So Long Sydney!

At this point, I feel at home in Sydney. I have managed to get lost in the city and find my way back again. I know where is good for shopping, food, drinks and how you can get there (for the most part!). I feel a part of the city and not just visiting it. It's starting to feel like home...just as I'm leaving!

I'm heading up north to sunny Darwin in 4 days time - whenever I mention this to any Australians they adopt a look of horror or at best a face that says 'why?!' which doesn't exactly fill me with confidence! I suppose for a girl that has fallen in love with the city of Sydney, Darwin is a strange choice. It's completely different - small town. Its sunny and tropical, and according to my sources there is one main street and everyone knows everyone. To make it more nerve wrecking, I'm doing it alone. Myself and TC are seperating for a few months, and meeting back in Melbourne in September. Until then, its just me and Darwin! My friend Sue is up there for a few weeks now, and she assures me I'll love it. Now, just a small matter of finding a job and somewhere to live. Haven't I been here before?!

I've booked myself into a hostel for a week. A hostel. By myself. On my own. In a hostel. With no TC. Did I mention I was on my own? In a hostel? No that I care of course. I looooooove hostels. Oh yes I do. Oh YES I do (work with me here). What I actually am looking forward to is seeing more of the countryside, more of the real Oz. I'll also be in a much better place to go visit the national parks, swin with sharks (!) and see Uluru, which is top of the must-see list. I didn't want to get stuck in a rut so taking the leap.Wish me luck!

For our last weekend in Sydney, we went to see the Blue Mountains. Which are really the not-blue-hills, but breathtaking nonetheless! Very beautiful, and definately worth the trip. I also visited family whom I haven't seen in years and had one of the best nights with them since I've gotten to Oz. Makes a girl not want to leave! But the itchy feet are bringing me North. So for my final few days here, I'm drinking in all of my Sydney, unsure of when I'll see it again. The walk to work in the mornings bring me down Martin's Place, with all the swish designer stores. Ducking through my shortcut through Wynard station, I hold my nose against what I've dubbed 'fish corner' where the smell of sushi that early in the morning knocks me sideways! The best busker I've ever heard always makes me smile just at the last corner in the station. And this is just my trip to work! Trying to keep all the sights and sounds safely locked in my memory. Sydney, I salute you.

xxC

A sneaky peeky of Melbourne

Them sneaky Aussies managed to have 5 days off over the Easter weekend (hooray!) and so I took myself off down to visit Melbourne. A friend of mine who left for the Big Oz Adventure nearly 2 years ago lives down there and so there was major catch-ups to be had. What a weekend! She lives in St. Kilda, which is a suburb by the sea. It is also where all the paddys flock and you know, it actually opened my eyes up a bit! Yes, myself and tc didn't want to do the exact same as everyone, and yes, we didn't just want to hang out with Irish people buuuuut it has to be said it was a lot of fun. All of a sudden I went from quite an isolated space to one filled with people! My friend Sue knew such a community of people from living and working with people in the same boat as her. And not a lonely moment was had. Simply no time or space for such nonsense! So it did open my eyes up to why people do flock together...and also did my liver some considerable damage...

The feel I got for Melbourne in my short time is that it is a much smaller city than Sydney, a bit more personable and friendly but not with quite the same buzz. Kind of like Sydney's younger hipster sister to Sydney's glamourous older one. Does that make sense or do I just miss fashion magazines a little bit too much? (Yes, I know they have fashions mags in Oz, you knowharraImean). I'm looking forward to spending more time there and getting to know the city a good bit better.

Back in Sydney, it managed to stop raining last Sunday for us to take a trip into the Chinese gardens in the city. If you're ever in Sydney DO IT! For the simple reason that you get to hire Imperial Chinese costumes and get to arse about the gardens pretending you're in a Kung Fu film...Or appreciating the tranquil gardens peacefully, like you're supposed to. Whatever floats your boat. Unfortunately, it started to rain again that night and hasn't stopped since. Did you know it rained in Sydney?! Next weekend I'm going to a one day course than enables me to serve alcohol over here. I figure I could rock being a barmaid if the need arose. Now, has anyone seen my Bet Lynch cardigan? X