Sydney Opera House to Royal Botanical Gardens Hike

If sitting is the new smoking than I am shaping up to becoming the healthiest Sheila in the land.

Today I had my last free day before I begin my new job tomorrow - I am the new Service Delivery Agent for Tyco, a fire and security company. (Hey, it's better than Funeral Sales!) The first thing that crossed my mind when the headhunter called me with the offer was finally, the most boring class I was forced to sat through in college - my course on Excel - is paying off. (Ironically, I had been offered the Funeral Sales position again, to start next week. I had to send the recruiter an email, for the second time, resigning. It's so bad it's almost movie-esque. In fact, the television show Parks and Recreation features a character, Ben, who repeatedly is offered, accepts, and then resigns from an accounting firm. I have accepted the fact that other peoples' post-work guilty pleasure comedy seems to be, unfortunately, my life.)

Desiring to make the most of my last weekday of freedom, I checked TripAdvisor.com to view suggestions. I noted that the Bondi to Coogee Beach Walk, which I had experienced a few days ago, ranked number one on the list; I tried to shove down thoughts that I'm only a week in and it's only downhill from here. I noted that among the top five destinations listed the Sydney Opera House to the Royal Botanical Gardens hike, and that sounded perfect: free, easy, and after the Pad Thai dinner I had last night (pictured below), I could use the exercise.

I arrived at the Opera House, and to no one's surprise it was perfect in every way. 

I decided to spend time exploring around the Opera House before embarking on the hike, and it suddenly struck me what an incredible thing it is to travel alone. We are, I believe, our own best friends (at least, in the two-legged form). Not only do you reap the logistical benefits of eating at only your favorite restaurants, spending as much or as little time at any particular destination that you want, and not having to worry about anyone else's enjoyment, but there is an element of peace derived from exploring by yourself. You don't have to keep up a constant banter or small talk, you can just be. 

Walking around the Opera House, I was mesmerised by the surrounding turquoise ocean and suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to jump into the sparkling water. Remembering what loomed underneath the inviting waves, however, I held my ground. I am convinced that Australia would be a serial killer if it was a human: beautiful, charismatic, easily lures you in - and then could kill you in the blink of an eye in infinite ways. (An odd comparison, yes, but that's what crossed my mind as I was talking myself off the ledge of the Opera House!)

Passing several joggers on the walk, I couldn't help but to notice the difference in short length between Aussie and U.S. culture. While men in the US tend to wear their shorts baggy and knee-length, men in Australia tend to wear theirs tight and short; I felt as though I was experiencing a Chipindales show - free of charge! I wonder if this is what men from other countries think when they visit the U.S. and take note of the skimpy outfits women tend to wear, and realized no, men probably aren't as grossed out. 

Reaching the Royal Botanical Gardens, I adventurously veered off the paves course and into the "Wilderness." I quickly bagged this idea, however, when I spotted my first Aussie spider - and then my second, and then my third. When I say spider, I mean giant, lethal creature. Eventually I stopped screaming when I noticed other park-goers looking at me as if they were wondering if I had neglected to take my meds that morning.

All in all, the day was a perfect end to my perfect first week in Australia.