A few travel thoughts!

Today I had the thought, and we all know anything is bound to happen when Kristen is contemplative, which is better:

A) The feeling I have when I get to a new city and everything is unfamiliar and mine to take on. Learning/exploring the streets, the museums, the public transportation system, to some these are the most annoying parts of traveling...they would rather not have to deal with these new unfamiliar situations but rather simply get to the "attractions". To me however figuring out im on the wrong bus or went down the wrong path and have ended up in some random section of town is as interesting as seeing the "sites".

B) The feeling after a trip when you see a place you have been before on the television, or in a photo and suddenly a rush of memories come back from the day you were there. Sudenly the city has context, its no longer just simply some random photo but something you can understand. You not only see the park, you know whats on the otherside, and if you head down a certain street you can get to the best restaurant in town.

Well what brought this thought to me was when looking at the Sydney Opera House today all I could do was cringe as I was brought back to my 3 hour grueling walk to the Opera House in 90 degree weather and beating sun yesterday. Today I was on a ferry. It was 70, cloudy, rainy and cold but I couldnt get past the trek from my hostel in Potts Point, down a masive set of stairs, along Wolloomooloo Bay, up a massive set of stairs, break in the Art Gallery of New South Wales to get out of the heat, through the Domain, through the Royal Botanical Gardens, through the rose garden, a "short cut" up to the Government House and around the gardens only to find no exit on the other side and have to return to the entrance, a hike up Maquarie Street and FINALLY the Opera House. I stood there yesterday looking up the stairs of the Opera House thinking "NOT MORE STAIRS"! But of course I hiked up them, paid the $35 for a 45 minute Opera House Tour, and had to walk up MORE stairs on the tour. Luckly there were little kids and older tourists so I didnt look so debilitated slowly hobling up the stairs grabbing on to the railing to pull myself along. Hopefully as time wears on and I see the Opera House I will have pleasant thoughts of the walk and tour, which was quite amazing despite the heat.

So I think you get the jist of yesterday!

Well a brief description of the other things I have done the past few days! Tuesday I spent the day driving up the Northern Beaches. Drove all the way up to Palm Beach, which is apparently where alot of famous people live and the beach in "Home and Away". If I knew anything about Home and Away or watched it I would probably have cared...however to me it was just another nice beach. Then down a bit to these cliffs that overlook the ocean which were amazing. To get to them you had to hike through the "bush" a bit and then there was a long lawn patch overlook, which was conjoined to a few neighboorhood backyards. I felt a bit intrusive however I was on public land so I had every right to be there. I sat on a bench and overlooked the cliffs very peacefully until i looked down and a spider was making its way towards me. Now I dont like spiders to begin with and the fact that Austrailia has the most poisonous spiders in the world caused me to freek out more than I probably needed to. I high tailed it out of there and ran back to the car. Yes probably over reacted a bit, but I wasnt taking any chances. On the way back to Cindis I stopped to get a drink and some cheese balls at a convienience store. Upon consuming one of my snacks I cringed, looked at the bag, and realized I had actually purchased cheetos "cheese and bacon" balls. My two favorite foods are cheese and bacon, however this was maybe the wierdest, and not in a good way, taste ever!

Today I took the ferry to the zoo, obviously via the Sydney Opera House. It was actually pretty fun, saw some koalas, kangaroos, wombats, and other odd austrailian animals...like a dingo! I will have alot of respect for anyone in america if they can tell me what a Dingo is (without looking on Wikipedia). Before today im not so sure I would have known.

I think that is all for today. Will head back to the hostel, have some dinner, a drink, and head to sleep early as tomorrow I have to find my way to the airport to pick up a rental car to drive up to Forster (pronounced foster) where the wedding will be. Oh and one interesting thing about hostels. I have noticed it takes a bit to get back into the hostel groove. Last night was my first night and I was unusually quiet. However this morning I felt a bit more comforatble and had a chat with a few people in the common room. This hostel might be one of the most awesome I have been in, and I have been in a few. There is a 52 inch flat screen tv with complete cable and free internet in the common room!!! Actually had to pull myself of the couch and force myself to go wander because I was in such awe of the massive TV.

On to Forster!!!