Canberra

23-25.03

Going to see the Capital.
The one thing really interesting about Canberra, is that it has been built to be the Capital. Sydney and Melbourne couldn't find an accord on who was going to be the capital so they built a city halfway between them for it.

It's kind of a weird city, doesn't have any history, everything has been built more or less at the same time, and other than the government stuff, not much is going on...

I took the bus to get there, arrived mid-afternoon. I went for a walk to the War Memorial. One of the thing to see here. 
After that, I was feeling like running, so grabbed my stuff and went by the lake. Funny thing they have a perfect 5k loop between the two bridges crossing the lake.

View of the parliament house

Next day I explored a little bit more the city, went by the parliament, which I think is ugly, and latter to the Telstra Tower from which you get a view of the surrounding.
Nothing too exciting, other that I got kind of attacked by a bird!!! I was crossing the bridge and it came from underneath, was yelling and flapping it's wing right above my head, scared me big time.

Old parliament house

New parliament house

war memorial from parliament house

And since I had the brilliant idea to stay there one more day and I pretty much see everything there is to see here, I went with plan B: rent a car for the day and go to Tidbinbilla Park.
It's 40min drive for the city, lot's of hiking trail, a sanctuary with local animals and an eucalyptus forest for the koalas.
Didn't get to see as many wildlife as I was hoping, but just being there was nice, seeing something else than Australian cities.
And when they say kangaroos are everywhere, it's true. just left the city when I spot my first one, excited :)

Wallaby

sad I couldn't see them better, but I'm sure I'll more more of them 

leave change of color, yes it's fall...

Australian pelican

Grass tree, baby one

Grass tree, a lot of years latter

Got the feeling somebody is looking at me ;)

There were just a few of them...

It's only when I check my pictures on my computer that I realized he wasn't alone!!

Sydney

18-22.03

I'm in AUSTRALIA!!!!!

First thing I notice, and it might sound really stupid, it is warm here!! I arrived there in the evening and I've got used to the cooler night if New Zealand, but no more of that here...

A little tired from the trip (didn't sleep on the plane, which is weird, usually I'm barely able to stay awake for take off) even though it wasn't that long, I spend the evening at the hostel and in bed early to start to explore the city in the morning :)

So I'm in Sydney, but I have to admit I don't really know where to go/what to do other than the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
it's a big city and I know there is plenty to do, just feeling lazy and tired to find stuff to do. And I'll need to figure out where to go next too. Suddenly, I feel exhausted and almost want to go home :(

For my first day, since it's nice and sunny, I went for a walk direction the Royal Garden, Opera House and Harbour Bridge. 
The Garden are really nice, had lunch there and took a nap in the grass, felt much better after that :)
And being there over lunch time made me feel like half of the city go for a run during their break, crazy!!
Not much to say about the opera house and the bridge. It just felt weird being there, seeing them in person, I kind of never thought I would make it there one day and here I am!!! Love my life right now :)
I crossed the bridge, nice view of the city from the other side and after I went up the pylon, with an even better view. Perfect day to do that too!!

After all that walking and being in the sun all, didn't stay up late.... 

The next day, I went on a free walking tour of the city. I like those tour because it's usually some students that guides them and you give them how much you want at the end (yeah it's not really free, but you know the money you give is for the person that gave you the tour and not the big company that pay their employees minimum wage).
I enjoyed the tour. I like to know a little bit more about the different buildings of the city and the story behind them. And it's nicer than reading it from a book. 
In the rock (oldest part of the city) the different restaurant had a market, so I stayed there for lunch. Cheaper than going to the restaurant himself but still really good :)

After that, direction the garden, and more precisely the outdoor swimming pool that I came across the day before. Unfortunately it got cloudy and windy in the afternoon, so not as nice as it could have been with the sun, but still enjoyed my swim. And it was the first time I went to a salted water pool. I have to say it was really salty, felt worst than the OWS, or maybe it's only because I haven't been swimming in the sea for a while.

We should have one of those in FL

Doesn't look like it, but it's Sydney Hospital 

On top of the city ;)

Gouvernement house, look like a castel to me

Next morning, I didn't feel like doing much. In fact I had to do some planning for the days to come. I found someone to go to Tasmania with and I'm really happy about that!!! And since it was raining, it was the good time to do it.

After spending my morning inside on my computer, I decided to go to the fish market for lunch. I stopped and the Queen Victoria Building to take a look at the clocks and then headed for the market. It's big, with all sort of fish and sea food, worth going there just to have a look at the merchandise.
I wanted to go for a run later on, but I ate soo much that I wasn't feeling like it any more.
In the evening, I went to a free concert in the Domain with a girl I met in Queenstown and that lives in Sydney. It was Angus and Julia Stone, Loved it!! Had a fun night, even though we've got rained on.

Oyster time!!

This is what you can found in Sydney fish market...

And this is why I wasn't feeling like running anymore ;)

Last day in Sydney, and it's Sunday. What about a beach day??
It's cloudy, but still warm and I wanted to get out of the city, see something different. 
I took the ferry and 30min later, I'm in Manly Beach.

It's really touristy, but it feels good to be at the beach. I walked a bit around and enjoyed the relaxing feeling that I always get from the beach. Sydney is a really busy city and I think it's too much for me.
Back in the city early evening and getting ready to move in the morning, direction Canberra. 

Entry/Exit of Sydney Harbour

  

And of course I had to go walk by the rock ;)

Met a new friend!!

Life is good!!