It had been quite a few days since I had seen full-blown sunshine in Melbourne – I missed it so much! Now I find myself in this very beautiful space, still full of towering buildings and bordered by the harbor… which is busy with speed boats and ferries. Additionally, I know that there are many beaches and mountains to be seen! Sooooo, the adventure begins! (finally, after my down-time in Melbourne!)
I jumped in a shuttle bus (started to remind me of Africa, as we were starting to get packed into this particular mini-bus, and I was sitting backwards)…ended up with a bit of a full tour of the city prior to being the last one dropped off at the Pink House – the hostel where I would attempt to find a room… but here (in Sydney, that is,) the hotstel reception staff takes random 1-2 hr breaks!!!!!!!! So, I sat patiently in the courtyard and chatted with a nice guy from France and was quickly invited to join in on a game of monopoly with 3 other friends of his who were arriving – I was tempted, but the desire to go walk/bike in the sunshine overrode! I did manage to get a room, and I was off!
I ventured along side streets and random stairwells working my way along the fingers of the harbor… walked for probably about 2 hours total… and managed to see all sorts of beautiful things that fill the composition of Sydney. This included: a long wharf lined with posh lofts above trendy cafes; Pott’s Point – the ultimate view of the opera house (at sunrise, that is;) through the Royal Botanical Gardens (stopping to admire some storks and cockatoos along the way;) around-beside-next to-under the Sydney Opera House and Opera Café walk; around to the Rocks and Cottage Bay… and so forth… I found a newly opened art gallery featuring some of Nelson Mandela’s artwork reflecting on his time spent on Robben Island… ASTONISHING! HE IS SUCH A GIFT TO OUR WORLD! I think I ‘hopped’ out of the gallery with inspiration after my visit!
I felt confident that I could handle the trains in Sydney after learning the system in Melbourne, so I ventured to the platforms – it was simple, but I know I did entertain some of the locals, as I tried to find where my platforms were, and which direction the trains were actually traveling! OF COURSE I chose to start from the biggest, most complicated station of all!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I returned back to my hostel (after a few accidental side streets and meeting a very nice Indian woman…) and arrived to 5 new dorm-mates from Singapore! I think it’s the first time I’ve ever had a full-out dinner party going on in my… bedroom?! Too funny!
Day 2… up early to venture to Toby’s Coffee House (found the organic brew tucked into a 5 mini-table, triangle café)…and found the locals there when I arrived… in hordes! I was lucky to score a seat! I made a decision to switch hostels (as I was ‘odd man out in my room – and it still smelled like dinner!, so I worked my way – after negotiations at a few places – down to Eva’s Backpackers… much better!!) From here I ventured onto Paddington afterwards to check out the markets and Oxford St… and the Sydney weekend scene and local neighborhoods – ALL of the above were fantastic! My wandering took me to the edge of Centennial Park which drew me in with a magnetic force and spit me out a few hours later, post bike-ride and mini-hike! I had to visit Max Brenner’s chocolate shop on the way back, as it is OVERPACKED with locals hour after hour… serving up some of the most exciting chocolate concoctions you could imagine! From fondue to drinking chocolate to shakes, coffees and cocoas – this place was unreal! You can choose if you want milk, white or dark chocolate in your drinks… enough said?! (even the ‘water pipes’ along the ceiling contain chocolate!)
I watched the tail end of sunset from the rooftop of my hostel and read a little more from my book – Down Under, by Bill Bryson – he cracks me up! His humor & writing style are fantabulous! …and my timing on this book couldn’t be better!
Missing Venice Beach and my yoga scene there, I found my calling for this evening at Govinda Yoga and participated in some Kirtan with a very sweet & fun guy from India who led it! Afterwards our entire group traveled upstairs to their restaurant’s back room for some yummy vegetarian food and conversation that kept us there well past closing! I was stoked to know that a few of the new friends I met were going to be headed to Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades, along with their SRF (Self Realization Fellowship) group – it’s almost like we’re trading places! It was certainly a treat to have a ‘taste’ of home (and actually feel ‘in place’ in my beloved yoga clothes) with random strangers… who were new friends by the end!
I jumped in a shuttle bus (started to remind me of Africa, as we were starting to get packed into this particular mini-bus, and I was sitting backwards)…ended up with a bit of a full tour of the city prior to being the last one dropped off at the Pink House – the hostel where I would attempt to find a room… but here (in Sydney, that is,) the hotstel reception staff takes random 1-2 hr breaks!!!!!!!! So, I sat patiently in the courtyard and chatted with a nice guy from France and was quickly invited to join in on a game of monopoly with 3 other friends of his who were arriving – I was tempted, but the desire to go walk/bike in the sunshine overrode! I did manage to get a room, and I was off!
I ventured along side streets and random stairwells working my way along the fingers of the harbor… walked for probably about 2 hours total… and managed to see all sorts of beautiful things that fill the composition of Sydney. This included: a long wharf lined with posh lofts above trendy cafes; Pott’s Point – the ultimate view of the opera house (at sunrise, that is;) through the Royal Botanical Gardens (stopping to admire some storks and cockatoos along the way;) around-beside-next to-under the Sydney Opera House and Opera Café walk; around to the Rocks and Cottage Bay… and so forth… I found a newly opened art gallery featuring some of Nelson Mandela’s artwork reflecting on his time spent on Robben Island… ASTONISHING! HE IS SUCH A GIFT TO OUR WORLD! I think I ‘hopped’ out of the gallery with inspiration after my visit!
I felt confident that I could handle the trains in Sydney after learning the system in Melbourne, so I ventured to the platforms – it was simple, but I know I did entertain some of the locals, as I tried to find where my platforms were, and which direction the trains were actually traveling! OF COURSE I chose to start from the biggest, most complicated station of all!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I returned back to my hostel (after a few accidental side streets and meeting a very nice Indian woman…) and arrived to 5 new dorm-mates from Singapore! I think it’s the first time I’ve ever had a full-out dinner party going on in my… bedroom?! Too funny!
Day 2… up early to venture to Toby’s Coffee House (found the organic brew tucked into a 5 mini-table, triangle café)…and found the locals there when I arrived… in hordes! I was lucky to score a seat! I made a decision to switch hostels (as I was ‘odd man out in my room – and it still smelled like dinner!, so I worked my way – after negotiations at a few places – down to Eva’s Backpackers… much better!!) From here I ventured onto Paddington afterwards to check out the markets and Oxford St… and the Sydney weekend scene and local neighborhoods – ALL of the above were fantastic! My wandering took me to the edge of Centennial Park which drew me in with a magnetic force and spit me out a few hours later, post bike-ride and mini-hike! I had to visit Max Brenner’s chocolate shop on the way back, as it is OVERPACKED with locals hour after hour… serving up some of the most exciting chocolate concoctions you could imagine! From fondue to drinking chocolate to shakes, coffees and cocoas – this place was unreal! You can choose if you want milk, white or dark chocolate in your drinks… enough said?! (even the ‘water pipes’ along the ceiling contain chocolate!)
I watched the tail end of sunset from the rooftop of my hostel and read a little more from my book – Down Under, by Bill Bryson – he cracks me up! His humor & writing style are fantabulous! …and my timing on this book couldn’t be better!
Missing Venice Beach and my yoga scene there, I found my calling for this evening at Govinda Yoga and participated in some Kirtan with a very sweet & fun guy from India who led it! Afterwards our entire group traveled upstairs to their restaurant’s back room for some yummy vegetarian food and conversation that kept us there well past closing! I was stoked to know that a few of the new friends I met were going to be headed to Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades, along with their SRF (Self Realization Fellowship) group – it’s almost like we’re trading places! It was certainly a treat to have a ‘taste’ of home (and actually feel ‘in place’ in my beloved yoga clothes) with random strangers… who were new friends by the end!
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