Well after thoroughly enjoying our time in Kiwi land, Saturday we made our way to Australia and Sydney. Much should be said about our getting there and I will save that for the next blog entry. We did arrive in Sydney Saturday afternoon and after navigating the big airport made our way outside into the Australia winter, which unlike Queenstown winter, is not like real winter. Its closer to a early to mid spring day in the states. Quite pleasant. Our taxi ride to our friend David’s place was rather interesting. Either the driver feigned not knowing English and having to use a map to find our location to make an ignorant high cab fare off of two American shmucks or he really didn’t know English and had to use a map to find our location. Either way, it was expensive and we were more than glad to, soon after, purchase an all week bus/train/ferry inclusive ticket to last us until Brisbane.
David is our hilarious dancer friend from our first ship contract and his warm hospitality in opening up his home to us was a welcome reprieve from the hostel nights. So far we have had a 90% blast and 10% ugggh experience. The 10% coming from his confusing washing machine that decided to break only upon us trying to open the door. So we have to wait until Friday to have someone look at it and hopefully make a cheap repair. In our own need and also trying to remain good house guests, we spent half of today hauling dirty clothes (ours and David’s) in backpacks to the local Laundromat that is run by a single guy who may or may not be present when you arrive. He was not present for the first 10 minutes and when our annoyance was beginning to run high, thankfully he came to unlock the door. 15 dollars and 3 loads later, we have clean clothes and remain good house guests. The 90% fun has included two bus trips to downtown Sydney with David and our other Paradise friend, Tegan, who lives an hour south of Sydney. We have been able to stroll Darling Harbor at night amidst the beautiful lit up Sydney skyline, see, of course, the Sydney opera house and Harbor bridge, been able to take way too many photos at every different angle (me), been able to be patient and loving about said photo taking (Kris), gotten mistaken for locals, and even had a couple home cooked meals.
Australia does operate differently from America in different and mostly insignificant ways. A certain bathroom experience down by the water that seemed to catch us all off guard was rather memorable. Two bathrooms side by side right on the pathway welcomed you in by a push the button/door opens up like on a spaceship kind of way. The bathrooms had absolutely no trust in the human ability to do anything for ourselves. The toilet flushed itself, the sink turned on and off by itself, the towel dispenser was automatic but more hilariously or nerve-wreckingly (depending on your situation) the door opened back up by itself based on a 10 minute timer as did the toilet automatically flush, very violently I might add, every 10 minutes. So all that to say, it is not the place to dilly dally with, say, a number 2. I’m surprised there wasn’t a robotic arm to help you wipe! Ok, enough toilet talk. But seriously!
We are looking forward to spending 5 more full days here. We will visit Tegan’s family in the bush, I might try to skydive, and maybe we’ll barter for some fish. Continue to check Kris’s facebook page for more photos then I’m posting here. Much love from down under.
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