This is my fifth and last night in Sydney, as tomorrow I flee up the East Coast to Byron Bay. I'm super excited. It's somewhere that a lot of people have recommended that I go to, plus I'm meeting up with some of my buddies from Melbourne whilst I'm there. Oh, and it's also where I hope to learn to surf. Yeah, me...surfing. Don't laugh. I totally could have been in Home and Away.
Sydney has been great though. It's a lot more of a 'city' than Melbourne; much bigger, busier, and perhaps for that reason I prefer the latter. On my first day here, after filling myself up with the free breakkie the hostel provides (which is awesome by the way), I headed into the city. Within the first 5 minutes I got lost, and a very kind old man guided me to "the best vantage point of the harbour in the whole of Sydney". That place was Mrs Maquaries Chair, situated outside of Sydney's Botanical Gardens. The view was awesome (it's the photo I've used for this blog), so thank you, old man (if you ever happen to read this).
I checked out the city, took lots of pictures of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and spent most of the time gawping at the cost of everything here. It's seriously pricey. I found a nice cafe for some lunch, and after inspecting the menu, and wiping away my tears, I settled for just a side of chips. $15 bleedin' dollars for a side of chips might I add. I know I sound like my Dad, but Sydney sort it out.
That night all the gang from the hostel were heading to World Bar, a club about 30 seconds walk from where we are staying, so stumbling home wasn't a problem. It was a great night. Frederick and Anton (my Swedish friends) taught me some killer dance moves, some of which I cannot wait to take home with me. My local nightclub back home, called 'iKandi', won't know what's hit it.
The next day we packed our bags and headed to Manly Beach. To get there you can get a ferry from Circular Harbour, where you get a great view of Sydney. We sunbathed, swam, and generally just chilled out. It's a nice break from the city. A few of the guys had heard of this sailing club nearby that has this thing called 'Social Sailing', where anyone can turn up and help out. We arrived at the club, signed up, and within ten minutes I was on a sailing boat with 10 other strangers. We took part in a sailing race! It was so much fun. Helping set up the sails, tacking (ducking from one end of the boat to the other to keep the balance); it was definitely one of my favourite moments of travelling so far. It was free as well. Anyone coming to Sydney and looking for something different to do, I thoroughly recommend the Social Sailing race.
That night we played Killer Pool at the hostel, and I got very drunk on the goon punch. I'd write more about it, but I don't remember much. All I know is I woke up hugging my pillow. That's what goon does to you.
Today, me, Leo, Marina, Tina, and Aditi headed to the world famous Bondi Beach. We sunbathed, swam in the sea, rode the waves...I know I know, it's a tough life but someone has to do it. I saw a guy surfing with his dog on the board with him. If I get good at surfing I'm taking Tilly (one of my dogs at home) and we are going straight to the River Mersey.
Right now I'm in the hostel, trying hard to find somewhere quiet to write this blog. It's difficult, as you get virtually no privacy in hostels. 95% of the time this is a good thing, as you're constantly mixing with interesting people, but there's that 5% where you just crave for some silence. I thought I was on my own, then just this second I saw a cockroach crawl past my leg. I guess what people say is true; you never are alone in a hostel.
So that's it. Bye for now Sydney, I'm coming for you Byron Bay!