Sydney: Take Two!!

So, I survived… although it was possibly close on one of the worst experiences so far (akin to the 23 hours it took to travel from Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi all those months ago now!!) In fact, I think this worse despite being 10 hours shorter, the bus was full to the brim and we all only had one seat each – every other greyhound journey I’ve managed to nab 2 seats and some semblance of sleep, it was not meant to be this time though. The time passed ridiculously slowly and the only thing worth mentioning is my first sighting of one of Australia’s infamous ‘big things’ – I’d heard all about them but until now, despite having been here for 3 months at this point, had yet to come across any. You can see from the pic here that my debut sighting was of The Big Prawn! As far as I’m aware there’s no rhyme or reason for these things, they seem to just be ‘because we can’ type displays. But if anyone knows any different please feel free to enlighten me!!

So that’s it; that was my entry back into Sydney – dull as! – I arrived early Tuesday morning, April 25th – Anzac Day to be specific – and got myself on the bus to Coogee. It had been decided along the way that Coogee was to be our new home for the next 3 months. Luke had arrived back from his little jaunt back to Thailand a few days earlier and was waiting for me at Surfside hostel. It was becoming a bit of a pattern, Luke greeting me like my own personal porter at hostels in Sydney but I wasn’t complaining, it was good to see him, esp after that hellish bus journey. Luke had already booked me in so checking in was easy enough thankfully. Then despite wanting to sleep desperately my body wasn’t playing the game so after reviving myself in the shower and catching up with Luke we met up with a friend for lunch at Five 0’s – home of the $5 menu (their steaks are what they’re renowned for but obviously I wasn’t sampling them!) – which was to become a regular haunt of ours over the coming few months (as is the case with ever backpacker in Coogee I suspect!)

After lunch we headed to the CBH (Coogee Bay Hotel), one of the 2 bars in Coogee that everyone can usually be found at. As it was Anzac Day; Australia’s own version of our Remembrance day and subsequently a bank holiday for one and all, there were special games of ‘2 Up’ going on, this being the only day of the year that it’s legal to play this game you can imagine the atmosphere. The game basically involves betting with abandon on heads or tails. It’s done in a kind of ‘boxing ring’ setting and its easy to see how one could get carried away!! We managed to be disciplined and being meagre backpackers just bet amongst ourselves… escaping without too big a dent in our wallets!

That evening was spent chilling out at the hostel, what little energy I had that day had finally left me and that was all I was really capable of. Besides, we had a busy few days ahead of us… there were jobs to be found not to mention a place to lay our heads for the next few months!

The flat hunting actually turned out to be pretty successful the following day and we signed up to move in on Friday… only 2 more days to survive being in a hostel – Surfside’s not exactly my favourite place in the world and I was really feeling like not being in a hostel for a while so it was a welcome thought that come Friday we’d be settling into our own little flat! Luke and I ventured to the cinema to celebrate that night – a few hours of Matthew Mcconaughey and I was a happy girl!! (Not sure it had the same affect on Luke mind!!)

Job hunting was the agenda for the next day but unfortunately wasn’t as successful as the flat hunting. Although the shoe shopping went well – my bank manager might disagree with that though! – Obviously if I were to be working in an office for the next 3 months, flips and trainers weren’t quite going to cut it… the thought of donning heels for the first time since November was a novelty too; Jules, I’m sure you’re feeling my excitement at the prospect of being allowed to buy shoes! I went home a happy girl again, I’d registered with some agencies, set the job hunting ball in motion, had a flat to move into (discounted too thanks to a lovely water feature we have in the front room!) and a fancy new pair of heels! Life was good!

Friday finally came and Luke and I trudged up the hill to our new apartment with our backpacks weighing us down for what would be the last time until August. The photo here shows said hill - our apartment is 3/4's of the way up on the right hand side. Not a bad spot really!! The day was spent settling in, unpacking and making Beach Street our own. By the time we were done, despite being a Friday night, we were loving the novelty of being in our own place so stocked up on DVD’s and spent the evening relaxing on the sofas (2 might I add.. of which Luke and I very quickly settled into ‘his n hers’ – mine obviously being the bigger and better one – actually come to think of it, the comical race for the best bed in our room when we first arrived was won by me too – I think playing the girl card has its advantages sometimes eh ladies?! That and chucking all his stuff onto the other bed, parking my bum on my preferred choice and refusing to move or help him with anything until he’d agreed that was indeed my bed, was also quite an effective tactic! Thanks Pucas! Knew I’d break you! haha!

The weekend was spent in a similar fashion to Friday night, very chilled out and relaxing which was just what I needed after hurtling down the East Coast for the last 3 weeks. On Saturday we headed into the city and discovered a great little café on the Quay that does fab Cream Tea’s and offers views of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. That night we did manage to venture out of the flat for a few cheeky ones at Coogee’s 2 nightspots; The CBH and the Palace! I’m sure everyone who’s visited Coogee before will know where I mean!

Sunday was spent with a little exploring along the coast. We live on the opposite side of the beach to the direction that Bondi is in and although the famous Coogee-Bondi coastal walk hadn’t yet been done, we decided to check out what was in the other direction, towards Maroubra. Although winter was clearly on its way, (the flips were still being worn but it was touch and go) the day was lovely and bright and we discovered wicked rock pools, cliff faces and the like.

The next few days were spent similarly too. Lunching with my friend Lu, who we’d met at a recruitment agency the previous week, taking advantage of Cheap Tuesday at the cinema (this time Johnny Knoxville in The Ringer… hilarious people, very un-PC but very funny!), checking out nearby Randwick, making the most of the beach while it was still warm enough to and lots more job hunting! Although I still wasn’t ‘feeling the Sydney vibe’ as much as Melbourne, I was finding myself settling into life there nicely and I was looking forward to getting to know the city more over the next 3 months. Its one thing travelling through places, always on the go, but quite another when you stop and really take somewhere in for a while. I found that with Melbourne and I was hoping I would with Sydney too. Time will tell I guess… xx

btw - all the beach shots shown here are of Coogee beach and the one of Luke and I is taken from the coastal walk with Coogee in the background.