I left Los Angeles on a Sunday in the early summer sunshine and arrived in Sydney on Tuesday just as the winter weather began to kick in. The distance travelled was so great that I had missed out on a day of the year and an entire season. Home, all of a sudden, felt very far away. As soon as I stepped out of the airport at 8am, I was welcomed by a torrential downpour - was this Sydney or Manchester? It was time to put my various waterproof travel gear to use. I hopped on a bus to the city centre (A$14; Dh43), keeping my fingers crossed that the weather would improve for the Harbour Bridge climb I had pre-booked for sunset.
WakeUp! is a well known and recommended sociable backpacker hub located opposite Sydney's Central Station, so I booked myself in online (four-bed dorm sharing, A$36 [Dh108] per night). Though geared towards the 18-24 age group, it has all the basic facilities you need as a solo traveller, with free city induction tours, great security, a kitchen, cafe and Wi-Fi. With only three days to explore the city, I dropped off my bags, picked up a map and began walking in the direction of the harbour, despite the pouring rain.
The city centre was very easy to get around on foot, with most main sights within a 30-minute walk of each other. I reached the harbour and caught my first glimpse of the Opera House. Despite it being much smaller than I had imagined, its overlapping white sail-like structures against a backdrop of thunderclouds was instantly impressive. Waiting for the storm to pass, I walked indoors among the quaint markets within the historic architecture of The Rocks district and picked up some overpriced novelty souvenirs.
When I reached the BridgeClimb offices (www.bridgeclimb.com), the weather was only getting worse. After a lengthy health and safety check, a group of five of us attached our belts to the steel structure and began walking up the arch of the bridge. The thunderstorm and lightning acted as an almost apocalyptic backdrop as Sydney's lights flickered on. A few travellers I had met didn't climb the bridge because of the steep price (A$198-285 [Dh595-Dh856] for adults, depending on time of day and year). As a one-time experience, it's absolutely worth it for the unparalleled views and fascinating facts from great guides. BridgeClimb caters for all fitness levels; you receive a keepsake certificate and your photo goes up in the office entrance alongside fellow climbers like Al Gore and Will Smith.
I couldn't leave Australia without a visit to its famous beaches. Thankfully, the rain had stopped and I found a five-kilometre winding coastal walk from Coogee beach to Bondi beach was a relaxing way to explore a bit of the shoreline. As I made my way towards Bondi, the beaches gradually became more populated with surfers. I stopped to pick up some fish and chips at Bondi Surf Seafood (A$5 for a portion big enough to share), which is famous for its fresh fish and chips and deep-fried Mars Bars. Sitting out on the beach for lunch seemed like a good idea, but the seagulls at Bondi were unapologetically vicious and swooped down and grabbed my lunch. It didn't bother me too much; I enjoyed watching the local surfers brave the strong current and shark warnings.
I explored the surroundings of the Sydney Quay a fair amount on foot. Every Sydney-sider I had spoken to so far recommended a view of Sydney from a ferry, so I boarded a 5pm communter ferry to Manly (A$5-10 [Dh15-30] for a single trip). The views alone made the ferry journey to this beach resort-style suburb worth it. It was great to walk around and see a more relaxed, slow-paced side to the city.
I found Sydney to be a great place to meet interesting fellow travellers, each with their own great stories. Perhaps my most memorable encounter was on the ferry, where I met a 64-year-old lady who had also embarked on a round-the-world adventure. She had just arrived from South-East Asia and we exchanged stories and tips on our various common destinations. Encounters like these have been a constant inspiration on my travels and I can't wait for more.
It's a shame my stay in this city was so short. It was easy to see the main tourist attractions in two days, but I left feeling as though I had only scratched the surface. I'm sure I'll return to this part of the world at some point, perhaps during an Australian summer. Next week: Ismat makes for Melbourne on the next stage of her journey around the world
