Trains, Planes, and Automobiles

Arriving 9Am on the 11th, we stepped off a length 13 hour train ride from Melbourne. We opted to take the overnight train to save on the cost of a night's stay in Sydney. So, happily and groggily we found our way to the YHA hostel just two blocks from the train station. We enjoyed the day shopping Paddy's market for goodies. I came back with a purse I've been wanting and Lonnie with a pair of shoes. We then visited The Sydney Chinese Garden of Friendship. It was a nice break from the manic city surrounded. The design was based on the idea of yin vs yang. As we wandered through we were quickly absorbed into our tranquil surrounding. The sound of waterfalls transformed us to a near comatose state. After the garden we wondered through Darling Harbor. We ended our first day in Sydney with dinner in Chinatown, enjoying the people watching as we ate and drank. We brought our own liquor as we often times been doing. A cork fee here is rare. Our hostel roommates (hostel being the venue, not their disposition) are from Sweden, about an hour south of Stockholm. Fortunately they were very kind and considerate. We lucked out as we all ended up going to sleep about the same time so as not to disturb one another.

Monday morning Lonnie broke out early for the fish market. The fish market has a behind the scenes tour of the fish auction. The tour guide, who was a Canadian, would go from bin to bin on the auction floor and give you information about different species. He also pointed out ways of identifying freshness, as well as how some are used as cheap imitations for other more valuable sea food. After the tour Lonnie indulged himself in a variety of fresh offerings. A dozen fresh oysters just in from Tasmania were delightfully creamy and clean tasting. The giant New Zealand mussels were bought and cooked on premise. To him it felt a little odd being one of the only people gorging on shellfish at 8:00 am, but a better breakfast he could hardly remember. After our breakfast we were ready to hit the famous Bondi Beach... some more relaxation needed. After about a 45 min ride on a crowded bus we arrived. Gorgeous!! The beach itself was quite busy but not overcrowded. We took turns swimming and sunbathing. Even with multiple sunscreen applications we both managed to get burned at Bondi. Like I said before- the sun in crazy hot here. Morbid ads relating the harshness of skin cancer are found everywhere here.

So today we checked out at 10 AM, ate breakfast and headed to the ever popular Sydney Harbor. As beautiful as I remember it, we took photos, walked around the Opera house, and viewed the bridge. Walking back from the harbor we ambled through Sydney's royal botanical gardens. It was fantastic surprise. All different species of trees scattered through a park next to Sydney harbor. We were in awe of the amazing figs trees and their enormous root structures. Our skin now extra sensitive, we took advantage of the glorious shade these giants provided. We meandered from tree to tree, admiring the sheer size and uniqueness of each one. It was one of my favorite things about Sydney.

Tonight we fly to Brisbane on a 9:30 flight. We were able to buy the plane tix for about 70 bucks Aus- roughly 55 USD. Not bad- cheaper than a train or bus.