15 Things I Miss About Sydney

An ice storm hit DFW on Friday night, and as a result, I've been stuck in my apartment for most of weekend. The trouble with snow in Texas is that it's such a rarity so when it does actually happen, we don't know how to prepare for or handle it. The roads are too icy to safely drive anywhere and even the sidewalks have become so slick that even the slightest incline is sure to send you to the ground. (I learned this the hard way yesterday when I attempted the short walk to my mailbox-- it wasn't pretty. Just ask my neighbors).

Being trapped in my little apartment makes me long for sunshine and summer and the sea. I can't help but be a little nostalgic for Sydney and the things that made it special. Here are just a few of the things I miss about this city:

1. Being able to walk to work every day
2. Public transportation-- trains, ferries, and even those pesky buses
3. The beaches, bays and coves, of which there are many
4. The mountains--just a short, cheap train ride away
5. The gigantic flying-foxes that emerge at dusk every night
6. The Coastal Walk
7. Beautiful cockatoos and lorikeets that fly freely and hang out on balconies
8. Victorian architecture
9. Hip neighborhoods like Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Glebe, Newtown and King's Cross 
10. My dive shop and the amazing marine life I saw while scuba diving
11. The jacarandas in spring
12. Centennial Park
13. The coffee! Now that it's cold here, all I want to order is a flat white or a piccolo latte. I also love that chocolate flakes are standard on the Australian cappuccino, and I wish it were the same way here.
14. Passion fruits
15. Words like brekkie, mozzie and fairy floss which are both ridiculous and ridiculously cute

Bondi Beach

Surfboards on the bus

Sydney's skyline as seen from the Manly ferry

a perfect cappuccino made with chocolate sprinkles

I loved the balconies on these two-story homes

Lorikeets-- an example of Australia's colorful wildlife

The Blue Mountains

Jacarandas and their purple blossoms which cover the streets like confetti

I came across an old Welsh word the other day--hiraeth. While there's no exact translation in English, here's a definition I saw on Pinterest:

I think this word perfectly captures how I feel about Sydney. I do miss many things about it, but I know it wouldn't be the same even if I could go back. Many of my coworkers have changed jobs and my traveler friends have moved on to their next adventure. Sydney will always have a special place in my heart, and I may even continue to write a few posts about it. But I'm slowly learning to love the skies that I'm under and embrace the current season of my life, even if that is winter.

Melbourne vs Sydney

Sitting on St Kilda Beach in Melbourne, I got to thinking about the question that Robby, the painter, asked me on the train: "Are you a Sydney or a Melbourne person?" This was a question I had considered before I even came to Australia, when I was deciding which city I wanted to live in long-term. Through chance or circumstance, I ended up in Sydney for what was a fun-filled six months of self-exploration. But sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I chose Melbourne instead.

There were a lot of things I loved about Melbourne: the vibrant street art, the unique small businesses, the style, the architecture, the eco-conscious attitude of Melburnians and the underground music and bar scene. The city is better designed and more planned out than Sydney's and the public transportation system is twice as efficient. I love the random conversations I had with strangers there. Whether it was another writer in a kitschy cafe or a musician from Texas in a Fitzroy dive bar, I was always meeting friendly people who were eager to share their story with me.

{St Kilda}

But then I remember all the reasons I fell in love with Sydney: the sunshine, the humid climate, and above all--the beaches. While St Kilda water's are nice and calm and easier to swim in, I wouldn't trade it for the crashing waves, the Coastal Walk, or the character of Sydney's beaches. Sydney averages twice as many clear days as Melbourne and the weather tends to be slightly warmer. And I simply think it was the place I was meant to be for this season of my life--my eternal summer. And though it's unfair to judge after spending an unequal amount of time in each city, I think if someone were to ask me again if I was a Sydney or a Melbourne person, my answer would have to be Sydney.

So Long Sydney

When I came to Australia, staying in Sydney for six months was not a part of my plan. But the city captivated my heart & I couldn't leave, even after my apartment lease was up. I am constantly impressed with it's diversity and natural beauty-- the nearby mountains, the hip beaches, and the fact that the entire city area is surrounded by water. The livelihood of Sydneysiders is strongly linked to the sea--surfing, diving, swimming, spending nice arvos on the beach, or taking the ferry to work every morning. In so many ways, Sydney is a perfect fit for me.

But it's now time for me to wave goodbye to this beautiful city I love. Autumn is quickly approaching with grey skies and cooler weather. It's time for me to do what I do best and follow the sun. Sydney has truly become my home away from home and I feel as if I'm leaving a big piece of my heart behind. I can't even begin to comprehend how much I will miss this place and the cold turquoise waters I spent countless days swimming, snorkeling and diving in; the weekly beach barbecues; the late nights out in Kings Cross; the outdoor cinema in the park; the weird and fascinating animals; the festivals; the 3 am dips in the sea.  But more than anything else, I'll miss my friends who I met here. They have colored the pages of this chapter in my book and have made my experience here amazing, ridiculous, full of laughter and unforgettable.

I still remember my first week in Sydney and the day I walked along the beach on my own, passing groups of people enjoying the outdoors together. Whether lying on the beach, throwing a frisbee around, drinking a few ciders or flipping steaks on the barbie, everyone seemed to take advantage of sunny days, time off and quality time with their mates. I remember longing for that sense of belonging--wishing for a close group of friends that I could spend my days here with.

It's my last day in Sydney, and if there's one thing I'm certain of, it's that I've found a great group of friends here. And even though the weather was less than ideal for my last weekend, we've made the most of it. Saturday was spent celebrating at the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade, covered head-to-toe in glitter and paper heart confetti. And this evening we had a barbecue on the beach. After sunset, I walked along the shore with Victoria, my first friend I made in Australia and the person I first visited Coogee Beach with. We wrote our wishes for the future in the sand and watched the waves carry them out to sea. It was the perfect ending to my Sydney adventure. I know I'll be back one day, and I like to think a small part of me will always be a Sydneysider. Until next time, so long Sydney!

A Little Australian Road Adventure

Oh, the freedom of an open road--two hands on the steering wheel, your favorite tunes blaring through the speakers, and singing at the top of your lungs. There's just nothing like a road trip.

When my friends told me that they were hiring a car to drive to their skydive in Goulburn, I jumped at the opportunity to tag along for the ride. Unfortunately, we woke up to nonstop rain on Saturday morning, but we packed our bags with hopes of clearer skies ahead. Up before the sun, we caught two buses to the airport and picked up the car around 8 am. The girls were meant to jump from a plane at 10 am, so they called when we were on the road to let the flight center know we were going to be a little late. It was only at 9:30, that they decided to cancel the skydives for the rest of the day. Disappointed, but determined to not let the weather spoil our day of fun, we decided to continue down the highway to Canberra, the capital of Australia. 

Just as the rain began to let up, we came to a fork in the road. We could either continue down the highway for a straight shot to Canberra or take an unpaved scenic route that would take twice as long. The decision seemed like an obvious one and I beamed with joy as Andy turned the wheel toward an empty country road.

We cruised along, listening to the Beatles. The rain had subsided, so I rolled down my window to enjoy the cool air. I breathed in the sweet smell of the eucalyptus trees, so happy to be away from the traffic and noise of the city. My four friends chatted away, but something outside my window distracted me from their conversation. I saw something move. It was grey and furry. "Holy s***! Stop the car, And!" The car came to a gravel-throwing halt. Before I could explain myself, my seat belt was unbuckled and I was already outside the car. "K-ka-kangaroos!" There were four or five of them along the fence line by the road. My friends scrambled in the car to find shoes, phones and cameras and by the time they reached me, the kangaroos were hopping up a hill. They were wild, timid and frightened, either by the sudden stop of the car, the slamming doors, or probably my shouting. Seeing a handful of them bouncing around an open field was so much better than the time I saw dozens lying around in the zoo. It was definitely one of those magical, "I'm actually in Australia" moments. I'll never forget it.

Eventually our gravel road met the highway and we made it to our destination. Canberra is probably the least impressive capital city I've ever visited. I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't even know it was the capital until two weeks before I moved to Australia; I always assumed it was Sydney. The city lies within its own state called ACT (Australian Capital Territory), similar to Washington DC. The capital was constructed in this rural area in 1908 as a means to settle the competitive rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne. Today the population is only 368,000 and I'm convinced that more than half of that number works in a government-related field.

My friends and I only had a couple of hours to kill before we needed to head back to Sydney and return the car. We snapped a few silly pictures in front of the Parliament house, sat down for a lunch, and then we were on the road again. After we realized there wasn't much to do in Canberra, we were glad we took the road less traveled to get there. Thanks for the advice, Robert Frost. And even if I looked at a map, I'm not sure I could tell you how we got there. Like every good road trip, we got a little lost along the way. But as my friends and I like to say, "you can't get lost if you don't know where you are going." Sometimes, the journey is more important than the destination.

{we pulled over in the rain to say hello to this giant sheep in Goulburn}

 {outback mailboxes}

 {getting lost}

Coastal Walking

I still remember the first time I did the Eastern Suburbs Coastal Walk from Bondi to Coogee. It was one of my first sunny days in Sydney, and the blue skies and even bluer ocean created the perfect scenery for a long stroll. Seeing the turquoise waves kiss the shore and crash against the rocks, I felt truly at peace for the first time in weeks; I was at peace with having no direction and only knowing that I was where I wanted and needed to be, near the sea and in the sunshine.

The Coastal Walk is one of my favorite things to do in Sydney and it should not be missed by any visitor. The walk hugs 6 km of coastline and encompasses some of the most popular beach spots: Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly, Gordon's Bay, and Coogee. It takes anywhere from 1-2 hours to complete at a steady pace. However, there are breathtaking lookout points, cafes and kiosks, and swimming holes along the way, which when stopped at, could turn the walk into an all-day affair.  

 {Gordon's Bay is the perfect spot for snorkeling or a shore dive}

 {or sunbathing on the rocks}

{or playing fetch with your dog}

{the Waverley Cemetery}

{Coogee Beach}

Whether running the trail for a workout or crawling along at a snail's pace, be sure to absorb the sights, inhale the salty breeze and listen to the waves crashing against the cliff sides. The first time I did the Coastal Walk was the moment I fell in love with Sydney, and if you stop to appreciate the beauty of your surroundings, you just might feel the same way too.

The Blue Mountains

As much as I love living in a city, sometimes I just need to escape it--to see wide open skies and breathe fresh air. So this weekend, I hopped on a train at Central Station with two girlfriends for the two hour journey to the Blue Mountains. When we arrived, we couldn't believe that it was cold enough to see our breath, so we quickly changed from our summer sandals to hiking shoes.

We stayed in a hostel called No.14 in Katoomba, which I highly recommend.  This small guesthouse was cozy and quaint and felt more like a bed & breakfast than your typical hostel. Emily, Meisha and I shared a room with a window and door that opened onto the veranda for $25 each. Coffee, tea and breakfast cereals were complimentary, as was WiFi. Gingersnap cookies and DVDs were available for 30 cents and $1 respectively, with all proceeds benefiting a charity in Lima, Peru. We chatted with some of the other house guests in the common room and traced hiking routes on maps while we warmed our shoes and socks by the fireplace. I loved that there were no televisions in the house, meaning I was able to enjoy the quiet pleasures of reading a book, writing in my journal, and sleeping peacefully through the night.

The hiking trails in the Blue Mountains National Park were really well-designed and offered spectacular lookouts. On Saturday, we hiked to Katoomba Falls, beginning at Echo Point where there's a great view of the Three Sisters rock formation. The next day, we did a three hour hike to Wentworth Falls, walking over moss-covered stones and crossing over and underneath waterfalls; it was one of the best trails I've ever hiked.

Wentworth Falls and Katoomba are both sleepy little towns nestled in the mountains. There was a Roaring Twenties festival going on so the jazz music on the street and the trolleys, as well as the couples dresses in flapper dresses and zoot suits, made me feel like I had stepped back in time. There's not much to do in these towns and all the bottle shops close before 8:00 pm even on a Saturday night, but there's lot of great cafes and places to eat. We dined at three places, all of which had a delicious & unique menu: Blue Hour, Station Bar and Il Positono Cafe. I also got lost in the basement of an antique shop called Mr. Pickwick's, with over 60,000 secondhand books. I left with a small handful of vintage travel books that I can't wait to display on a bookcase one day.

My weekend trip to the Blue Mountains was so relaxing and surprisingly inexpensive. I hope to return before leaving Sydney, so that I can explore new towns and hiking trails.

Summer Nights in Centennial Park

The nights are warm in Sydney this time of year, so I've been finding as many excuses as possible to be outdoors. This week I walked to Centennial Park with some of my friends, where we found a garden of lights. We strolled through a forest of violet trees and listened to an acoustic performance while snacking on a picnic of wine, bread, brie cheese and chocolate. We also stumbled upon a wishing tree, where we wrote down our hopes and dreams and tied them to the dangling branches.

The following evening in the park was equally magical, when my group of friends met at Moonlight Cinema for a showing of Top Gun. We made a picnic on the grassy amphitheatre. People brought their pillows, blankets, beanbags and dogs. Hundreds of bats flew overhead as the sun set. We ate cupcakes and drank wine and laughed at the cheesy moments of the film. It's for the simple pleasures like picnics in the park, outdoor movies, denim cutoffs, and walking barefoot in the grass that I love summertime. I'm so glad I decided to extend my summer season by coming to Australia. Nine months of warm weather and still counting.