On the Water; Boat Day
With our final day in Sydney and the sun shining bright, we decided a quick trip out on my friend’s boat in the harbour was the perfect way to spend our morning. Having made our way over to the gorgeous Watson’s Bay, we grabbed some famous Aussie banana bread with coffee and enjoyed our brekkie overlooking the water and city skyline in the distance.
Soon enough my friend turned up on the dock and we jumped in his boat! We jetted across the harbour over to Chowder Bay where we took a dip in the water and soaked up the midday sun.
We didn’t have too long as we were due at the airport at 4pm, so it was a short but sweet trip. The journey back across the bay was a choppy one and in such a small boat we found ourselves battered by the rough waves – thank fully we made it back to dry land in one piece!
Zipping up our suitcases, it was time to say farewell to our holiday in Sydney. We certainly did fit a lot in and it was a joy to show my bestie the way of life I loved so much down under. From brunching and beaching to dining and partying, I will cherish the memories we made. Now we were onto our next adventure and somewhere brand new to discover together; Bali was calling…
Stopping by for a late brunch we got seated on an outdoor bench and table overlooking the golden stretch of Bondi beach. Having been out for a few wines the night before, I was ready for some clean food and kick of good coffee to fuel my afternoon, so I opted for the bircher muesli topped with crunchy granola, yoghurt and heaps of fresh berries.
I was however a little envious of my friend’s choice to have the french toast which was made with a deep fried croissant instead of bread. Basically a desert for breakfast, but we weren’t mad about it and I was more than happy to help her finish it off!
After devouring our delicious breakfast we sat and sipped our coffee watching the hustle of Bondi pass by as we soaked up the afternoon sun. I was particularly chuffed with my purchase from the day too – a Stanton bucket hat. I’d wanted a bucket hat for ages so when I saw this one at the street market in Bondi, I couldn’t resist. Happy days 🙂
Now I find myself looking back on that time doing my farm work in the South of Australia and feel a pang of pride as I think of what I achieved and the awesome memories I made. It certainly wasn’t an easy time but with all the loyal, lifelong friends I made along the way, somebody always had my back.
I certainly wouldn’t rush back to those brisk cold 6am mornings stacking rocks on that stone wall, but the whole experience really pushed me out of my comfort zone and revealed my true character. Determined to earn my second year visa in Aus, not much was going to stop me.
Going back to see the wall a year and a half on was very special and I was astounded at how much it had developed and grown. The concept of stone walling is very simple yet takes much patience and an eye for detail to achieve the aesthetic desired. The unique benefit of these walls is that once built, they last an extremely long time and are almost indestructible as the structure can move and adjust with the earth’s gravity.
Given our hard work and long gruelling days spent on that wall, we were very proud to carve our names into one of the rocks…we’re a little part of Australian history now!
Strolling the endless rows of distinctly Victorian terraced houses, you never know when you might stumble across the next cute café or even another old fashioned pub. Famous for its English style architecture and leafy green tree lined neighbourhoods, it certainly feels like you’re miles away from the city in Paddo.
We found ourselves a little table outside Café Five Ways and dug into some delicious food having worked up an appetite shopping and walking around. I always loved this café for its location and the fantastic food for a very reasonable price. I went for a goat’s cheese beetroot salad whilst my friend chose a melted brie toasty with some cheeky chips to share – yum!
It was the perfect way to spend our arvo in Paddington; strolling, shopping, lunching and laughing!
Dani Aneka 