Family and friends-
I made it back from Sydney which was by far the highlight of my study abroad experience. I went with amazing people, saw amazing things, and I wish I could go back right now!
6/2- On the train and bus to airport
Sara and I left the P&O at 6:30pm, exactly 12 hours before our flight left for Sydney. We're poor, so we didn't want to pay $50 for a taxi, so option B, taking the train to Perth and catching the city bus to the domestic airport (the last one running at 7:42pm). Looks like we'd be sleeping in the airport that night.
The airlines wouldn't let us check in early and the Virgin Blue terminal closed at 1am and didn't open again until 4:30am. Sara and I had to trek over to the Qantas terminal, where the people were much more accommodating and helpful, and that's where we found ourselves a nice chair to sleep in.
6/3- Day 1
Sara and I made it all night (I fell asleep for a bit) but she's paranoid and couldn't sleep a wink- even if she wanted to! Both of us were out before our plane even took off! Our flight was delayed in Melbourne for 3hours, so we didn't arrive in Sydney until 5:30pm on Tuesday. Sara and I took the train to North Sydney where we met up with Emily and Tonya at our Walker Street Apartment. We did a little exploring around Sydney, since there wasn't any rain and we luckily found a small grocery store for some long overdue dinner! We were ready for bed by then due to our long day of traveling!
6/4- Day 2
So the fun begins! Our attempt to leave at 10am for our 11:15 coffee cruse was definitely unsuccessful! Once we had our oatmeal and tea, we hopped on the train to Circular Quay to get on the ferry. The ferry took us to Darling Harbor for a little shopping. We bought some pearls (again!) I got a pearl necklace with a diamond and white gold. It's beautiful! We decided to take the 1:15pm Coffee/Dessert cruise around the bays of Sydney and it was so much fun! The captain told us about all of the significant locations around each bay, the historic sites and also where Nicole Kidman lives, and where Mission Impossible was filmed! We learned other various things such as: the Sydney Opera House has 2,000 panes of glass and it was originally built on an island! We were shown Shilling Beach, and it's named that, because that is the amount the Aborigines were paid for the fishing rights by fishermen. Also, at the point of one of the bays was a huge white bone and it was thought to be a whale jaw, but actually is a prehistoric chicken bone, and it was over 4ft tall!
After our tour and delicious carrot cake and coffee, we went shopping in the Harborside Mall and stopped for dinner and Happy Hour at The Docks on the bay. The restaurant overlooked the Harbour Bridge and Darling Harbor. After dinner we headed to the aquarium to find Nemo :) So much to do, so little time!
6/5- Day 3
A bright and early start on this day- 7:45am! After our gourmet pancake breakfast at the apartment, we walked across the Sydney Harbor Bridge (Sara, terrified of heights, practically sprinted!). We walked around The Rocks (historic part of Sydney) and shopped and learned that it was the 1st historic site where the British settled. We went to The Rocks Discovery Museum, which consisted of 3 separate rooms, and was not too exciting.
Next stop- the train to Bondi Beach in a torrential downpour. We took a few pictures of where famous actors have been and go to the beach, such as Nicole Kidman and Heath Ledger. Our umbrella's were destroyed. Instead of our picnic lunch on the beach, we opted for a dry shelter in McDonald's to enjoy our PB&J sandwiches. After the beach, we took the sketchy public transportation once again, and got the privilege of listening to a drunk man who said he just got done with being at the pub for the past 5 hours...it was only 3 in the afternoon!
We continued on our way and shopped for an opal for Emily (her birthstone) and headed to the Sydney Tower to see the entire city from the Highest point. It was a spectacular view and you could see everything!
Next, more shopping at the QVB (Queen Victoria Building) and the 7-story Supre. We didn't find too much, and there were sooo many people, almost unbearable! We headed to the Oz Trek, which was part of our package with the Tower, and it was basically a virtual tour geared towards children under the age of 12, but hey, that's alright...besides the motion sickness we all experienced afterward!
It was a full day of walking around the city and by the end, we were exhausted! We were seeing so much, I couldn't believe we only had one full day left! I could spend weeks here, if the weather would have been more cooperative!
6/6- Day 4
We were up and out the door by 9:30am today (so much for our 7am itinerary!) and we headed to the train station to go to Darling Harbor again. We made a quick stop at the internet cafe so I could make sure we still had some money left :) I've been wearing flip-flops for shoes the entire week and my feet absolutely kill with all the walking we'd been doing (This is when Mom would say 'I told you to wear comfy walking shoes!') I should have listened!
We walked through Darling Harbor and booked our fancy dinner at Ice Cube Seafood Restaurant (I have a new-found love for seafood!!) We went to see the MTV Real World house which aired last summer in the U.S. It was basically a Reality Show of people all living in a house, and had to achieve a task and get along (I think that's the basis) Anyway, we got to see the house where they lived, which was pretty sweet.
Next stop- the Chinese Friendship Garden. Perfect place for us four friends to go to. We walked to the famous Paddy's Markets and bought a few goodies and delicious apples! Pink Ladies- my favorite! More shopping in the afternoon (It was mostly window shopping for me!) Tonya and I headed back to the apartment a little early to start getting ready for the highlight of the entire trip- our night out to dinner and afterward to the Sydney Opera House to see Edward Scissorhands!
Once we were finally ready, we took the train to Darling Harbor and went straight to the Ice Cube- fashionably late. We each got a glass of the house wine and Sara, Em, and I ordered the Baramundi, an Australian fish. Ton ordered the King Prawns and was unpleasantly surprised when they arrived, full-bodied, with eyes. Dinner was fabulous! After eating right on the bay, we headed next door for some gelato to enjoy on our ferry ride over to the Opera House. Can't go to a show without some dessert! It was a bit chilly for ice cream, but it was delicious! It was the first day it hadn't rained and we could actually see the stars in the sky. We rushed to the ferry and then proceeded to run (despite the stilettos and cocktail dresses) all the way to the Opera House to ensure we would not have the doors closed on us! Our seats were pretty far up, but the view was in the center of the theatre with a spectacular view! It brought back GREAT memories of when my Aunt Maureen took me to see The Lion King- the best experience ever! The only thing that topped that show was that I was at the Sydney Opera House in Australia to see this play!
It was a unique show, because there was no dialogue, but only an Orchestra to depict the entire story. It was incredible how each scene and emotion could be portrayed through an instrument or combination of instruments. At the end of the show, it started to snow in the audience from the top of the Opera House (obviously fake :) ) but I got tears in my eyes because the performance was so moving! The actor who played Edward was phenomenal and nearly replicated Johnny Depp's portrayal from the motion picture. This was the highlight of Sydney and I am so glad we got the opportunity to see something at the Opera House. I loved every minute of it!
Sadly, our trip came to an end, and it would be a week full of studying and finals. Bah humbug.
Our flight left early in the morning and we headed back to Perth and back to reality. Only a few more weeks left in Australia. That is really sad to think about!
I miss you all.
Love, Molly
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