1.05.2012

Zoos make me want to go hunting. Normal? 1-3-2012

Our time in Sydney is coming to an abrupt end, for now. Fortunately we will be returning for a 5 day stint on the tale end of our journey, but nonetheless there is the uneasy urge to fit everything in while we can in this incredible city. When traveling it always seems that as soon as you get the lay of the land, so to speak, the time has come to move on to the next destination, wholly new. Bring it on, I say.

To culminate our time in Sydney, we took a trip to the zoo located in the bay of Sydney, accessible by ferry from Circular Quay. Because of the waterborne arrival, it gives the zoo a romantic, Jurassic Park-esque feel of separation and seclusion in order to isolate wild beasts that must be contained. This however is neither an island, nor are the animals all that wild, to my disappointment. It is, however, one of the most eclectic zoos around with a layout that gives it a unique feel, setting it apart from the typical.

They had every animal imaginable, including the indigenous animalistic faces of Australia such as the kangaroo, wombat and echidna. As interesting as it is to see these animals in person, relatively close up, there is a disappointing feeling when you see some of the greatest animals in the world contained and tamed, so to speak. When imagining possible sightings of kangaroos prior to this trip, as cliche and romantic as that may be, I pictured groups of them bounding across barren, stereotypically Australian landscape; not pent up, lazy creatures whose sole job is to fulfill the tourist's checklist. Seen a kangaroo? Check. Not quite as romantic as imagined. Maybe some time in the outback will make up for the artificiality of the zoo.

Nonetheless, I truly enjoyed the zoo and everything on exhibition. They had every animal imaginable, although the major ones that everyone comes to see such as the tigers, lions and elephants don't have the same engrossing appeal after being in Thailand where regulatory laws do little to keep tourists out of harms way, and you can pretty much pay to do anything...including petting a tiger or riding an elephant. Of course I enjoyed seeing all the animals; just saying that once you have been so close to these amazing creatures that urge for more is always there. Such is life, I guess.

After the Zoo I was planning on buying a ticket to the Fleet Foxes show at the Opera House from some Scottish guy. Unfortunately when I called him, as I gathered amid his thick Scottish accent, I was informed that someone had sold his ticket or he still wanted it or it caught on fire or something. Oh well, better plans must be in store.

Rather than trying to scalp a ticket, we all celebrated the last night with an incredible BYO meal at Teru, our local cafe that we tended to frequent for Internet and coffee. Vitalities to our required studies. By the way, BYO restaurants are genius. 5 bucks a person and you can bring all the wine you want. Unfortunately the wine was less than the fee to bring it, so it quite simply sucked. Still a great meal with great friends, and a perfect end to our first stint in Sydney.

Following dinner we went to meet up with everyone in the group along eith some recently acquired comrades at Broadway Bar, to most appropriately celebrate the night. This place was weird with a highschool predominant crowd and a penny slot "VIP" room, but it would do the trick with cheap beer and a jukebox music video player. Rocked out to the classics into the morning hours. One last stroll home and a rough night's sleep with the 'skeeters and it's off for Brisbane in the morning. A fresh start in a new place. Always good for the soul.

Cheers.


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