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