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Free to explore Sydney we handed straight to central station round the corner to get transport tickets sorted to get us around the city for our viewings. Pretty good too $43 to travel 7 days on bus, train, monorail and ferries any time of day :) Before heading off we decided a nice cuppa and some breakie to set us up nicely for the day....hello Hungry Jacks!!
First visit on the agenda is Bondi Junction as we have a flat viewing at 12.30pm, with it only being 10am we still thought heading there early to explore the little town was good and indeed it was there was big shopping mall called Westfield and high street with shops, supermarkets and cafe's was really nice area. Found an awesome organic cafe so stopped for refreshing lemonade drink before making our way to the house we were viewing. We were pretty early still as the house was right by Westfield so hung around before finally knocking on the door 5 mins early. A young lad answered the door, we asked for Alan, the owner, we assumed as he was point of contact when arranging a time to visit. We say and waited outside as another guy walked down to the door looking as us like idiots, he turned out to be the step-son of the owner Alan, also called Alan!! He goes into the house and returns 5 minutes later to explain that his step-dad has actually already found someone for the room. How bloody rude! Slightly annoyed and disappointed we walked back to station to get train back to YHA.
However, on our way to station we had texts from the other 2 viewings asking when we were free, so we replied from 1.30pm it was like 1pm at the time. The couple from Leichhardt which we already arranged to met at 7pm, changed their minds and asked us to come at 2.30pm, we thought yea that's great we have good hour to get there, so asked a train worker how is best to get there and followed his direction by jumping onto a train to the city - town hall stop. As we just got on the train, a text came through from the other viewing person to say okay cool see you at 1.30pm with directions to get there. Oooopss! We had messed up here, quite unluckily they both wanted to met within an hour of each other and were opposite sides of the city. Decisions decisions.......Since we were in Bondi Junction we decided to go to the 2nd text as it was in between Bondi Junction and the beach, so we were already close and we were more interested in this flat than the Leichhardt house. Luckily, the train hadn't left and the doors were still open so we managed to get off and jump on bus to the beach. We got off and followed the directions given to us by text, follow bondi road and the entrance is between a dive shop and a sushi place. So we walked and walked and walked up a big hill. In the hot sun and in a hurry is not good when you're about to meet people and you're still in the clothes from yesterday and were up most of the night on a bus hahaha. Anyway, we arrived to the door a couple of minutes late, as it happens the bus should have dropped us outside of the block of flats but we caught the wrong bus, typical! We got buzzed up to flat 2 and introduced to Mary Jane, the owner of these flats and the person we had been texting. The flat was great, simple yet cosy everything we were looking for. Two couples were sharing at the time, one of the couples were leaving at the weekend so the room was available from Monday, so straight away basically, the price was good and everything included. Happy days. It was left that we would contact when we had made a decision.
From there we got a bus to Bondi Junction station and as before got on train to Town Hall to get to Leichhardt, chatting all the way about how much we liked the Bondi flat. Not to keen to see this other place knowing it was quite out of the way and we had kept them waiting, we still thought seeing other places was good rather than just going with the first one. We got a bus from Town Hall which took 15-20 mins to get into Leichhardt, a suburb of the city. When we got off the bus we asked in a pub for directions and after half an hour or so we managed to get there an hour late!!! We had told them of course that we would be later than 2.30pm and tried to arrange another time, but they said to come whenever we can and they would wait. So I felt terrible that it had took us so long. They were a lovely Mexican couple, there house was also lovely, very stylish and cool. Before going in we said that the house would have to be amazing for us to even consider living here as the location wasn't great, and the house was great but just not for us. It was sad though because the couple were very keen on us, offered to take us in straight away and walked to the bus stop with us and wanted to get bus back into city together. We didn't get bus with them as we said we would like to look around the area which was partially true although we really wanted to natter about what each other thought, and unfortunately we both agreed that although a lovely area, an impressive and stylish house it just wasn't homey and the location was not great. Compared to the Bondi flat there just was no comparison on which one we would rather be in. Plus we would be sharing with 6 other people compared to one other couple. Leichhardt is a very peaceful area, if we were here to live for sure and find work and develop our careers (all that grown up stuff) then yeah this would be an ideal place, but for us we are looking for fun, close to beach, close to city, casual jobs and a cosy, simple flat.
Heading back to YHA we finally had a shower and changed into other clothes. By like 5pm, shattered, hungry yet excited and chatting we headed out for the night. Gary found good deals advertised in a bar called Scubar, right down the road, a backpacker bar so we headed out. All cocktails $6 and all you can eat pizza for $12 we were happy. We sat, drank, chilled and felt excited about the Bondi flat :) All pumped up we decided to go through the cocktail menu as we waited for 7pm to come round for the pizza offer. However, by 7pm we were both quite tispy (one more than the other hehe), very tired and hungry so we left the bar and the pizza deal and went for a kebab wrap next door before crashing out in bed, hahahaha so classy at 7.30pm on a Saturday on our first night in Sydney!!
We were both happy with the Bondi flat and so it was a big temptation for us to take the flat as it was available from Monday, which meant only more one night left in a hostel dorm!! Its always good to sleep on it though, I wanted both of us to be happy to go for the flat and to make sure it was the flat that was exciting not just the fact we were finally in Sydney, and with being tired from the journey and all the other factors that would attract us to any room in any flat!!
Next morning we were both still happy with the Bondi flat, although ideally, I think we both felt that we should look at more places before choosing, as we had only looked at two. I was concerned that if we waited to hear from people to view the other 2 places we were interested in on Monday and Tuesday we might lose the Bondi flat, so we were torn a little. We went and had breakfast and chilled thinking about the situation. Then Gary turned around and said we will call Mary Jane and if the flat was available then we will take it, I was over the moon!
While we thought more about it, we got a text from Mary Jane asking what we thought about the flat, and within a second Gary replied we'll take it. So exciting, the time difference killed me as I couldn't call anyone to tell them we had a flat!!! Mary Jane replied great, its $380 a week, no bed linen or towels are provided and we could move in after 7.30pm. We were so excited.... one more night in a hostel until we had our own room, we could unpack and just chill on a sofa.
Although, we did have a problem. As we didn't get our bank cards straight away in Brisbane and had to wait until the following Wednesday, then we had hassle with our UK banks transferring a lot of money over, and then on top of that it was Easter 4 day weekend. We didn't have money in our Oz accounts to pay for rent or bonds etc. We had our UK bank cards but could only withdrawal a certain amount a day. Luckily, we were able to get $800 between us and Mary Jane was fine with only receiving half and then getting the rest the next day....phew!!
We went out to KFC to celebrate and feasted!!! We continued to walk along George Street in Sydney city centre observing the shops and buildings we passed,chatting away until I stopped at a standstill as I saw through the trees, the amazing Sydney Opera House. Oh my god I stood speechless for like minutes, I was blown away, such an iconic building I coudln't believe I was experiencing this view in real life and wow the building is fantastic in the real. I got super excited and Mandy called to share the excitement with me :) We walked up towards Circular Quay so we could get closer look at the Opera House, what an amazing moment. I gazed for ages at the building, and watched the ferries passing, caught a glimpse at Sydney Bridge and watched a group of people climbing over the top section. Gary was distracted elsewhere with a street performer who I ended up watching finding my way back to Gary, you can see her in the photos....the woman who fits into a 16 inch box! We wandered passed The Rocks and its market, not looking at the market as I wanted to come a better time to look not when they were closing, we went up to the end of the bridge in search for this ice cream parlour Mandy recommended but with it being Easter Sunday a lot of places were closed and not much was happening so we headed back to George Street to our YHA, stopping in Woolworths to buy an Easter egg to scoff later. Had nice evening, talked to Mam and Mandy with Gary joining in every now and then and then we tucked up in bed and watched Hop, munching away at our sale Easter Egg to celebrate Easter ;) What an amazing Easter......one I will definitely not forget!!
Later on that night just before bed we got a text from Mary Jane asking what time we will be moving in tomorrow, as the other couple are leaving early morning and can move in from 11am, awesome news means we can just get up and go to the flat without hanging around. We arranged 11.30am.
Up, packed and out of YHA for 10.30am, was nice we didn't have to be checked out until 11am we slung our big bags on our backs and headed to central station to get train to Bondi Junction and then caught a bus from there,so whole journey is only 30 mins ish. Got to flat, dropped our bags, give Mary Jane most of our rent money for this week and 3 week rent bond, filled in forms got our keys and met Alicia and Mark our Irish couple flatmates. Busy day, headed out for bedding and towels at K-mart at Junction, then came back to dump it, then back into Junction for a food shop. Nice knowing we have a fridge and freezer that we can stock up :) Got home, unpacked our shopping, made the bed and finally unpacked yay!! Had good night, take-away, beers and chatting getting to know Alicia and Mark.
So our flat is unit 2, up one flight of stairs, we share a bathroom with an amazing shower!!! We have our own double bedroom with massive mirror sliding door wardrobe with lots of space, a bedside each and a fan, very basic but ideal. The kitchen, dining table and front room is all open plan, the kitchen is really nice all newly done out, equipped with everything you would want. We share fridge, freezer and shelf space, but there is plenty of room. The sofas are the best thing, lovely purple fabric sofas just one look and you want to just dive onto it with a blanket. There is one 3 seater and another 2 seater, coffee table and footstool and nice size tv with Foxtel (sky) :) Balcony is great size, got BBQ, 2 table and lots of chairs with plenty of room to dry your washing and chill out.
The street we live on is Bondi Road and its full of cafes, restaurants, take-aways, a supermarket right opposite and a post office next door to that so its great. Out the door turn left and walk straight down for 10mins ish to the beach promenade which again is shops, restaurants and bars and the amazing Bondi Beach. Turn right on the street for 10 mins and you have walked into Bondi Junction which is a town with a mini metrocentre (big shopping centre). Bus stops are right outside our door, like literally, and run basically 24/7 to the beach, junction and city centre, its only 15-20 mins into the city. Great for everyday but also great for job opportunities.. So we are very very happy :D
How lucky our we, literally step into Sydney and find an awesome flat we love within like 4 hours and move in 2 days later!!
Now............. Job Hunting!!! While enjoying the lovely Sydney!
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