Sydney - Take Two

Matt and I left the beaches of Collaroy and took a nice bus into central Sydney on Monday morning. After checking into our great 4-share (two sets of bunk beds with a bathroom) we checked out our to-see list. Matt looked at my #1 to-do and suggested we go to the Koala Park!

I was excited...

After a train, a bus and a long walk we finally made it to the Koala Sanctuary! Matt immediately made friends with three birds that loved to follow him around.

We explored the park for a little while and came across the Grey Kangaroos. Now before I left my mom suggested I get a little saddle and try to ride one. I was skeptical at first, but when I saw them up close, I think she was on to something.

After hand feeding Kangaroos (video on FB soon) we went on the main event, the Koalas!! I named him Carlos but the woman in charge called him Shawn. So Carlos the Koala and I hung out for a little while. Matt and I were able to snuggle him, pet him, rub his ears and scratch his back. All in all I have to say it was a very successful trip to the park.

When we arrived back to the Hostel in central Sydney, Matt and I were introduced to our roommates Mic and Mac. They were fun Swiss-German boys who were ready to party, with fun accents :)

Day 2 of Central Sydney was a warm sunny morning. So warm in fact that Matt wanted a hair cut to help him cool down.

Before:

Since we are on vacation, Matt decided to experiment, and told the guy to just take it all off...

After

I loved it! and so did Matt :) It gave him a cool edginess to his boyish face and made him look more manly.

We completed our barber-shop-duo and headed to the ferry port. Matt loves boats (as most of you know) so I got to pick the island, as long as it required a ferry ride. I did some research on the nearby islands and picked Cockatoo Island for our adventure.

This island, in Matt's words, is a combination of failed experiments by the British. Cockatoo Island used to be a shipyard, an orphanage for misbehaved girls, a prison and now a tourist site.

We were just about the only people on this deserted island, wandering around like we owned the place. Its the perfect venue for paintball or a horror film... But either way we had a blast. There was even two freaky caves that lead you through the middle of the island, where prisoners sought cover during the bombing of Sydney Harbor.

Day 3 was a day of beaches. Matt read in our guide book that there was a killer walk from Bondi Beach to Coogie Beach - about 5 Kilometers (3ish miles). Little did he mention it was all on the cliffs. The sites were beautiful, though the trek was tiring. We did get a great tan, and worked off any fatty foods we had eaten in the past week. While on our adventure, we passed 3 different smaller beaches and a hidden bay that backed up to the street.

It was worth the journey, and I recommend it to any and all that are near Sydney. After our long walk, Matt and I chose a rocky pool where the ocean waves splashed over the rocks and added fresh chilly water to the area. It was refreshing and the ocean waves were powerful.

We concluded our evening with a relaxing stay at the hostel where Matt ran into a current Irish Stanford Bus. School student named Paul. We quized him about married life as a student, then called it a night. The next morning we headed straight for the airport and were off to Melbourne, Australia.

Timing is Everything...

I have had many moments where I have thought to myself, "Man this was just perfect timing!"  Either walking into a restaurant that is instantly crowded after I am seated, or getting tickets outside of a sold out show that were front row center.  Call it luck, call it fate or call it a "Higher Power" something is on my side.

Matt and I chose a nice beachside hostel for our first few days in Sydney.  What we didnt choose was rainy weather.  We were first put in a room that looked like this:

Twin top bed, Double bottom bed and we had to walk down the hall for the bathroom.

The next morning we got a note about a free upgrade - which we happily took - to this:

But what we were super excited was the free soap!

We spent the first two days exploring the near by restaurants and beach, while trying to stay dry.  Sunday we had plans with an Irishman and a Canadian to go to a Rugby game, but when the rain came down, the boys said that they thought the game woud be cancelled.

Matt read about a nice walk that required a bus ride, so we changed clothes and packed a bag.  As we approached the bus stop and Matt was reading the bus map, a nice older man waiting for the bus asked me how I was doing.  After about three sentences of small talk, I was invtied to a real rugby game in the Sydney Olympic Field.  I grabbed Matt and we hopped on a different bus and off we went.

We saw some great sites on the way:

 Our new friend Mick (just like Crocodile Dundee) told us some of the rules of rugby and who was playing.  We took a bus for an hour, then two trains past central Sydney.

The final train dropped us off right at the stadium, and immediately we heard the cheering from kick off.  The red and green Rabbitohs vs the blue and white Bulldogs.  Incredible game! and Matt and I found out that the Rabbitohs' owner was present at the game.....Russell Crowe!!!! (no pics sorry)

We also got a sneak peak of a known and loved hair style - the rat tail

The game ended and the bull dogs won.  We said goodbye to our good friend Mick and went on our way.

TTFN
Elka

3 Nights in Auckland

We left LAX airport at 11pm on Sunday March 13th.  The entire 747 New Zealand Air Plane barely had 40 people, even though it could have easily held my whole high school.

So with the plane being somewhat a ghost town, Matt and I grabbed our own rows and stretched out for the 13 hour flight.

We arrived at 8am on Tuesday March 15 (skipped right over Monday) and caught the shuttle to the hostel. We stayed at the Lantana Lodge in an area called Parnell.  As soon as we checked in, and were escorted to the common area, Matt and I made friends with a New Yorker and a few good Brits.  We dropped off our bags and joined our new friends on a stroll through Auckland.

We grabbed a burger on the way and I was surprised to get some version of chunky salsa on mine instead of ketchup. Weird but decent eating.  The locals were a mix of super thin pale blondes, and SUPER tan, thick, husky people where dred-locks and barefoot is good anytime.  Even when they were in the middle of downtown, no shoes required...

First Stop Sky Tower
The Sky Tower resembles the Seattle Space Needle, offering a fantastic panoramic view of the city and nearby islands.  Fun Fact:  The Sky Tower is the highest point in the Southern Hemisphere rising to the height of 37 buses back to back.

After an eventful day around the city, we turned in to the Hostel with our friends for a deliciously cooked meal by a Canadian.



Volcanoe
We woke up the next morning ready to conquer the world, so Matt suggested climbing a volcano.  At the top of the Sky Tower, we were able to see a huge green hill with a giant crater inside, and that was the next adveture calling our name.  We took the local bus, and hiked over 7 miles up and down this beast of a hill (looked smaller from the tower).

Waiheke Island
On our third and final day in Auckland, Matt and I planned a fun day just for the two of us.  We took a bus to the pier and booked a round trip ferry ticket to Waiheke Island.  This island can be compared to Coronado Island, for you San Dieagans out there, where people live out there all year around, and you can barely afford to look at their beaches.  Be that as it may, we enjoyed the relaxing 40 minute boat ride with a killer view from the water.

After arriving on the island we took a 30 minute stroll and found a Fish & Chip place over looking the beaches.  The owner was excited we were from Cali and told us she visited every summer for good LA shopping (who knows what that means...) so we stayed a while and had a beer.  I instantly made a friend names Sydney, who loved to be scratched :)

We were relaxing and enjoying the day, when all of a sudden we were overcome by five happily brewed (drunk) Aussies who wanted us to join tables.  An hour, 2 bottles of wine and 2 beers for Matt and I later, we made best friends with these mates from down under.

Sandy, one of the wives, loved to take our pictures, so I let her.

We then all agreed that we wanted to take the 6pm ferry back to Auckland, and the senior partiers had scheduled a cab and invited us to join.  Delighted to skip the 30 minute hike back to the ferry, we agreed and walked to the street with them.  Just as we were all looking around for the said cab, Nevel (Sandy's hub - 3 sheets to the wind) runs in the street and holds his hand up to stop an empty bus.  They bus driver stopped (he had no choice) and told the drunk man, "Fine! Hurry! Get on! Im late for the ferry!"  The seven of us get on our own private bus and haul butt down a windy road, throwing our New Zealans money at him as we go.  We make it to the ferry just in time, and were immediately escorted by the Aussies to the bar.  One guy in front of us was buying 35 Heinekens and Nevel was worried they would run out.  So he began shouting (which he thought was joking) and also introducing me (like that will get us a beer) and the man laughs and proceeds to tell us he owns the ferries.   Best afternoon so far :)

We are now in Sydney and ready to have the next adventure!  Bring it on!