My First Impressions of Sydney

28th December 2012 - 4th January 2013

Choo Choo, Choo Choo, Thomas

So my train arrived into Sydney. The journey was long, a couple of hours on a coach to a station called Casino just other the board into New South Wales, a few hours wait and then a 12 hour journey over night down the coast to Sydney. I had hoped that the scenery would be intriguing and exhilarating, turns out green is green, but when its dark its all black! The moral of this story if you want to see scenery, don't book a night train.

This must be why they have no cow back at home

So less of the journey and more of the destination. Sydney was bright and less humid. I found my hostel, only the reception was closed and as the night on the train had provided me with very little sleep i had no energy to explore. I sat myself down on a park bench and waited. If i had been more prepared i would of bought a bottle of wine and looked like a wino, shame my preparation skills never seem to get it right.

Clouds? in Australia? Nahhhhhh, doesn't happen

So a few hours later, after many false attempts, i finally got into my hostel, attempted to sleep, it didn't work but i was just grateful for being horizontal with my eyes closed. My first few days in Sydney were really busy, I was meeting people with whom i had only ever spoke with via Facebook and i was catching up with old friends whilst trying to make new ones. I also managed to purchase some wine and sample a box or two. Its far more expensive here than in Italy.

Just a reminder it was close to Christmas Time when i arrived

In an attemt to catch up this blog and get my posts more current i won't go into much detail but my first week in Sydney consisted of the following:

First gay night out in months, and thanks to the white wine, we lost each other within the first hour of being out. Sorry Gaz!

My first boat ride on Sydney Harbour, watching Harbour Bridge and the Opera House sit there so proud, it's such an iconic symbol of Australia it felt so surreal watching it just pass by as i sailed over to Manly, to be honest its almost 3 months later and i still have that same feeling now. Drinks follow the boat ride over looking the ocean, i wish i knew the name of that bar it was amazing, a very good introduction to Sydney and the Northern Beaches.

Afternoon drinks in Newtown (a little bit like the Northern Quarter in Manchester or Camden in London) which turned into a full night of drinks. Newtown is a few stops out of the city by train and it feel like another world. There is no chain restaurants, no chain bars, no chain shops, everything is individual and quirky. I loved it as soon as i went there. And the bars have beer gardens/roof terraces so what is there not to like. It was also the night of my first Indian curry in Sydney, It was good, but it made me realise, i won't get an English curry for a long time.

I decided i wanted to live here, so viewed some flats. I viewed some awful flats. I mean flats with mould growing in the bath. Flats that had grease mixed with grease mixed with dust and fluff, mixed with more grease. Rooms in flats that had cardboard boxes as walls and curtains as doors. I think my most shocking room viewing had the be in a building I'd already seen a room in. The add said 'Own room, own balcony' Great i thought, This ones sounds really good. I got there and the lady showing me the apartment was faffing around about meeting me in reception but i had such a god feeling about this flat i thought that the wait was worthwhile. We climbenbed in the lift together (yes i do now use lifs occasionally) and she made a small attempt to make conversation but her English skills weren't great, I didn't mind, i was about to have my own room and own balcony. When i got to the 22nd level ready to view the room, i was so pleased when she asked me to take off my shoes, my own room and clean common areas, this place will be perfect. But then guess what happened? She took me out to show me the balcony and i began to understand how little English she really understood. The add didn't mean to say 'Own Bedroom, Own Balcony.' It should have read 'Own bedroom, ON Balcony.'

I just thought it was funny

The owner had simply put a glass wall up above the balcony glass railing/barrier thing and with the addition of a cotton door type arrangement, voila an extra bedroom. My favourite part of the room was how the bed was push up against the glass wall looking 22 floors down, i decided there and then i couldn't live in this place and left.

New Years Eve the main event and also the end aim point of my entire journey to Australia. This was amazing. It felt as thought the journey had finished and now i was here it was time to start putting down routes, finding work and generally making a life for myself here. I had tried unsuccessfully to get on a cruise on the harbour. I won't say I'm not disappointed, but i know i tried all i could. After watching video clips of the event last year and listening to Andy and Adam's experience from previous years i knew that i had to get onboard, so i rang up the cruise company, they said they were full. I rang an hour later, it was full. I rang 90 minutes later, it was full, I rang an hour later, it was full. I did pester them all day. It was still full. I even turned up at the wharf, praying that someone would decide at the last minute not to come,(or get stuck in traffic) it didn't happen. So a little deflated but not defeated i headed back to the hostel and went to plan B, roof top drinks followed by Circular Quay to watch the fireworks.

It was an amazing night the atmosphere was brilliant and we had a great view of the Harbour Bridge, over the railway tracks. Even the crowds boo's when i train came past and block the display, did nothing to dampen the celebrations.

We didn't go there lol

Hangover cured by a kebab and a beer (well actually i drank water but it doesn't quite sound as rock and roll when i'm honest does it, and by kebab i mean pieces of meat ok skewers, not that horrible donner meat we have at home) and a walk around Wooloomberloo (yes that is a real name) and the Botanical Gardens i decided that i really did want to stay in Sydney, again, definitely lol

The morning after the night before, fresh as a daisy!

But since i had already arranged a couch to surf on in Canberra i figured whats a few days in the capital and off i went …………..