Sydney, Australia 🏙

Sydney

Monday, 27.02.

The flight from Christchurch to Sydney was quick while I watched the movie 'Snowden' and had the urge to cover up any cameras once again😄

Arriving at the airport, I searched for the 'Redy2GO' shuttle bus service and booked my return trip as well.

The bus driver apparently liked me so much that he dropped me off last at the hostel, how nice.

The people sitting on the stairs in front of the hostel (Backpackers HQ) were really friendly and a girl named Elena immediately helped me find the night manager so I could check-in.

Fortunately, my roommates were all still awake, so I unpacked my stuff easily without having to worry about being too loud.

Fortunately, the hostel here has free breakfast (and it's abundant: various jams and types of bread, as well as 4 different types of cereal) so I didn't have to go shopping early in the morning.

The hostel has a really nice indoor and outdoor area, but there are relatively few toilets, showers, and stoves for the number of people. The bathrooms are also relatively dirty and there was the occasional cockroach in the room... nothing dramatic but after the spotless New Zealand, it was a bit of an adjustment.

In the afternoon, I went shopping and then cooked zucchini noodles with a tomato sauce.

In the evening, two new German girls (Hannah & Alissa) came into my room and we talked for a while.

The weather is supposed to be really bad for the entire week I spend in Sydney (just rain).

Wednesday: I had planned to join the 2 girls, but they were apparently already gone when I returned to the room around 11 o'clock. Instead, I talked for quite a while with Helena & Chris (2 Germans, 23 & 25 years old, and from Cologne). They had been to Asia before and New Zealand was still ahead of them, so we were able to exchange ideas and give tips.

In the afternoon, I met Hannah and Alissa again and we went to 'China Town' together. I got a vegan Thai dish which was really delicious. The two were really nice, but also very quiet, so there were some awkward moments of silence in the conversation.

My first impression of Sydney (coming from peaceful New Zealand) is: noisy, crowded, exhausting, hectic, humid and somehow too much.

In the evening, I had a phone call with mom (Happy Birthday!) and just as we hung up, my package arrived.

Thursday: boy, oh boy, I walked a lot today... I started with Helena and Chris around 11 o'clock - we walked through the city, to Darling Harbour, past the fish market, to the Harbour Bridge, across the bridge to the other side, to a spot where we could take good pictures of the Opera House & the Harbour Bridge. Around 4 pm, we took the train back and cooked.

We actually had pretty good weather (except for some showers in between)!!

Friday: the weather was really bad, so I stayed in the hostel all day and roughly planned my Asia route (Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Ranong - Ko Phayam - Krabi - island hopping - Krabi - Bali)

In the evening, 2 more Germans came into my room (Miriam and Jasper) and we talked for a long time until we eventually got too tired and fell asleep.

Saturday: it rained all morning, so Jasper, Miriam, and I didn't go to the Harbour Bridge until around 5 pm. We also walked through the Botanical Garden and waited for it to get dark so we could admire the illuminated Opera House...

We talked so much here as well that my mouth eventually got dry. Afterward, we walked to Oxford Street where the Gay Parade took place. It was extremely crowded and loud, and so many teenagers with alcohol breath were coming towards us that we started to worry... the atmosphere was great and the costumes (including those of the spectators) were super extravagant and unique. Unfortunately, we didn't see much of the parade most of the time because hundreds of people were standing on chairs and it was hard to look past them, but all in all, it was a great evening!

Sunday: around 10:30 am, I went to Manly with Hannah and Alissa. It was extremely crowded because there was a surfing competition taking place - the whole city and the beach were filled with hundreds of people.

We did what the others did, sat in the sand, and watched the surfers. Eventually, it started raining again and we were so soaked that we went in search of a café. We had hot chocolate and waited for better weather.

Unfortunately, I had forgotten my jacket/sweater, so I got too cold at some point and made my way back.

In the evening, I got pizza and ate it in bed while watching The Big Bang Theory.

Monday: after I went shopping in the morning, I went to Bondi Beach (the weather seemed quite good).

Well, Bondi Beach was... disappointing, yes that's probably the right word. On Instagram, you always see all those perfect pictures of women with perfect bodies lounging on the beach, drinking smoothies, or surfing, and then you go there and think 'this is probably the ugliest beach I've seen in the last 5 months!!'

The sand is relatively soft, but the beach is not particularly spacious or beautiful - on the left and right, there are skyscrapers and right next to the beach: a large parking lot, oh fantastic. For a beach in a big city, it's probably cool, but it simply can't compare to the paradise-like beaches of New Zealand. I decided not to waste my time at this boring beach and instead do the Coastwalk. It had become extremely windy by now, and the sea also showed its immense power.

However, the Coastwalk didn't impress me much either... the rocks were nice, but the image of the skyscrapers was still there... well, New Zealand remains my favorite, sorry Sydney but you can't compete.

In the afternoon, I made my way back with bus and train.

Tuesday: this afternoon, my flight to Bangkok is already taking off!! I'm excited and looking forward to it. Until then, I probably still have to organize a few things (exchange money, get insect spray, buy toilet paper, etc.)