I got to Sydney in the morning. Attila and his g/f Ashley met me at Central station. It's like Union station but significantly larger. He told me to meet him by the Christmas tree. I got some strange looks from the personnel when I asked where this supposed Christmas tree was located, but eventually I did find it and them.
The coastline around Pittwater. About two hours North of Sydney. This was a nature reserve.
We walked around for a few hours catching up and seeing some of the sites. Sydney Opera House (of course) the lovely Botanical Gardens, (also my favourite spot in the city thus far [Attila's too]) China town (I felt right at home) and some of the downtown core.
Australia is a very interesting mix of both East and West. You see tropical plants and wildlife all around you, along with pine trees and other North American species. One moment you get the sense you are in South East Asia, then Europe or North America.
Full moon from a lookout at Ku-Ring-Gai national park.
Attila got me a very refrehsing fruit juice to welcome me to OZ. It was indeed quite nice. After hanging out at the harbour for a while, I said goodbye to them and headed back to Central station to grab a bus North. I had booked a week at Ku-Ring-Gai National Park. I figured it would be good for me to have some down time closer to nature for a few days.
It took a little over two hours to get to Pittwater, which was the specific area in which I was staying within the park. Once you get off the bus, you then need to get on to a ferry to get you across as the place is only accessible via water.
A starfish by the beach.
This is the Wilunga trail and lookout. It is the highest point on the Island (4 hour walk) and allows you to see all around the Island.
I had arranged a work exchange with the owners of the place; I spent the mornings cleaning and helping them with chores in exchange for free accommodation. This was great because it was sunny all week and I was able to make good use of the facilities and area. The week was spent being both in and on the water and in the bush. I went kayaking, swimming, bush walking (hiking in the wilderness) went on photography jaunts at all hours and spent many evenings chatting with other guests and learning about the surrounding foliage and wildlife.
About halfway through my week, I got invited to take part in a sailing race. This was really wonderful as I had never sailed before. The most important part of my job was to not get killed by getting hit in the head with the boom when the winds changed and the sails swapped from one side of the boat to the other. A French engineer, Charles and I were the only inexperienced sailors so the crew were great at explaining some of the terminology and various elements involved. Constantly checking where the wind was coming from and going, looking at the water conditions as well as where the other boats were at any given time, strategizing the best way to get ahead (and not capsizing) - wow... I have a whole new appreciation for this pastime.
I am sitting on the side of the boat weighing it down as it turns sharply during the race. It probably looks like I am sitting there leisurely relaxing. I am not. I am gripping the line to keep from flipping out the side with my legs in the ready position to scurry to the opposite side when the winds or direction changes again.
At a slightly more relaxed moment!
This was the view from our breakfast place in Pittwater. Those frangipanny flowers are very aromatic. The wallabies quite enjoyed coming by throughout the day to eat them.
Scenery from one of the bushwalks.
The coastline surrounding the Island is packed with boats of all kinds. It's quite lovely.
Even with the sunblock (and frequent reapplication) and wearing longsleaves during the hottest part of the day, I still managed to get a tan. (*ahem/slight burn*)
After spending several minutes nibbling the frangipanny flowers, this wallaby bounded away.
Some of the guests included a Swedish diplomat, a lovely Spanish girl who made tortillas one night, a French engineer taking a years break from working in Switzerland, a Belgium lady who sold her house so she could spend the next 12 years travelling the world, many families from Sydney who come up to the place as a weekend retreat, as well as a couple where one was from Holland and the other a Canadian whose brother happens to be a very well known chef in Peterborough. What a small world. They invited me to come and visit them in the Blue Mountains when I return to Sydney. I think I will.
Kayaking for the first time in my life. Going out was great, but getting back was tough as the winds had picked up, the water was choppy and I was not nearly strong enough. lol. It took me nearly two hours on the return, yet only about 25 minutes to paddle to the little deserted beach you see below.
On one of my bushwalks I had the company of some of the other guests. This spider was just slightly smaller than the size of my palm. (And I am not a petite gal with small hands!) I remarked at how large it was, only to be told that this was not the largest. Gee, I wonder what constitutes a large spider here?
Last night we had another dinner party this time inviting Attila and a friend of theirs. We all pitched in making different things to eat and had a good time chatting. Later I escorted Attila back to the station. Since the train wasn't coming for another 40 minutes, he suggested looking for an ice cream shop. It was nice, he invited me for gelato - it was the first sweet dessert-like item I've eaten since I got here.
Tomorrow morning bright and early we are catching the country train link to Taree. It's about 6 hours north of here. We are going to be working on a cattle ranch for a couple of weeks then meeting up in Sydney again afterwards.
Should be an interesting experience! I'll tell you all about it when I return.
Cheers from Australia.
YF
ps. Anyu, Apu, (mom, dad) see?! Attila and I have NOT been eaten by sharks. So things are looking good.
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