Settled in Sydney?

Wednesday the 18th of February really wasn’t that unusual of a day. I didn’t do anything crazy but I think I will talk about it for a minute. I woke up had a bowl of muesli, took a shower, and caught a bus to the city. Once in the city I stopped by Trek and Travel and picked up a packet of catalogs to read before starting work next week. That will probably deserve its own entry some day. I then walked up towards the ferry and bought a set of headphones (my headphones got messed up in Ecuador because of the humidity and I finally gave up on them). I caught the ferry from the city to Manly (during the trip an apartment I wanted to see in Manly called me and a bunch of people glared at me for talking on the phone). I walked over to the Allens’ house and met Allen Yulle (sp?) for some tea. Allen Hill showed up and we went for a walk and then had lunch (they know how to eat) Mediterranean salad, potatoes, corn on the cob and kangaroo steaks. I was pissed that I only brought jeans (it was raining when I left) because at this point it is beautiful and everyone goes for a swim except me so I walk around exploring Manly a bit. I drop by the apartment and its right on the beach, everything is cool, unfurnished and really expensive. I then bolt out catch the ferry back and jump on a bus to Maroubra (most southern beach that I know of in Sydney). The apartment smells like cigarettes the second I walk in so that’s probably a no but she offers me a beer so I hang out and chat with her, she was very nice. I catch a bus transfer to another bus to Bondi and meet 2 new guys in an apartment in the most popular beach in Sydney. Another cool place. I mess up leaving their place and the bus driver tells me in the middle of nowhere that this is the last stop. A couple gives me directions to the bus I want but there is an Italian restaurant right next to the bus stop so I sit down for dinner. I was thinking about how cool the Manly place was but that I couldn’t afford it and the guy from Manly calls to say the place is mine if I want it and I say yes. Totally irresponsible but brilliant. I catch two busses and a train back to Balmain for quite a productive day. I spent over $30 on public transportation in one day.

Newcastle

I once again took a weekend train trip from Sydney. But this weekend I went to Newcastle with no plans except for what hostel I was checking into. I go for a run when I get there and get very lost seeing incredible beaches, beautiful lighthouse, and a cool little part of the town. The hostel is right on the beach. I find myself in a poker game just after getting back with 5 other guys (German and Canadian). After the game we hang out, meet more people and go out to some bars which weren’t much fun. The next day I take a free surfing lesson which is awesome and meet a bunch of girls (German and Canadian, I think this will be the theme of my time in Australia). Played a couple more games of poker, watched a couple of movies and wandered around. On Sunday I was pretty sun burnt by 11 o’clock (they claimed it was going to be 37 degrees), had another surf lesson, played a game of poker and headed back to Sydney. Absolutely the most beautiful beaches I have seen since I was backpacking in Hawaii 10 years ago. I will definitely go back and spend some more time there. I wonder what grad programs they have at the university…

Blue Mountain National Park

For the weekend, I headed to the blue mountain national park and the town of Katoomba. I checked into a YHA hostel and set off into the national park. I was out of the range of my map quickly and wandered around the trails aimlessly. I came back to the hostel to find that everyone cooks at YHA hostels which I would take advantage of the next day. It is very quiet that night and at least half of the guests are over 40 years old. I meet a German guy that night and we decide to hike the next day. The next day we go to ruined castle, a very cool hike and climb the golden staircase on the way. I probably did close to 40 kilometers over the two days. I bought some beer and came back to the hostel and offered them out to make more friends, in return I had dinner made for me of salmon, potatoes, squash, and steak. The crowd was a girl from Santa Cruz, two Canadians, one Scottish, two Germans, two French, and an Irish. We stayed up late playing a guitar that I checked out from the hostel, drinking wine, and telling stories.