The world is our book, an unwritten book ready for us to unravel. Our lives are merely constructed from what we perceive around us, in us and between us. A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving. We travel to see sights, sounds and essentially take away and store memories and experiences from places that we travel to, in our hearts and in our minds. This is the culture of wanderlust. There are not set plans in stone, but rather, an exploration, of the mind, of the soul, of our lives. Perhaps we travel to leave behind a place has not future for us, and towards a place that is full of opportunities. Perhaps there are subtle forms of escapism, a need to leave behind past and create a new future.
But we travel to go away, so that we can come back with new eyes and extra colours. It is often said that people who want to explore their inner experience need solitude to do so and letting the joys of curiosity take over. For those that have a high openness to experience, requires time to investigate our own intellectual and emotional life, which means leaving from societies and people's demands on our ears, eyes and mind.
We travel to learn, to see different things, to bring that back with us to our home. People will see you differently, more cultured, more worldly knowing. A collection of experiences hidden deep down with a touch of subtlety in emanating those experiences through every interaction. Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow, people you met, things you see and food that you eat. This is the story of my first solo travel to Sydney.
We travel to learn, to see different things, to bring that back with us to our home. People will see you differently, more cultured, more worldly knowing. A collection of experiences hidden deep down with a touch of subtlety in emanating those experiences through every interaction. Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow, people you met, things you see and food that you eat. This is the story of my first solo travel to Sydney.
Wednesday the 17th of December 2014
6:30pm
I disembarked on a trip, knowing that this will be a educational trip, a business trip, a trip to explore and wander someplace more familiar and navigable yet unknown, a trip that has no real set plans, but rather learning to follow with the flow.
The sun was setting calmly in the background as I stepped onto the JetStar Boeing 737-800 flight from Brisbane to Sydney. Although this was not my first solo flight, it was one that was the first step to an adventure, a trip to remember, a trip to experience the bad and the goods that this world has to offer.
9:32pm
I arrived at the Sydney (Kingsford Smith) airport code IATA: YSSY.
I was briefly picked up by my friend Tanya and her dad who had heard about my hunger complaints before I left Brisbane. He kindly cooked braised beef with rice as a meal for me.
We left and headed to the hostel.
They had an event to head to Side bar. An international party filled with backpackers and travelers from other countries. Many of those there were lost, looking for love, to fill in that gaping dark hole and seeking adventure. I'll leave this story for another time.
Thursday the 18th of December 2014
In a new big world city, with merely one trustworthy friend, I set my sights on establishing and forming some friendships with the fellow travellers. I stayed at Bounce Hostel, a surprisingly clean hostel which costed a handful more than other places, but was definitely worth it. I was set in room 201, which I was briefly greeted by two German travellers. There was another British girl, and a French Laos girl who abruptly scurried past me and briefly said hello giving away her distinct accent.
I headed to the rooftop to wait for Tanya to come so that we could check out a brunch place that her friends had recommended.
Devon Cafe at Surry Hills
Just a brief walk away, we arrived at our brunch place named after an county archaically known as Devonshire from England. I will type up my review of the place later with pictures included [to be updated].
I had been contacted by a private planing firm at Lindfield to discuss planning matters and needed to head off by a 45 minute train ride to the north of Sydney. I spoke with the director there who had a wealthy knowledge and experience in the private, public and academic sectors, he also provided penetrating insight into the planning industry in Sydney [to be updated].
I headed back to Central station to explore the city with Tanya who had visited her friend. This was my first glimpse of inner-workings of the city with a completed planning and urban design background.
We headed to the state library to complete my plans for the rest of my stay in Sydney.
She later took me to the 'best pho restaurant in town', which was unfortunately disappointing to say the very least, but a memorable experience, for every time I walk past or see that restaurant, it brings dark memories of the battle I struggled with the bland and poorly cooked beef noodle soup.
Scubar [to be edited].
Friday the 19th of December 2014
I woke up rather late this day. I readily got ready for the 2:30 free guided tour offered from the start of town hall, which led me through the sights and sounds of the city to learn the history and gain a local insiders knowledge to Sydney. This led me through town hall, to the waterfall with eternity written in it, to the Queen Victoria statue, to the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) to the central of the city area, to the office areas, to circular key [to be edited].
The tour ended at the end of Darling Harbour. One thing I must point out is the gigantic and enormous sight of the cruise liner that stood majestically among the world icons of the Opera house and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
I embarked towards the Rocks, an urban locality, tourist precinct and historic area of the Sydney's city centre. It has quite an interesting historical background, for it was established shortly aft erthe colony's formation in 1788, with many beautifully built sandstone buildings. The place surprisingly used to be a slum, frequented by sailors and prostitutes. From there I stumbled across a bizarre markets, an 1920s inspired market full of awe and eccentricity, characteristics that I quite admire. I will continue this post later as I have to head out for a brand new day.
Pictures will be added soon.
