Welcome to SYDNEY, Australia!

I have just spent three weeks in one of the world's best cities... and here are some of my pictures thus far. (Technically it's been two weeks, since I traveled to the highlands to volunteer on an organic farm for 8 days). There are so many interesting things about this city- from the harbours and beaches and neighbourhoods... and the overwhelming public transit options ranging from light rail to subway trains to buses and ferries. I can honestly say that even on the days when I have 8 hours to explore by myself, I have yet to run out of something new to do/see, and I've met fellow travellers and locals along the way. I managed to get myself lost in a nearby beach town and hitchhiked twice to get back to where I needed to go. Haha! Although I must say that it's freaking expensive here. Yikes. It costs me about a dollar per banana at the grocer, which is how I gauge cost of living while traveling. I'd say most things are at least 2-3x more expensive here than in North America. (Except petrol, which is about the same as in the Toronto area). Let's just say I wish I applied for a working visa, even for the brief time I'll be here. It would've been nice to have subsidised my city stay a bit. Yikes!!

My favourite places so far?

• Royal Botanical Gardens- a huge, free park right beside the Opera House and Harbour Bridge with tons of walking trails and interesting things to see. I like the rose garden and the Government House, although I almost got arrested at the latter. Not even joking- I was with two other travellers I met while walking and we supposedly crossed a "no entry" boundary. Let's just say the officer was not a happy camper.
• The Bondi to Coogee Walk- which is a 5km trail on the rugged cliffs along the ocean from Bondi Beach (one of Sydney's main beaches) south to Coogee Beach. What a beautiful walk... Here is a picture of Bondi Beach from along the pathway:

• Newtown (neighbourhood)- full of interesting and eclectic restaurants, bars, shoppes, and graffiti... this district is super bohemian and forward-thinking (aka anti-capitalist and pretty hippie). Always great festivals and shows here. 

^ Hyde Park

^ Harbour Bridge

 ^ Sydney Fish Market and some Graffiti near Darling Harbour

^ beautiful purple trees everywhere!  ^ Chinese Friendship Garden 

^ Moustache Cafe in Manly  ^ Manly Wharf at sunset

 

^ Aboriginal-style art graffiti in Newtown  ^ more street art in Newtown 

^ graffiti somewhere in the CBD :)  Love this.

^ Bird of Paradise flower at the farm  ^ The other farm volunteers from Europe

^ Volunteering at Peppercorn Creek Farm just south of Sydney