I have returned =) I know you have anxiously been awaiting a new post. I realize that it has almost been an entire month since I last updated (embarrassing on my part), but the good news for you is that I've been writing down what I do everyday in a journal. I won't quote it word for word, but here's a general idea of what I've been up to.
Tuesday, August 31: I went to see the musical Wicked at Capitol Theater with my friends Lyndsy and Gwen. I had never seen it before and was amazed!! The scenery was like nothing I've ever seen and the costuming was so detailed! It was a completely Australian cast, which surprised me - definitely couldn't tell from their speaking parts. We weren't allowed to take pictures once in the theater, but here's a picture of the girls and I during Intermission. We bought our souvenir cups that lit up =)
Next, September 4 - 12 was my Spring Break! For the beginning part of the week, I didn't do too much. I went to the beach a few days, got my hair cut, worked on a paper that was due the following week, and anticipated Luke's arrival!!!
Saturday, September 11: I woke up at 4:30 a.m. to go to the airport to pick up Luke! I can get to their airport either by bus or train, but if you take the train you have to pay a fee (around $20)to get in to the airport. It's a lot faster than the bus, but I wanted to save my money so I took the bus! Luke's flight got in 20 minutes early, around 6:20 a.m. Finally got to see him around 7:00 a.m! It was really strange seeing him for the first time after 2 1/2 months. It was like I didn't know him!
We made our way back to my apartment to get him unpacked, settled in, and to meet the roommates! It's funny, they said they felt like they already knew him before he arrived because of talking to him on Skype. Once all that was finished, we took a bus into the city for a little tour! (Click here for a map of Sydney and trace our path!) We started at Hyde Park, walked through the Domain, and stopped for lunch at Harry's Cafe de Wheels. From there, we walked up Mrs. Macquaries Road, past Mrs. Macquaries Chair, through the Royal Botanical Gardens, and to the Opera House! Quite a bit of walking, but totally worth it! It was a beautiful day, and I even managed to get some sun on my face.
When we got to the Opera House, there was some kind of mat laid out and there were people sitting on the steps. We asked someone (with not very good English) what was going on, and he said "Man dance with machine. Stay! Stay! Only 13 minute." So, pretty confused, we took a seat and not a minute later this big excavator pull up. And I kid you not, this man literally starts dancing with it! It was the strangest thing either of us had ever seen and we thought it was hilarious! But we were the only ones laughing. Everyone else was pretty serious! We stopped by a few of the bars near the Opera House for a glass of wine, since it's legal for me here! That night we went to dinner at The Blackbird Cafe and here began our bruschetta obsession! Seriously, all but one night Luke was here, we ate bruschetta! We had some great ones, and we had some okay ones, but overall the Blackbird took top honors for best bruschetta. For dinner, Luke had Kangaroo and I had a crocodile burger! A very adventurous evening.
Luke and I at the Opera House!
Literally... man dancing with machine.
Sunday, August 12: We spent the day at Tamarama Beach attempting to have a barbeque. We didn't realize there was only one barbeque at that location, so we ended up waiting for over an hour to use it. The people using it were actually having their wedding/wedding reception which was 60's themed! Really funny, friendly group. After lunch, some of us went swimming in the ocean and, oh my gosh!, it was freeeeeeezzzzzzzziiiiinnnngggg! Definitely glad I went in though. Had a pretty quiet night - made pizza for dinner with the amazing Nicholson family marinara sauce ;)
Swimming in the Pacific!
Monday, September 13: We woke up early, around 5:00, to go to Bondi beach to watch the sun rise! We made it in time for sunrise, but unfortunately it was pretty cloudy. Still cool to sit out on the rocks and watch the waves come in! Very relaxing. Came back and Luke made big skillets for breakfast! After taking a short nap, we hopped on the ferry and went to Taronga Zoo. It was a pretty neat zoo with an amazing view of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and downtown Sydney (lucky animals!). I think we both agreed that we're pretty spoiled with the Indianapolis Zoo (we like it better). Had dinner at a neat place called The Rocks Cafe. More bruschetta =) Met with some friends at a bar called Scubar after stopping a few other places along the way. They have hermit crab racing every Monday and usually have some pretty awesome prizes, but we didn't make it in time for that.
"Sunrise" on the rocks at Bondi Beach
View of Sydney from the Taronga Zoo
A mama wallaby with a joey in her pouch
Have to include a picture of koalas - surprised they're awake!
This tiger was not happy to have people watching him
Tuesday, September 14: Went to Bondi Beach in search of renting a surf board, but the waves were a bit too strong. Instead he ran into the cold Pacific for about 3 minutes and we left. Ran a few errands around Bondi Junction - Luke got a few souvenirs. Pretty calm day and night. We went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner and told them it was Luke's birthday. They brought out sopapillas with a sparkler in it, gave us all sombreros, turned down the lights and played some birthday music! Quite a show! Fun night, but really really rainy!
Luke enjoying the frigid waters
Wednesday, September 15: Woke up early to go skydiving! My roommates Vessie and Hannah joined us for this trip. Had a few complications with being picked up, but eventually made it to the site. Once we got there, we suited up, got about a 2 - 3 minute lesson and headed to the plane! I don't think any of us were very nervous, more excited! We all had to go tandem (with someone attached). I was the last to jump out of the plane and it was crazy the noise it made when everyone else went out! It sounded like they were being sucked into a vacuum. Waited around for a while for others to finish jumping and headed back to the city. Luke and I went to Paddy's market where he did the rest of his souvenir shopping. Had a quick bruschetta lunch =) and got ready for our dinner cruise! Went down to Circular Quay (check the map again) to board our boat. The cruise lasted for about an hour and a half. Perfect timing to watch the sun set! Had a surprisingly nice 3 course meal while on board. Afterwards, we went to the Sydney Tower (pretty famous building in the Sydney skyline!) and went up to the 360 restaurant/bar for a drink. The restaurant rotates so you can see all views of the city from up there! Much like the Eagle's Nest for those of you from Indy. Very cool! Made a few stops on our way back to my apartment.
The Skydiving team
Our lovely window seat
The two of us after sunset with the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Thursday, September 16: Slept in for a bit this morning and packed for our trip to Cairns! Our flight left at 3:40 and we made it up to Cairns (pronounced 'cans') around 6:30. We stayed at the Calypso Inn hostel, and they picked us up from the airport. We walked along the beach before going to dinner at a seafood restaurant. Went back to the hostel with the intention of going to bed early, but we met a really nice couple from Sweden, Sophia and Martin, and hung out with them all night! Really interesting to hear about their lives and the differences between Sweden and the U.S.
The beach in Cairns
Friday, September 17: Possibly the best day of our trip! We were picked up at 6:45 a.m. to go on our scuba diving trip! We were transported to Port Douglas, about an hour north of Cairns. We got on the boat and drove for about an hour before arriving at our first of three dive sites. Luke and I both signed up for 2 introductory dives meaning that we're not certified so we went with an instructor. The first time in we were pretty nervous! It was interesting adjusting to breathing only through your mouth. We had 3 skills to master before we were allowed to venture out: switch from main respirator to back up and back, clear water out of our masks, and very importantly - equalizing our ears! We went out for probably 30 to 40 minutes at the first site. The Great Barrier Reef is AMAZING!! The pictures do not do it justice at all. Seriously the most colorful fish I have ever seen, most unique surroundings. It was incredible!
We drove on the boat for another 30 minutes or so to the second site. This time Luke and I felt like pros and were much more comfortable with scuba! We were down for another 30 minutes and we were able to be on our own this time out. (The first time, we had to hold on to the instructor for the majority of the dive.) Another 15-30 minute drive and we were at the third and final site! We could've paid an extra $40 each to dive a third time, but we decided to stick with snorkeling for the third spot (big mistake!). In hindsight it definitely would have been worth the extra money to dive again. At this site there was this massive resident fish named Gregg. He was really friendly and liked to be pet like a big puppy dog! He was just about as big as Luke was!
We were taken back to Cairns and we took another short walk on the beach. We met up with Sophia and Martin for dinner and hung out with them all night! We went to a pizza place in Cairns and then went to a bar afterwards.
Our boat, the Silversonic
We're real scuba divers!
Nemo!! It's actually pretty rare to see a true nemo fish.
Giant Clam
Coral in the Great Barrier Reef
Saturday, September 18: Happy Birthday to my big brother Alex!! Sorry I couldn't be there to celebrate with you =( Luke and I woke up around 3:30 to catch a transfer to the airport =/ we were a little miserable trying to sleep on the seats in the airport and on the plane. We made it back to my apartment around noon and tried to catch up on some sleep. Went to the mall and bought the movie "Finding Nemo" and watched it when we got home. Couldn't resist after just having been at the Great Barrier Reef! We celebrated Luke's last night in Sydney with a night out on the town!
Saturday night fun!
Sunday, September 19: Well, I knew it was coming... Luke's trip would have to end at some point =( I wish he could've stayed for another month! It was hard to say goodbye, especially knowing it was going to be another 2 1/2 months until I see him again and especially after having such a fun filled week!! We got him to the airport just on time and he had to go =( I spent the rest of my day drowning my sorrows with chocolate and crying haha! Don't worry, I'm fine now!
Since then, I have had one research paper consuming my life and it is finally DONE! Can't wait to turn it in tomorrow morning and have it completely off my chest. All of my roommates are on Spring Break now and I'm pretty jealous of the things they're doing! Hali and Halana are basically touring the east coast of Australia - hitting up the Whitsunday Islands and all sorts of other places. Vessie is off to New Zealand with two of our other friends, Julian and Mike. That leaves the apartment to Hannah and myself for the next week and a half! Hopefully I'll be able to get all sorts of work done this next week. That's the aim anyway! Hope you all have enjoyed this post - hopefully it's been worth the wait! Love, Em.
