Day 3: Kebab Kingdom

I have now discovered my new favorite food. Kebabs.

After taking our first test of the semester, we got to enjoy the first glimpse of free time around the campus since our arrival. Naturally, we took this time to go eat more. Heading out from the other side of campus that we usually walk around on, we discovered a great local area of small college cafes and bars. We stopped by a kebab place and I devoured a fried zucchini roll with hummus, tabouli, and tzatziki sauce. It was far and away the best food I have had here so far, and the owner found out we were students and seemed to cut us a break on prices; always a plus.

In the afternoon we took a train ride to the Sydney Olympic Park from the 2000 Olympic Games. The ANZ Stadium was massive, and surrounded by tons of interesting Australia themed designs. We also went inside the aquatic center, which is now used as a community water park and public pool. It was interesting to see how the Australian government has found uses for these buildings.

ANZ Stadium in Olympic Park

After the trip to the park, we rode a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly beach on another part of the harbor. The ride over gave us some great views of the opera house and other structures on the shore. Manly Beach reminded me a lot of the family oriented developments in Florida, like Destin and Seaside. The beaches were gorgeous white sand, and the streets were well planned avenues covered with massive trees lining the roads. After spending the rest of the afternoon there, we caught the ferry back to Sydney and found some locals to help us get into a fairly exclusive night club in one of the high rises downtown. Needless to say, I did not fit in with my Patagonia shorts and PFG shirt among the crowd of hipster Australians in their rolled up jean shirts and tank tops.

Sydney skyline from the harbor

Me, Jason Kay, and Will Guthrie on the ferry back to downtown. Opera House in the background!

Tomorrow we head for a tour of the Sydney Aquarium. I take particular interest in this, as any seafood is my favorite thing to eat. Time to get acquainted with my meals!

Day 2: Bling Bling Dumpling

As eventful as our arrival in Sydney was, I'm not sure it can even compare with the ridiculousness of day two.

After finally getting some rest, we all woke up ready to go, which was great considering we went directly to the Harbor Bridge and walked up, down, and across it. Twice. The bridge is really a testament to the ability of engineers and builders, creating magnificent works of art like the bridge without the aid of computer programs like AutoCAD and Revit today. The bridge's pylons provided us a spectacular view of Sydney from above the harbor, after the 200 step climb, that is. Upon reaching the end I the bridge we promptly walked directly back across, as our next destination, Museum of Sydney, was on the side we came from.

All of us on top of the bridge, Opera House in background

The museum of Sydney, while certainly educational, lacked some of the glamour of being hundreds of feet above one of the world's most beautiful harbors glaring out into the skyline of gorgeous downtown Sydney. We did learn a lot about Captain James Cook and surfing, though.

Downtown Sydney from the bridge

Now that our coursework was out of the way (tough class, right?) we let the fun begin with a delicious lunch at Pancakes on the Rocks near the arbor. My seafood crepe, filled with scallops, prawn, and fish was exquisitely complimented with a glass of the house white wine, which in America could probably rival the top wines at comparable restaurants. Wine here is amazing. And more importantly, cheap (since apparently nothing else is, evidenced by the $17 dollars I spent on two tiny bottles of shampoo and face soap). After lunch we headed back to get some work done before it was time to eat again.

Andrew's new Crocodile Dundee hat

Dinner provided the real entertainment of the night. While checking out the area around our campus, we somehow stumbled into what is most accurately described as Australian Chinatown. All of us being very open to different cuisines we decided we would find a place to eat. Then we saw it: "Bling Bling Dumpling." Apart from the obviously attractive name, we were lured in by the giant board in front declaring "any meal $8 + free Coke." We were in.

Entering the restaurant only supplied us with more surprises, such as disco ball decorations and stuffed Angry Bird seat holders. After some coaxing, our waitress convinced most of the group to order their specialty dumplings. I stuck with the garlic chive fried egg with rice. Probably for the best.

I can only hope the rest of our restaurant experiences live up to the high bar set by Bling Bling Dumpling. Maybe not so much the food as the atmosphere.

Tomorrow we are headed to Olympic park and out on the harbor!

Cheers, mates!

Sydney Day 1: Exhaustion

The first day down under is finally under my belt. It might have been the longest day of my life.

I still have not counted how many consecutive hours I was awake, but minus about three hours of sporadic sleep on the flight from LA, I can certainly account for 20 hours in the air, not counting layovers, followed immediately by a 12 hour day exploring Sydney upon our 8am arrival in Australia.

However, feeling like zombies certainly did not keep us from getting the most out of our first full day down under. We got a chance to explore the Circle Quay, with a stunning view of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge, as well as the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Circle Quay and Quay West were both very lively places filled with street performers and small shops and vendors. One particular street contortionist volunteered our classmate Jason Kay to assist her with her performance. Hilarity ensued as the locals heckled the ultra-American Jason partaking in the performance.

The Opera House from Quay West

Me, Jason Kay, and Will Guthrie looking ecstatic in front of Harbor Bridge

Jason helping out contortionist friend with her street performance

The Botanical Gardens were a shift of gears, filled with people relaxing and jogging in a vast area filled with exotic plants and animals, namely bats. There are bats everywhere here. The completely isolating feeling of being in a nature preserve is pretty amazing, considering there are skyscrapers of downtown Sydney looming right over your shoulders.

BATS!

Me standing next to a giant plant

After a dinner of roasted chicken and a Carlton Draught at a restaurant downtown, we headed home for what might possibly could have been the most rewarding sleep I have experienced. First day in Sydney down, 6 more to go before heading to Brisbane!

Matthew

Embarking for Sydney

We are currently awaiting our boarding time to leave for Sydney. Yet to find anyone famous. Hopefully Kobe Bryant will show up before we leave.

The flight from Atlanta was not the greatest. A family with two young children who had an overwhelming interest with the seat recline feature sat in front of me. Needless to say I had my head bumped several times.

The attached picture is of Will Guthrie and Jason Kay, clearly enjoying sitting in the airport as much as I am.

Here's to a fun 6 weeks in front of me.

Cheers!

Matthew