Sydney

Sydney Harbor

From the suburbs of Melbourne I took a train (almost got fined $180 for putting my feet up) into the city and then grabbed a bus to Tullamarine. After having an awful experience on Christmas Eve I was prepared for the worst; fortunately, I blew threw security and was at my gate (in disbelief) fifteen minutes later. As of 9:00pm I was off to Sydney to see Mija and prepare for the NYE festivities.

Mija, one of my closest friends from the Homecoming Program, along with her mother and brother, picked me up at the airport and drove me back to their house in Hunter’s Hill, a suburb about 20 minutes outside of Sydney’s CBD. Too late to do anything, we went to bed early and got ready for the grand tour of Sydney that would start the following day.

Sydney Opera House

The University of Sydney: Mija in the Quad

We walked from Circular Quay (the city’s main docking station) all the way down to Mija’s uni. Riding on the ferry in the harbor was easily one of my favorite things we did.

Sydney skyline from the Harbor Ferry

The Man, the Myth, the Legendary Fishbowl Artist: Matthew Scott (and me) about to walk over our second iconic bridge together

After a few great days touring Sydney it was time for NYE. We wound up waiting around 12 hours for 12 minutes of fireworks, but if I had to do it all over again I wouldn’t have changed a thing (well, maybe I would have brought shorts to wear during the sweltering afternoon sun).

The 5-hour line into Mrs. Macquaries Point that we passed on (after having waited in it for an hour haha)

Just wait, Shirtless & Umbrella is going to be all the rage in Korea come summer time

Bloomingdales makes an appearance in front of the Harbor Bridge

Fireworks

On New Year’s Day we went to Bondi. It was hot and the first time in my life I swam in the ocean on NYD. The southern hemisphere definitely knows how to start the New Year right!

Bondi

I spent six days in Sydney and loved every minute of it. I was lucky enough to run into Matt, another very close friend from the Homecoming Program, and his girlfriend (as well as their friends), who I hadn’t seen in months. We tight.

As great as the weather, sights, fireworks and friends were I’d have to say the icing on Sydney’s cake was seeing Mija again and meeting her family. Easily one of the most genuinely good families I’ve ever met, the Keanes took me in as if I was their own (insert adoption joke here) and always made me feel at home. Cheers, Mija, thanks for a wonderful stay and best of luck in India (and 2012). Take care =p

Leftovers:

Ramen. It had been about a week and I was already craving it. I went bananas when I saw this at Circular Quay.

Wedges (c) Matthew Scott

King's Cross... in the day time

Advertisement