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| Olympic park heroism |
Our third day was the benchmark of our only traditional graded work with the turning in of a couple essays and testing on a book by Bill Bryson, "In a Sunburned Country"; a recommended read by anyone heading down under. With those comfortably behind us we can now focus on research for our respective thesis with a healthy smattering of incredible activities along the way.
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| Absolutely love it. Don't know why. |
The main area around our campus sandwiched between us and the city skyline seems to be its own little china town, and we were fortunate and relieved to have found a break from dumplings and dodgey service when we headed from our dorms opposite the direction of the city. Here we found a quietNew Orleans style road (minus the hand grenades and horse cops) with a great selection of restaurants, pubs, and shops to satiate the needs of the most high maintenance. It was nice to have the morning off and take it easy at your own pace. Maybe even "share a coke with your mate", a reference to an awesome Australian marketing campaign that cracks me up.
After an extremely chill lunch and some kebab for fuel, we were again off to Sydney Olympic Park some 40 minutes from where we share accommodation with cat sized rats. At least they are friendly. We rambled around the quiet mainly tourist only park taking in the sights of the stadiums and making a mockery of the ATL-
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| I had to, sorry tourists |
wannabe fountains. Posers. It was, however, pretty awesome to imagine what the now fairly desolate park may have been like during the Olympic festivities when countries come together in typically friendly competition, pitting the best against the best. I still remember the feel from back at the Atlanta games, and the reminiscent feeling derived from touring the Sydney park added London to my list for Summer 2012...hopefully.
Next up was a jaunt over to one of Sydney's many famous beaches, Manly. The ferry over was absolutely spectacular as we took in the sights of cliff top homes and a beautiful system of inlets here and bays here jutting off of the main vein; a personified aquatic circulatory system. There was also a bombshell redhead sitting next to us, which was nice. Got an awesome seat in the back for a long distance view of the bridge and the Opera house (where I'm now reminded that we will be seeing Fleet Foxes tomorrow; psyched). I thought a fairy there and back would be in itself the perfect end to a great day until, that is, we finally got into the heart of Manly.
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| View from the ferry. |
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| Opera House at night is SICK |
A picturesque beach town, Manly offers a quite repeal from the fast paced life in the city that is über refreshing. Like any stereotypical, but nonetheless incredible, beach town, Manly is full of bars with a view, restaurants with a price and shops with tourist junk. I love it. The beach itself, rather than the town, is what sets Manly apart from the many.
I have heard and read about the tenacity of the natural landscape throughout Australia, but to see it in action, first hand, within 15 minutes of being on the beach sunk it
home to our invincible 20-something year
old heads that this place is legit. We saw some strange action in the water at first and thought that a group was just floating on a buddies surfboard, but at closer inspection we realized that a group of 4 Brazilians (deduced from the size of their swim suits...and butts) were stuck in a deadly rip current and were desperately panicking. A deadly combo in any situation, but especially wearisome in an ocean so mercilessly powerful. Poseidon doesn't mess around in Oz. Before we even had time to help, several local surfers took off into the water on their boards to come to the aid of the group and eventually drag them in to shore. It was a good feeling to see the help-a-stranger-with-no-regard-for-your-own safety-attitude of the locals. Yes, that's a word. Ambulance comes and Brazilians are fine. It's a happy day, and this place is certainly something gnarly.
Time for a beer so we head down the Ocean Drive-esque road to find a rooftop bar with an incredible view of the beach. Beers here aren't cheap but they are cold enough. Still having no clue as to our NYE plans, me and a couple buddies drill the bartender with the where to be when necessities of the night. She was of hopeless assistance. No one seems to plan ahead around here...I love it. New plan: wing it.
As if the day ferry to Manly wasn't spectacular enough, we were simply blown away on the night return taking in the illuminated sights the whole 45 minute ride in. Super picturesque, super end to the day, and let the night time festivities begin. The rest called it a night and a group of us headed to George Street, the well known bar strewn road full of revelry and Aussie cheer. I'll leave it at this so as to not attempt a censored synopsis of the night on a school related blog: it was a night to remember. Oh, and the Ivy is as pretentious as I had been told.
The train is finally in the country side and I believe it is time to take in the sights of the gradually changing landscape punctuated by the rising mountains in the distance. Going to be another good day.
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| The Kay's are a giving people, haha. |
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| Manly Beach bums |
Cheers.
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