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I have had a wonderful three weeks in Sydney. My hostel was at Bondi Beach, literally within a few minutes walk until you were at the ocean. I loved Sydney. The city itself isn't my usual sort of thing but it has such a great vibe that I don't think anyone could dislike it. My first few days I spent with a couple of crazy Canadians, Courtney and Terri-Lynn, and the other girls in our dorm, Lisa, Maddi and Jenna. We had a lot of fun together. We spent lots of time down at the beach, going out in the evening for a few too many drinks in the city and close to the hostel as well. Bondi Junction had an amazing shopping mall which was huge so we had a few trips there to find some bargains in the sales coming up to Christmas. It didn't really feel like Christmas with the weather being so nice and the beach on your doorstep. Even with decorations up and the Christmas songs in the shops... On the first Wednesday there was a rooftop BBQ at the hostel where lots of people went to. There was the local radio station there playing tunes as well. Unfortunately we had a moment where our picnic table flipped on to us. The people on the other side had all got up and suddenly we were on our backs! It was very entertaining but a little embarrassing too! On the Saturday, Courtney, Terri-Lynn and I went out for dinner at Darling Harbour to Plate which had some delicious food and even better cocktails, we are now addicted to the Toblerone which has baileys, kahlua, something else and ice cream! To die for! After we finished we head over to Martins Place to see the memorial. There had been a hostage situation on the Monday in the Lindt cafe where two people lost their lives. There were thousands of flowers and an eerie silence. The whole of Sydney had gone in to lockdown on the Monday with it taking place, the Opera House was cleared just in case. On Sunday, we had a traditional Aussie summer day! A few of us went to the beach (Courteney, TL, Lisa and David) before going to the Bucket List bar on the sea front for drinks and food. We met up with Lisa's brother and his friends and decided to head in to the city for more drinks at their flat. By the time we left, Courteney was so drunk that she could barely stand up. To say the bus ride home was entertaining is an understatement. David was named the 'a******' after refusing her advances haha!
The next morning we decided to have a change of scenery and go to Coogee beach instead. Such a hard life! Although Coogee is quieter, I think I prefer Bondi. Later on, I went to the Junction to meet up with Sophie, my lovely friend I met in South Africa who has also been travelling Aus! It was so nice to see her. We get on really well and have always had a good giggle. After the Monday, I ended up spending almost the entire week with her and her friends (Claire, Edin, Tina, Matt, Steph, Christina, Mel and the lads). Monday night I crashed at the apartment they were renting so we could have a girls day down at the beach on Tuesday. Unfortunately when we got there the weather was not on our side. So instead we headed back to the flat to get ready for ladies night. We pre-drank at Steph and Christina's place before heading to World Bar. It was such a fun night and we managed to get free entry and drinks, always a bonus. The only downside was how incredibly hot it was! I don't think there was a single person there not dripping with sweat after all the dancing and just generally being super crowded! Wednesday was Christmas Eve, not that it felt like it! I spent the morning with my Canadian girls doing some shopping (got some good bargains!) before meeting Sophie and the gang to do our Christmas food shop. It was a tad stressful having to get food for so many people, and was added to with the supermarket being heaving. I think everyone was glad to back to the flat before starting to relax and get in the Christmas spirit. We had a chilled night in wanting to be fresh for the big day so watched some movies, including Elf. A classic!
Christmas Daaaay! What a great day it was too. It was a bit emotional being away from home and family, but the people I spent it with truly made it amazing. We all woke up early and cooked a massive breakfast, with a little glass of Baileys to get us going. Before we opened presents and messaged home. After we headed down to the beach as the weather was glorious, and you can't really not spend the day at the beach when you're in Aus for Christmas. It's a tradition! We had a couple of drinks in Lush bar on the front before spending most of the afternoon playing games in the sea, mostly with the frisbee. The beach was so busy! By the afternoon you could barely see sand for the mass of people there, but it was to be expected. Late afternoon, everyone had started to get hungry so we headed back to the flat to freshen up and get our BBQ going. Another Aussie tradition... I did miss the turkey roast though! We had a huge spread of food and all sat around for hours happily chatting, eating and drinking. Around 11pm the booze was almost out and people were at the tipsy stage so obviously we all thought it would be a great idea to find a bar that was open... Being late Christmas Day it wasn't to be. However, a guy who owns a restaurant invited us all in and pretty much gave us a free bar. We all chipped in some money but with the amount drunk it didn't matter! I think he was just a bit lonely and wanted some company. By the early hours everyone was wasted, and drunken tensions started to occur when some money went missing. Unfortunately, it brought a bit of a nasty end to the day but the rest had been amazing.
Needless to say, Boxing Day was a hangover day. Claire and I spent the day on the sofa and ordered dominoes from down the road because we couldn't face the two minute walk. I couldn't even face going back to the hostel cause that would involve a bus. The Saturday, feeling much better and fresh, I thought I should make an appearance at my hostel and go and see the others as I hadn't spent much time with them. Saturday afternoon I went in to the city to meet up with Sam, a friend I met in Adelaide, to go and see the new and final Hobbit! It was good, and I did shed a little tear to Sam's amusement. We went for a drink after before he invited me to go to Coogee to meet up with his friend too, Baz. We went to a really nice bar in Coogee which had a great outdoor area with a nice chilled vibe. What was supposed to be an early evening ended up turning into a late one, so Sam and I crashed at Baz's place as there were no more buses. Sunday was beach day, and ice cream. How I missed the beach! I had a really nice day on the Monday. I got up early to be productive and start getting things ready for when I go to South America. I then met David for lunch at a Thai place where the food was amazing. Afterwards, Courteney and I met Sam for a drink at Bondi Beach Hotel before heading back to have a taco night with TL. Granted it was on the wrong night but they were so good (should be Taco Tuesday!). Tuesday for us was in fact PANCAKE DAY! We went to Darling Harbour to the infamous Pancakes on the Rocks and it did not disappoint. The portions were huge and they were just delicious. I had Canadian style ones with bacon and maple syrup. Nom nom. The only thing we could do afterwards was go and lie very flat on the beach because we had eaten too much. Graeme, Jonny and Tommy (more guys I know from Adelaide) came to meet us at the beach for a bit to catch up. We all decided to go to Darling Harbour (again) for the evening for some drinks at the Watershed. I think Darling Harbour is one of my favourite places in Sydney so that may explain why I seem to end up there so often!
Wednesday, aka NEW YEARS EVE! Like Christmas, it didn't feel like NYE at all. It must have been one of the hottest days of the year as well. Courteney, TL and I all got up early so we could head down to the Opera House to meet some of the others so we could get a good spot for the fireworks. And did we ever. We were right outside the opera house, at the front by the rail, with no one or anything in between us and the bridge. Couldn't have asked for a better spot. The day however was fairly long, being there so early and having to wait till midnight was not the best combination, especially in the heat with no shade. We passed our time by playing card games and chatting and having a picnic. Once it began to get dark various displays were put on in the harbour, including an air display, a tug boat one and a mini preview of fireworks. But the main fireworks at midnight were unlike any I've seen before! They were well worth the wait. I'm not surprised they get their reputation for being among the best in the world. Once the show had finished C, TL and I headed to the other side of the harbour to go to the Orient bar to meet Lisa for a dance and some drinks. It wasn't that busy there which I was surprised about. In the early hours we all started crashing after having such a long day so we headed to McDonalds to get some food where we met up with Sophie and the gang. It was lovely being able to see them all too on NYE! Sophie decided to come back with us to Bondi to go to a friend's party but just as we were about to get on the bus she realised she had the keys for the flat so the others wouldn't be able to get in. So she and I stayed in the city trying to hail a taxi to get us back to the flat. On NYE it proved nearly impossible to find one, although we did get offered £140 or something ridiculous! Eventually, after a long while, we managed to get one and when we turned up at the flat everyone was passed out on the grass. Soph and I then had to find another taxi to get us to Bondi which thankfully wasn't as hard as the first time.
I spent the next day with the Canadian girls, feeling sorry for ourselves, eating pizza and sleeping. We couldn't even face the beach because it was unbearably hot. Friday was my last full day in Australia! I was definitely starting to feel a bit emotional that this part of my year was coming to an end, and getting more nervous about travelling to South America. I got up early to get everything sorted for leaving: bank account, post, currency etc. It wasn't as stress free as I'd have hoped but it got done in the end. By the afternoon, I was very grateful to get to the beach and soak up the last rays of sun that I may see for a while. Everyone thinks of South America as hot but it's Cusco's rainy season so... The girls and I decided we had to go to Darling Harbour one last time for those amazing Toblerone cocktails. I couldn't have left Aus without one, but I think we may have had a few more than that in the end. Afterwards we went to the Opera House to meet the gang from New Years and Graeme came down to say goodbye to me too. The others all left for a club so Graeme and I stayed to have another drink before calling it a night. As much as I'd have loved to have gone out, I had a flight to catch the next morning and I did not want to be hungover for that. And thank god I wasn't. By shuttle bus to the airport was pulled over by a police car because the driver and some passengers weren't wearing seat belts. My stress levels were at an all time high as it seemed to take forever to get people's details and give out fines etc. I'm glad I didn't get a fine but I had a plane to catch and I was nervous enough as it was about leaving without the dramas of the police! When I eventually arrived, the airport process was surprisingly easy going.
Now on to the next chapter in South America!
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