar it was time for me to take off and head back to Leichhardt. I had another awesome afternoon catching up with Amanda, she's a great girl.. and it was also nice to meet her friend Ashley.

It was my final night in Sydney and the girls had a night out planned to wish me on my way.. how sweet!
We got on the booze at the house, cranked up the Italian tunes, thankfully some Oasis too, before heading into the city.

It was salsa night at the Establishment nightclub, which was both weird and full of some let's say, interesting characters. The music wasn't my cup of tea, and I can barely stand on my own two feet, never mind try to salsa, however the music improved slightly as the night went on and we had a proper good laugh together.

Before I left on Wednesday, the four of us made our way to The Grounds in Alexandria.. a large outdoor space of a former pie factory full of cafes, restaurants, pop-up stalls, and even a tiny farm with the fattest pig I've ever seen.

I can't speak highly enough of Stella, Flavia and Rossella.. they are some of the nicest and funniest people I've ever met. For them to invite me into their home and treat me so well and kindly in the manner that they did, I will be forever grateful for. They're up there with the best.. Bula!!

I was sad to be leaving the girls as I had such a great time living with them for the past 4 days but I had to leave for the airport.

It was time to get my travel head back on as I am now taking a trip into the unknown.. China! I'm excited, and I must admit a little nervous, as I'm sure this is going to be a completely unfamiliar and unique experience.

Shanghai here I come. Wish me luck!!

Bye for now xx