Globetrotter Postcards: Sydney

Showing posts with label Sydney. Show all posts

21 April 2014

Moving to Sydney - A Locals Introduction

When I moved to London, there was so much I didnt know and wish I did. It was everything from how to find a place to live, to where I could buy work clothes, to how to navigate the every day (post, transport, phone and internet, money). After 2 years, though I will occasionally still ask people about where to find this or that, I feel I have finally gotten a grip on living in London. These thoughts however have spurred me on to launch the #LondonExpatLife chat to help others.

In reverse though, giffgaff have asked me to share a few things about my home, Sydney, should you be thinking of moving there. As a local, there is so much I could tell you, but you would be reading forever. So, to make things easier, here are some introductory tips for moving to and living in Sydney.

Where to stay
I grew up in Sydney's western suburbs - it is suburbia to the max, and takes forever to get anywhere. Unless you are planning on living in Sydney long term, stick to the inner city suburbs or along the beaches. There are lots of popular spots, and other travellers who would be looking for housemates. Places along the beaches like Manly, Bondi Beach, Coogee, Cronulla, Bronte and surrounding areas are popular. In the city, for a trendy vibe, try Paddington, Annandale, Surry, Leichhardt, Balmain, or Glebe. But bear in mind these places do attract a premium rental price. Good websites are www.realestate.com.au and www.domain.com.au. Both of these sites do listings for flat shares as well.

The famous Bondi Beach

Street art in Glebe

Finding work
The most popular jobsite is www.seek.com.au so start your search there. If you are signing up with a recruitment firm that specialises in your industry, you can expect an interview so they can find out what you are after and to get to know you in person in order to better place you. Don't be afraid to sign up with more than one. It's also a good idea to find the names of companies you would like to work for because often they will do their own recruitment.

Sydney CBD skyscrapers

Where to shop
Pitt Street in Sydney city is the most popular shopping strip with a Westfield newly opened. In your local area you will most likely find a grocery shop (Woolworths - aka "Woolies" - Coles, IGA, Aldi) for everyday food essentials. For basic homewares and basic clothing, there is Kmart, Target, Big W. The two main department stores are Myer and David Jones. For electronics, try JB-HiFi or Bing Lee. Furniture, electricals, etc: Try Ikea, Harvey Norman, Fantastic Furniture or The Good Guys.

Where to eat
Sydney is not lacking in good places to eat, so there is no point in my listing all of them. But here are a few things I'd like to pass on. Coffee is amazing. You'd be hard pressed to find a bad cup of coffee. Also, you can get amazing asian food here, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Chinese: You name it, it's going to be amazing. If you are a fan of seafood, you should try the Sydney Fish Markets at least once! Be sure to get there early though. One of my favourite cafes in Sydney is Sappho Cafe in Glebe. Newtown is also home to lots of good affordable eats. If you are a fan of good Sushi, then you cannot go past Sushi Rio on the corner of Sussex and Liverpool streets in the city. (Thanks to my lovely friend Amanda for this one!)

This post has been sponsored by the international phone network giffgaff as part of their campaign to share insights by locals into their hometowns for anyone heading there on an adventure. I usually talk so much about London that it was a nice chance to share a bit about my own home and hopefully inspire you to visit, or ease you into living in Sydney, if you happen to be moving there.

If you live or have moved to Sydney, what is your top tip about moving there?

Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach Coastal Walk

One of the nicest walks in Sydney is a coastal walk between Bondi Beach and Coogee Beach. Its along this walk that the Sculptures By The Sea yearly art exhibition is held. But you don't have to wait for that to enjoy the beautiful views on this walk.

Last weekend Sydney cleared up enough for trip to Bondi beach I hadn't gotten around to yet. After lazing for a while in the sun (it was hard but someones gotta do it) I headed out for the walk. The entire trip, Bondi to Coogee took me about two and a half hours but that's including several photo stops. I have to say, last time I did this walk was in reverse and I think that was better for the views.

Winding my way along the coast, going from one gorgeous view to hidden beach gave me ample opportunity to try out my new point and shoot camera. Judging by some of my photos, I still need to work out the settings. Regardless of all that, the walk was relaxing, refreshing, peaceful and a really nice way to spend the afternoon.

If you are interested in doing the walk you can start at either Bondi Beach or Coogee Beach. If you don't want to do the whole thing, you can always try the shorter version which is from Bondi to Bronte Beach. The start of the coastal walk is to the right of the beach where the Bondi Icebergs club is located.

To reach Bondi Beach just catch the train to Bondi Junction then hop on a bus from the main terminal (just follow the signs from the station) to the beach - you'll know where to get off once you see the beach ;) Some of the buses that go there are 381, 389, 333, 380.You can buy a ticket to Bondi Beach, it includes the train and bus fare and will also list the bus numbers the ticket is valid on. Just be aware that the coastal walk is not mobility friendly.

What's your favourite walk?

What I have been up to in Sydney.

Ive been back at home in Sydney for about 4 months and 2 weeks now (yes I'm counting) and thought I'd share a bit about what i have been up to - aside from missing my friends and life in London.

Street art in Glebe

Friends and Family
I have been spending a lot of time having coffees, lunches, dinners and other catch ups with my friends and my family. Its been nice to see what everyone has been up to while I've been away and just enjoy good conversation and company.

Coffee and Food
I am appreciating the brilliant coffee here more than i used to. You would be hard pressed to find a place that does a bad flat white. Sure you can find good coffee in London - but you have to LOOK for it - here, any cafe will have a good cuppa.

As for the food its fresh, flavoursome and healthy. Plus i find that Sydney does Asian food really well (outside of south-east Asia of course), probably due to its proximity and the large south-east Asian community here. I have been gorging myself on Thai, Japanese (sushi mainly) and Vietnamese.

Yummy Vietnamese Pho

Beaches
Australia is famed for its beaches and, having escaped the London winter, i have been making the most of Sydney beaches. Some of the weather has been a bit crappy recently with lots of overcast days but i have still been able to get loads of sun. I'm planning on hitting Bondi Beach this week if the weather cooperates. Keep an eye on my twitter for pics.

Manly Beach

Relaxing & Books
There is nothing i love more than getting engrossed in a book. Ive been devouring about a book a week if not more (i think i finished the Hunger Games trilogy in a week). Curling up with a good book is my favourite way to relax and unwind.

A cafe in Balmain

Visiting old haunt and exploring a bit more of Sydney
I have enjoyed being a regular again at one of my favourite cafes and some coffee shops. I love the familiarity of such things. At the same time i have been trying to explore bits of the city that have previously escaped me such as the area around Balmain, the deeper heart of the Botanic Gardens, the State Library of NSW, Annandale, Glebe among others. It made me aware of how much i have seen and pleased that there are still tiny bits i haven't.

Mrs Macquaries Chair - a popular Sydney Lookout

Oh, and a bit of a silly one, Cotton On. Its a clothing store and I just love their pjs. They are super comfy, light, have decent colours and patterns and best of all are really affordable - almost Primark affordable.

What would you do if you were home?

Goodbye 2013, Welcome 2014! Reflections on New Years in London and Sydney

In a couple of days we will have said goodbye to 2013 and welcomed the new year. Last year I was lucky enough to spend it in London. I piled on the cold weather gear and made my way to Victoria Embankment so I would be able to see the clock tower of Big Ben and be Thame-side to watch the fireworks explode from the London Eye. The vibe was amazing, I'll never forget it. People were in high spirits, dancing in the street and generally having good time while waiting for the countdown to midnight.

This year (if all goes to plan) I will be hitting up my favourite spot in Sydney harbour to watch the fireworks in the warmth. I enjoyed London's fireworks and recommend making the effort to go see them if you haven't already but, in this firework-lovers humble opinion, Sydney has THE best fireworks in the world ;)

At the close of 2011 I was on the edge-of-my-seat excited for the new year. It marked the start of my expat life in London and everything that I had dreamed. I remember standing there watching the fireworks shoot out of the Harbour Bridge, explode in the sky and light up the entire harbour. My eyes followed them each explosion reverberating inside my chest and increasing that feeling of being on the verge of a great adventure. I wondered when I would be home again and be back to see in a new year and what was in store for the time till then.

Needless to say, I had an amazing time. My time as an expat in London was well spent, even if I wish I had done more. I saw in the Queens Jubilee, visited the Lakes District, said hello to Edinburgh again, was able to show my brother around Cambridge and had many other explorations. I met some wonderful people whom I hope to keep as life-long friends and fell more and more in love with London, its afternoon teas, cute neighbourhoods and enchantment than on any other previous visit.

I am excited about 2014. I am keen for more adventures abroad (I am, after all, a die hard travel addict) and meeting a few more of my blogging friends in person. So as one of the first cities to welcome in the New Year, let me wish all of my lovely readers a brilliant New Year! May 2014 bring you travel, adventure, great laughs and good times with friends and family. Thank you for joining in my adventures on this blog, see you in the New Year!

With Love,
VP

The Village Bizarre at The Rocks, Sydney

The Rocks has to be one of my favourite areas in Sydney. Its the "historic" part of the city, one I visited for a touch of history and nostalgia before I visited London and realised how young it was in comparison.

The Rocks is most famous for the weekend markets where you can pick up all sorts of hand crafted items from soaps and candles to jewellery and dresses. There are a number of things to do even when the markets are not on. You will find museums, galleries, walks (haunted and regular), cafes and pubs, shops, an old cottage from 1816 and the Sydney Observatory just to name a few.

Among other locations around Sydney, the Rocks hosted a number of art installations as part of Light up Sydney and prior to the Village Bizarre being introduced, during the summer months, the markets went nocturnal in The Markets by Moonlight.

Anyway, for my Friday the 13th last week, my brother and I headed over to explore the Village Bizarre. If you are going this Friday and you want to be surprised, stop here. This is a spoiler alert! I will be revealing what is behind the curtain...well in my case anyway ;)

We collected our masks from the information stand and followed the feathers to a pop-up bar along George St. Stepping inside we were greeted with white surroundings, fellow mask wearers, nests and fluffy pouffes you could sit on while sipping drinks and listen to the DJ or chatted away. Winding our way to the top floor we found a projector screening images of skies, birds and the like creating the "Hole in the Sky" the bar is named after.

Leaving the bird house, we head out to find out what was behind those red velvet curtains. Behind one along Jack Mundey Place we found the Illusionist, an act which had nothing to do with magic and lots to do with laughs.

The Parlour was host to a few different stalls including one tent where we found a puppet afraid of the dark and cute rhyming story that kids in the audience loved. Through the Parlour the Cabinet of Curiosities tent was found tucked away behind Kendall Lane. It was guarded with inflated clowns and inside we treated to a number by the hottest cross-dresser I've ever seen! Not only could he pull off bubble-gum pink hair but damn, he was better than me at walking (and dancing) in heels!

We walked past the markets, fortune tellers, another pop-up bar, outdoor public karaoke for the courageous, and a silent disco where i had fun shaking my tail feather and watching my brother laugh his head off at me.

The Village Bizarre is only in its second year so there is room for a little improvement but i had a great time exploring and, all in all, for a free event, it was a fun way to spend a few hours and it was a lot of laughs. Grab some friends and check it out this Friday 20th Dec for its last night before wrapping up for the year.

If you have been, what did you think of it?

Top 5 pros for an Expat returning home

As we descend, the plane skims the clouds, is engulfed by them and then drops below into an overcast Sydney. Its not the first time my home has welcomed me back with rain. My 24+ hours of travelling is almost over and London could not be further away.

What is my brain thinking at this point? Am i missing my friends in London? Missing London itself? Looking forward to seeing family and catching up with old friends? Nope, none of that. My brain is thinking about wonderful, blissful, horizontal sleep. And the fact that the rain is temporary. It is summer in Sydney :) What can i say. I don't function well without sleep. Or coffee.

I said goodbye to London on Wednesday and landed in Sydney on Friday (no clue where Thursday went). Leaving people you care about behind is not easy, even when coming home to family and good friends. I did what i could by way of goodbyes and now I'm here, I'm am determined to make the most of things. I'm sitting here at Circular Quay in Sydney, the sun is out, it is warm and there is a nice breeze. There are pros to coming home, aren't there?

Top 5 pros for an Expat returning home

1 - Spending time with family. My lovely family have been very supportive of my time in London, it will be great to spend time with them now I'm back.

2 - Catching up with old friends. I love all the friends i made in London, but there is something about being with old friends that s just different. I cant wait to see them again.

3 - Getting to know home as a tourist. As my home, I've always neglected to blog about Sydney as i do about other cities i visit. I hope to change that.

4 - The familiarity of everything. I know how to get where i need to go, i know where to find things and that sure is relaxing! Its second nature.

5 - The possibility. Its a fresh start, a clean slate, a new beginning. For some this may be daunting, but it is, without a doubt, a chance to do whatever you want to do.

While I'm fairly recovered from the madness that is packing up my expat life (though still slightly affected by the stupor of jet lag) I'm slowly waking up and buzzing with excitement for this next chapter. I'm looking forward to enjoying the Sydney summer, the New Years Eve fireworks, the things that have changed and those that haven't (which always makes my time away seem less like a dream), the good coffee and fresh food and, of course, all those things on my pros list too!

What has been your experience returning home? Any "pros" i should add to my list?

My Last Sydney Commute

There is faint chatter, some not-so-muted music and of course that one person who is on the phone the entire trip. From the train window i see the sun slowly rising against a faint haze and a few scattered clouds. Its going to be a hot day. Perfect beach weather. The houses I've seen countless times slip by still unremarkable as ever.

My thoughts drift to my almost-last day at work. I will no longer be commuting to my job in the city. I'll be working from home - wherever that ends up being - in London.

Its time for a change. Those two years as a flight attendant have changed me. I am no longer content with 'the norm'. I have seen what can be done in 2 years, what can be done in 10 days, 32hrs, 12hrs, or even 4hrs. Besides, who decided what would be the norm anyway? Surely the norm should be what you make it? But i digress...

Ever since my first London layover, no, ever since Disney made Mary Poppins and i read the books, I've always felt London held a kind of magic. My first layover just cemented the fact that i love the city and it felt like home. And it will be my home for the next 2 years. It will also be my base for travelling around Europe ;)

I am excited and nervous. Actually, terrified might be a more honest description. I love Sydney, it has been my home for over 25years and i will miss it. Moving to London is the next adventure and i hope you will all keep reading and join me in exploring this new chapter.

Vanishing Point

VPs Skydive with Sydney Skydivers

Hearing: Watercolor - Pendulum

We interrupt our regular Cabin Crew Wannabe postings for a post that was screaming at 14,000ft in the making...

For my birthday a couple of months ago i decided to do something drastic, something insane, something completely incredible...i decided to throw myself out of a perfectly good working plane...

...of course i was strapped to a guy at the time...and that guy had 2 parachutes strapped on his back but still its not every day that a normally sane person will willingly throw themselves out of a functioning aircraft.

But I'm getting ahead of myself here. Every year for my birthday i like to do something different to mark the year. Last year it was skydiving, the year before was a week with my friend O who flew in to Sydney, unfortunately the year before that was lame but 2005 i was in a plane flying home to Sydney from Damascus and 2004 i was in Scotland visiting the Rosslyn Chapel and so on.

2010 i wanted something different, i was tossing up between visiting Uluru, Skydiving or Abseiling. Uluru proved too expensive at the time and abseiling wasn't too crazy to put it on the map. That left skydiving and when chatting with my friend A, he was even more eager than me, egging me on to do it and encouraging me. He said that he'd trained for a solo dive once but the trainer ran off with the money before he could complete it and how he wished he could do it now...*evil grin*....

Me: "Well why don't you do it with me?"

A: "When are you thinking of doing it?"

Me: "On my birthday but i can do it around that time too"

*quick check to see when A was available and would be in Sydney and date decided on*

A: "OK sure" *huge smile from A*

Me: "Cool, I'll check with the company and book it then let you know the details"

*A's smile falters...*

So A was roped into going with me, poor guy - he said it was one of the scariest things he has ever done. The night before we were due to jump he sent me an SMS "You were supposed to change your mind by now!"

Off we went one sunny morning down to Picton where Sydney Skydivers is based. We filled in forms that basically said that we wanted photos/videos to show how terrified we were and wont sue them if we were injured or killed ourselves.

Outside as we waited to be called to our deaths we watch the sky become patched with the bright colours of parachutes and notice that everyone lands safely. I guess it is an everyday thing for sane people to throw themselves out of planes, then again, A would probably debate whether that makes them sane at all. There were a lot of guys and girls there and not all of them were there for the tandem jumps. Most were doing solo dives or practicing formations.

Goodness knows how many times we had to pee before the loudspeakers crackled our names. Half nervous and half excited, we trudged over to get into our gear, meet the instructors and receive those all important instructions.

A and I gearing up

A and i meet our instructors both of which are very professional and have over 20years experience each. For my instructor, this is his second job, his day job is training military personnel in skydiving - go figure. I assume that given the expensive nature of this kind of activity one would only build up experience if they were loaded with $$$ or it was their job. But i digress, once all formalities are done, we head out to wait for our plane. Given the large number of people skydiving that day the center is using a Sky-Van which opens at the rear rather than the smaller one with the side door. It lands, taxies up to us and we all pile in for the agonising trip up to 14,000ft. There are at least 20 people going up with us for solo jumps or formation practice, the ride up feels long and as i look around at the faces, i can see that while they are experienced divers, each still has nerves and their own method of dealing with it.

A and the SkyVan

At one point A who is sitting opposite me points at the window behind me and mouthed something i don't quite understand. I sit up and peek outside to see that we were level with the clouds...holy cr@p! We are high, oh so very high! He told me later that it wasn't the clouds he was talking about, he had noticed a Virgin Blue plane cruise past and it had hit him how high we were and how wrong it was to be jumping from this height...suffice it to say that it probably didn't help his nerves.

Reaching our altitude the traffic lights inside the door illuminate indicating ready, everyone stands up and prepares themselves. A and i get strapped to our guys. The next thing i know the doors are open and the plane lurches sickeningly with each person that jumps out. We shuffle forwards, A in front and I'm the last. Another person jumps, shuffle-shuffle, another person jumps, lurch, shuffle-shuffle, another, shuffle...i can see clouds and in the distance the ground appears to float by...A's turn...i don't even register his jump. "Feet up!" barks my instructor, somehow i comply, lean my head back and..........

Lining up for the jump

OMG...there goes A....what am i doing??!!!

AAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaRRRRRRRRggggggggggggggggggHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

watch myself jump out of the plane.You know you cant scream during freefall? I tried. I read somewhere that screaming actually helps instead of just clamming up but all the wind just goes into your mouth. You cant talk/be heard either unless you really yell in which case you can faintly be heard.

50 seconds of freefall felt an eternity, initially i felt like i was underwater, you know that feeling when your swimming or mucking around with friends in the water and some water accidentally goes up your nose? It was like that, but i figured out pretty quickly that it was because i had my head up and the wind was rushing up my nose! So i was like 'stuff looking up for the camera' (it was mounted on the wrist of my instructor) and bent my head down to breathe. Once that was sorted i managed to still have time to take in the experience, the feeling of not so much falling but being suspended in the air while the wind rushed past (boy was it cold!), the clouds below and the fields beyond that.

Finally reaching the altitude required, my instructor tugs open the parachute and we hit the breaks and start to float.

When i was i kid i used to dream about touching a cloud or holding it in my hand, i used to think they were solid - i blame the opening scene of Mary Poppins for that - and when i was a Flight Attendant, part of the thrill was being above clouds and seeing all the different shapes they make and occasionally seeing a lightning storm cast electric light through the puffs and swirls of pink clouds.

I finally got my dream - sort of - it wasn't something i expected or thought about when i booked this insanity but it just happened that while gliding down my instructor took us through a big cloud...everything went white and misty...i was a kid again and i stretched out my hands to try and grab hold of this cloud...

Oh look the ground...

Trying to fulfill a childhood dream and touch a cloud

Then...

Me: I cant see anything, how do you know where your going?

Instructor: I don't!

You'll be surprised to hear that i actually laughed at this! I didn't panic, and sure enough once we broke through the bottom we could see everything and he guided us towards the drop zone. Believe it or not, i found it very peaceful and serene. Being so high up, the world is quiet, the views stretch off into the distance and for a moment the world is yours. Not bad at all for a day job, or as my instructor put it..."it pays the bills".

Through the cloud and enjoying the view

I hear "Legs up" and the spell is broken, the end feels faster than the beginning in a weird twist of time and before i know it I've landed on my butt and my instructor is struggling with the parachute that insists on staying airborne. Untangled finally the whole exhilarating experience rushes upon me and I'm laughing and walking back thankfully in one piece - take that disclaimer!

Sweet, sweet solid earth...My instructor congratulates me on not killing the both of us.

Call me crazy but i would do the whole thing again without a moments hesitation. The adrenalin/terror/excitement is indescribable and each person has a different experience; even though A and i jumped the same day, the same time with the same company we both had a different experience but one thing is for sure, it was one we couldn't stop talking about later!

So if you ever get the chance to do something like this, i say, GO FOR IT!

Light up Sydney!!!

Yesterday my brother and i did the Smart Light Sydney Light Walk...we got completely soaked because it was pouring but it was enormous fun!

For those of you who haven't seen it i suggest you get your butt into gear and go!! Trust me its worth it. Here are a few websites full of information about this and other events going on during this 3 week festival. Vivid Sydney, Smart Light Sydney, Light Walk.

Ive included some photos i took of the light installations below but its by no means a comprehensive gallery and i recommend checking out the Light Walk links to see better photos. Make sure you click on my photos to see the colour better!

VP

FACADE, The Electric Canvas - Museum of Contemporary Art