Cronulla Beach

My days in Sydney are starting to become fairly routine: work Monday through Friday, long hike on Saturday - a pleasant break from sitting at my desk job all week - and then relax on Sunday before attending an evening church service at Hillsong (followed by, of course, the church after-party). 

This Saturday I slept in until 6:30 a.m. - a treat from my usual 5 a.m. weekday mornings - threw on a maxi dress and set off to Cronulla beach, located about an hour train ride south of Sydney. 

On my way out the door, rushing to catch the bus, I took a moment and quickly pondered whether or not to bring my hat and sunglasses. Usually as much of a staple to my ensemble as my phone and credit card, the weather forecast stated it would be cool and rainy, thus deeming the items unnecessary. It can be a bit of a hassle to lug around many things, especially on a long hike, so I made the whimsical decision to leave them home. Needless to say I am writing this blog post among the adversity of feeling needle-like pain on every inch of my skin. I have learned the hard way to never underestimate the power of the Australian sun!

Arriving at Cronulla had a different feel than previous beaches I have visited; it seemed to be more of a local spot than the tourist-heavy population I have previously encountered. Surfers were abundant, either in the water catching waves or taking a break under tents with barbecues, eating hot dogs, lamb, steaks, and other meals to rejuvenate their energy for the next round.

 

I believe Cronulla has a feminine appearance, featuring light sand decorated with white seagulls wandering about, crisp blue ocean water creating the quiet, peaceful sound of waves. Its quietness and simple, natural beauty make Cronulla a place I would like to live, if I were to settle down in Sydney.

I easily spotted the walking trail - the pavement featured clear markings to remind hikers to walk on the left side of the path, which was helpful. 

As I was mosying along, allowing my mind to sync with the ocean waves, shielding the blinding sun with the back of my hand, I spotted a lookout point where people could stand on an elevated area to view the beach in its entirety. I noticed the path didn't lead to the point; rather, after a short stretch of grass, sand led the way to the lookout. Concerned about getting dirt inside my shoes, therefore making it uncomfortable to hike, I decided the risk would be worth the reward and embarked onto the grass portion. Suddenly I heard a loud, panicked scream of a surfer - especially alarming as those are not a surfer's general characteristics - "WATCH THE SNAKE!!!!" I froze, mid-step, wobbling as I tried to catch my balance, unsure of where to place my right foot that was floating in the air. Following where the surfer was pointing, I spotting the snake a few feet away, slithering along in the midst of a public beach like he owned the place. I slowly backed up until I was once again cement-bound. "Sorry to scare you, but I think that's a fairly dangerous one." The man chuckeled as he headed - on the path - towards the ocean. A quick Google search led me to discover that I had just encountered a Red Belly Black Snake, and "Its venom is capable of causing significant morbidity." Below is the picture I took once I had returned to the safety of the path, and a picture from the Australia Zoo's website to get a better view. 

I noticed the irony how, while I was most worried about wandering through the sand, the grass is what really could have killed me. Food for thought.

Nevertheless, I stood on the path for several minutes, eager to experience the viewpoint but now worried about what lurked in the grass. Watching as person after person successfully made their way to the lookout, my resolve strengthened and, taking slow, intentional steps, I finally made it to the point. 

The end of the path featured giant sand dunes that doubled as an off leash dog park, and an amazing exercise opportunity. I pondered the idea of running up and down the sand, as I spotted a few women attempting, but I realized - especially as I was traveling alone - there would be no one to dial 000, the national emergency number, during my attempt to make it to the top. I figured I would stick to the path.

After the hike I stopped off at a restaurant and ordered a yummy lunch time sandwich. An elderly couple sat beside me, and we naturally got to chatting. They were interested to hear how I created my life in Australia and I was eager to hear about their travels to Africa. We had an excellent conversation, the kind of dialogue that allows a traveler to say they have "Met some interesting people." I eventually set off back towards the beach to sit in tranquility for a short while before catching the train back home. 

    

Another great day in paradise!

Manly Beach

This Saturday I chose to venture over to Manly Beach, a popular tourist attraction I was eager to visit. 

A suburb of Sydney, I took a ferry in which allowed me the luxury of another beautiful trip.

Manly was discovered in 1778, is the birthplace of surfing, and one of the world's five surfing reserves. Fittingly, travelers from all over the world visit to hit the waves. Fun fact - Manly received its name after the governor saw indigenous tribesman on the island and viewed them as being strong and manly. 

I had been informed prior to visiting that people who move to Manly tend to never leave. Upon stepping off the ferry, I could instantly see why: it has everything you need! Hundreds of restaurants, clothing shops, grocery stores and surf shops lined the road, and the air just had an indescribable smell of peace, mellowness and tranquility. The city instantly transitions a person into a vacation-esque bliss.

Easily spotting a trail, I joined the many hikers and joggers and began to mosy down the path, trying to remember to stay on the left side of the path - this task increasingly as a struggle as my mind began to wander. As my appearance doesn't allow a stranger to easily identify me as a foreigner, if I obstruct traffic I look less like a tourist and more like a selfish young person, so I have to watch myself. 

The end of the trail landed me at Shelley Beach, which is one of the only west-facing beaches on the east coast. I'll have to stay long enough to watch the sunset one of these days. Shelley was beautiful, but due to its boutique size I didn't stay long - there's not much to do if you're not swimming or eating. 

After Shelley Beach I strolled back over through Manly, and soon found myself walking along the Manly Lagoon. To my surprise, I liked this area better than the beach, because I discovered it serves as a dog beach! Tens of dogs swarmed the area, happily swimming and splashing in the waves. I watched for a bit, wishing my own puppy was here, but viewing a sign warning visitors about water pollution reminded me of the potentially dangerous Australian water conditions, and I decided I was glad he's home safe in California. Circling the edge of the lagoon, I had covered enough land to suffice as a day's exercise, and headed home. 

Another beautiful day in paradise.

Sydney Royal Easter Show

Easter is approaching, and Easter in Sydney means the Royal Easter Show is alive and well. 

The Royal Easter Show is Australia's largest annual event, with over 900,000 participants each year. Highlights of the Show (which U.S. natives may refer to as a "Fair," or "Carnival," include agricultural competitions, animal experiences, carnival fun, and shopping. Originating in 1823 by the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales - a not-for-profit organization that promotes and rewards agricultural excellence - the Show is as much of a tradition to attend during Easter in Sydney as taking pictures with Mall Santa during Christmas time. 

Partly because we wanted to experience this historical community event and partly because we were tired of answering "I'm not sure," when locals eagerly inquired if we would be attending, my coworker/friend and I purchased our tickets and, on a sunny Saturday morning, headed to Sydney Olympic Park to experience the phenomenon. 

Upon arrival, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Packed in tightly next to each other were Ferris wheels, miniature roller coasters, whack-a-moles, giant slides and other miscellaneous carnival-esque games, each booming music that conflicted with the other games' music, creating an overwhelming environment for an introvert such as myself. As my friend and I arrived at different entrances, I ventured inside and started making my way through the crowd. 

I was beginning to think that the Show catered to children, when I discovered that it, in fact, did. My entrance had placed me right in the "Kids' Fun Zone." Relieved that I hadn't just paid $40 for this mass chaos, I mosied through, seeking a way out and into any other "Zone," which would relieve me from this high-stress environment. I noticed a recurring theme in families that parents seemed to be having more fun watching their kids embark on rides and activities than the kids themselves were having. This is not to say the kids weren't having fun - they were having a blast - but parents of all ages seemed to be basking in watching their kids experience what they must remember as a highlight of their own childhoods. 

Soon I made my way outside of the "Kids' Fun Zone," met up with my friend, and we set off on our day. Finding ourselves in the agricultural section, we walked through rooms that showed us how crops are made, allowing us to write "Thank you" notes to farmers, as well as sample some fruits, such as persimmons, pineapple and papaya & lime (a delicious combination I never beford would have thought to consider). 

Further exploration of this section included rooms with livestock caged up for our enjoyment. Pigs, goats, chickens, and sheep all stood bored while patrons amusedly stared at them. I did not enjoy this part. While the zoo, for example, provides animals with as much stimulation as possible to keep them occupied, happy and thriving, these animals just sat in cages, waiting to be slaughtered.

In fact, animal cruelty seemed to be a large part of the Show. Upon exiting the livestock room, we heard sad, depressed moos of cows who, we discovered, were tied to fences on tiny chains that looped through piercings in their noses. If that image doesn't inspire you to buy free-range, I would kindly ask you to re-evaluate your priorities. 

Furthermore, my friend and I visited an event called "Horse show." We excitedly raced to the stadium and made it just in time to view the event from the beginning. I quickly became confused when I spotted grown men wriling up a cow in a small enclosure, and once it was jumping around, terrified, they opened a gate which let it out into the stadium floor. Confused, it awkwardly stood there until another grown man on a horse began to chase it. I watched the terror in its eyes as the man chased the cow at full speed, attempting to herd it through obstacles in the stadium. Once finished, the cow was taken somewhere outside; I imagine it wasn't getting many treats or a pet. Disgusted, we left after discovering what "Horse show" meant. How, I wonder, is intentionally terrifying, chasing, humiliating and belittling an animal not absolutely horrifying and disgusting to every single person - much less entertaining? I simply cannot wrap my head around the outrageous selfishness, where people think the world is their playground - and no one seems to be telling them otherwise. 

Fortunately, the Show was all uphill from there! Venturing out of the agricultural section, we wandered around a garden section, which featured beautiful bouquets that locals had created. We made our way to a dinosaur exhibit, and laughed as the teenage employees weren't sure whether to complete their task of scaring us or not (as the exhibit was set up for kids). We viewed stunning artwork that allowed us to daydream of winning the lotto and decorating our beachfront-homes in a future life. We ate a spectacular lunch of Hungarian quesadillas, and indulged in lavender ice cream for dessert. We rode the Ferris wheel, not realizing until it was too late that it was spinning at an incredible speed, and we both got motion sickness. We walked through a mall area and accepted an invitation to have our pictures taken, a publicity stunt for a local photography agency. It was a wonderful, relaxing, eventful second half of the day. 

The most popular event of the day seemed to be a wood chopping show that many locals had raved to us about, stating how it's a "Must see," so we made sure not to miss it. The event commenced and basically we watched grown men chopping wood to see who could cut through their block the fastest. While I personally didn't understand the hype in the slightest, I feigned excitement the next day when my local friends eagerly inquired as to how I enjoyed the popular event. 

My favorite show was, of all things, a car show, featuring various forms of entertainment. Cars riding on two wheels, BMX trick jumpers, one man from Texas blowing himself up in a box with six dynamite. ("His accent is more American than yours!" my friend stated.) It was great entertainment and the half-hour show was a welcomed rest break from the six hours of walking we had completed. 

All in all, another eventful day in Sydney! 

Taronga Zoo

Another weekend passed, another "Bucket list" activity crossed off my notepad. I have been to the zoo!

The Taronga zoo, I was informed by several locals, is one of the best in the world. As I am against the theory of caging wild animals for the purpose of human entertainment, I was initially hesitant to embark on this activity and essentially support the cause. I learned, however, that Taronga implements many humanitarian efforts, such as helping save endangered species and housing injured animals to rejuvenate their strength before releasing them back into the wild. Taronga also takes great care when setting up the animals' living quarters, providing them with as much real-life stimulation as they can and creating games to prevent boredom. Seeing how Taronga uses its zoo as a platform to ultimately make a positive difference in the lives of animals, I decided it is worthy of my support and went ahead and planned my day. 

Upon arrival, my housemate, her boyfriend and I were immediately struck with a multi-million dollar view of the Sydney Opera House, ocean, and Harbour Bridge. At one point I mused at the irony that perhaps the best view in all of Sydney is inhabited by giraffes, who don't have the mental capacity to appreciate it. I pondered this irony, relating it to life itself, and I will leave you with that food for thought. 

The zoo is laid out for visitors to begin their day at the top of a hill, wind downward, and trek back up again at the end of the day to return to the parking lot. Along the way one is able to view hundreds of different species of animals across the board, from spiders and lizards and snakes (both in and out of cages), to koalas, giraffes, elephants, lions and zebras. My housemates took great enjoyment of watching me viewing a giant lizard or turkey and then suddenly realising they were not on display - they were simply wild animals wandering around the zoo. The giant black spiders parked seemingly every few feet in giant webs above our heads, on the other hand, would be classified as more terrifying than amusing. At one point a patron threw a large stick at a spider web, and the weaving was so strong that, to my disbelief, it actually stuck. I was so creeped out that my mind started playing tricks on me, and I began to imagine little spiders running all through my clothes - once I even took my shoes off and shook them out before moving on. We certainly did have a real wildlife experience. 

In one snake-filled room, I spotted a father teaching his young daughter about each of the displayed reptiles. 

"If you ever see this one, run as fast as you can in the opposite direction," he solemnly taught her, pointing to a snake whose venom, the sign informed us, was lethal enough to kill 20 mice simultaneously.

"Can they even bite through my trousers?" She asked, doubting. 

"Yes." I figured that was a good time to leave this conversation before I turned around and booked a flight back to the U.S. 

I was initially most excited about spotting Kangaroos, but to my surprise, the species were few and far between. We crossed paths with a miniature kangaroo in a walkway titled something along the lines of "Kangaroo experience," which was exciting, but I have to admit I was hoping for more. The sole large kangaroo we spotted was leisurely rolling around in the dirt - funny as it was, I would still love to see one hop around during my time here. Perhaps kangaroos are so scarce because zoo management doesn't want to pull them from the wild, in which case I understand.

My favorite part of the day was the seal show, where my group and I sat in an outdoor amphitheater and several seals put on a show, all the while being fed buckets of fish by trainers, thus making the enjoyment mutual. The seals waved, clapped, dove, swam, performed handstands and swam with their fins up like a shark. The audience learned to always keep an eye for a certain sticker when shopping for tuna, so that we are supporting safe fishing practices. The show was a perfect balance of informative and entertaining. 

After the zoo, my little group ventured to a Japanese restaurant in Sydney titled Mizuya, where we met up with some other friends to celebrate my housemate's birthday. I had but to sit down and view the ordering tablets to know it was going to be amazing. Sure enough, the family-style meal was divine, highlights including deep fried silk tofu, teriyaki chicken skewers, sushi, and deep fried veggies. I realized what a great marketing tool an ordering tablet was: rather than placing an order when the waiter stopped by, one could simply press a button any time during the meal and the dish would magically appear at the end of your table when you looked away from your conversation. Several orders were made after my stomache's capacity had been filled, and I have no regrets. I did venture out of my comfort zone when my California roll was delivered below a bedding of caviar. Repulsed, I inquired the table if anyone else wanted the sushi. They encouraged me to take a taste, noting that I eat chicken eggs, so what's really the difference? Unable to argue with the logic in this argument, I closed my eyes and took the smallest bite I could muster. Sure enough, the crunch - dare I say - enhanced the flavor. If I hadn't known what I was eating, I may have even admitted that I enjoyed the added texture. 

After dinner we mosied through Sydney and into Darling Harbour to enjoy some gelato overlooking the bay. To my surprise, crowds began to form along the sidewalk and it was discovered we were visiting during the night that bi-weekly fireworks soar over the Darling Harbour - an initiative instilled to increase tourist activity in this location. It was a great way to end the night.