Something interesting about the lodge

I have to say one of the reasons that I picked Sydney as my first solo trip's destination was this beautiful lodge that I stayed. The manager there was very friendly and was making every effort to make travelers feel at home. It's a shame I didn't take more photos of the lodge especially the lovely notes the manager left here and there. Out of the limited selection of photos I am going to share with you some interesting things that I found out about this lodge. 

Happy travelers saying thanks to the lodge's manager. (Including me!)

Nice selection of books :-)

Where I grabbed an apple a day.

#1

This is one of my favorite photos of the entire trip: at the top it was a photo of the common room that I took. Pay attention to the right hand side of the picture frame, there was a photo stuck on the wall. And it was, in fact, a photo of the common room itself. I found it very interesting so I took a photo of the photo and then the same photo as the photo, and put them together. LOL. 

#2

Sorry sweetie I didn't mean to call you creepy but you did freak me out....

This doll was sitting in my room next to a mirror with her head facing my bed. I wasn't aware of her existence until midnight when I was about to turn off the lights, and found her staring straight into my eyes. I feel bad for calling her creepy because it looked like she was hand-made. But seriously, she freaked me out to the extend that I didn't feel comfortable to touch her or put her aside.....LOL

#3

This shampoo and conditioner smelled EXTREMELY nice. Wonder where can I get them in Hong Kong.

The lodge has a shared bathroom (that was spotlessly clean!!) but I wasn't sure if shower gel, shampoo and conditioner were provided before I got there. When I checked-in the lodge I saw there were 3 bottles sitting in the bathroom so I safely assumed I had all I need. But at night when I was taking a shower and read the labels carefully, I realized they were shampoo, conditioner and conditioner......LOL

One of the best days of my life - Day 2 in Sydney

Nothing beats waking up to the morning sun. It was 6:30 in the morning when I opened by eyes and greeted by the sunbeams shining through the window.

It was my plan for today:

Drummoyne --> Darling Habour --> Taronga Zoo --> Manly Beach --> Watsons Bay --> Darling Habour ---> Sea Life Aquarium --> Bondi Beach --> Drummoyne

Yes I know it was ...errr....overwhelming... lol

At the Drummoyne wharf

The Taronga zoo was just opened when I got there, however I was apparently the only one awake.

Wake up, buddies!!

No trip to Australia is complete without meeting a Koala.

Spot the Koala

This little fellow was way too energetic. He kept zooming around in a circle I couldn't properly see his face.

This is how he should look like..lol

According to my very unrealistic plan I have to leave the zoo before noon. However I was obviously having too much fun and it was already 1:00 pm when I finally hopped on a ferry to Manly.

I didn't expect the Manly area to be so busy. I was expecting something like Taronga Zoo but I was terribly wrong. There were shops, restaurants, supermarket etc... you name it.  And it reminded me of the Stanley Market in Hong Kong but of course, 20 times its size. 

This kid on the left sang like a pro!!

I did a little bit of research on Sydney's beaches and I knew the Manly beach should be beautiful. But it was out of my imagination to be this beautiful...

I can be here for hours <3

and...er....hot...lol

*blush*

I was already starving when I left Manly so the first thing I did when I have reached the Watsons Bay was to eat. I didn't know if I should call it lunch or tea.

This salad was extremely good. I literally finished it in 5 mins.

There was a beach at Watsons Bay as well but it was not particularly impressive. It was "the Gap" that I was after. I got there after a 10 mins walk from the wharf and the only word that came to my mind was

"Woooooooow..."

Where the sea meets the sky

It was already nearly 4 in the afternoon so I couldn't possibly go back to the Darling Harbour for the aquarium without missing the Bondi Beach. The sea or the aquarium? The sea! Of course!

The Watsons Bay and the Bondi Beach was (sort of) connected and I *believed* it couldn't be wrong to keep moving south. So here my adventure to the Bondi Beach began.

Despite my numerous attempts to climb this rock, I failed. So I decided to take a picture of it instead LOL

And it turned out to be an unbelievably scenic walk...

I later found out it was the Macquarie lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in Australia, that I have unintentionally passed by...

It was around 5 when I finally got to the Bondi Beach, and my experience there was so pleasant I have to call it one of the best days of my life.

A heartwarming scene

The sand was so soft. The beach was so beautiful.

Too cute <3

I stayed there for more than 2 hours. I walked around, played with the sand, and finally sat down facing the sea when the night closed in.

 

 Then I gazed at the stars, listening to "the Moon Song" from the movie "Her".

I was suspended in the beautiful solitude and it was beyond words. I can only share with you the song that I was listening to at the beach and hopefully you can feel what I felt...

 

I am ending this day's entry with a video that I took at the Bondi Beach. I have watched it 20 times myself <3

A totally spontaneous solo getaway to Sydney - Day 1

It all started with the very simple idea of wanting to go on a solo vacation to somewhere I have never been to. There was no plan, no reason, but why must there be one?

Of course I had my fair share of panic attacks at the airport as a first time solo traveler. Luckily the uneasy feelings quickly subsided when I met my neighbour of the 9-hour flight: a monk. He was a thin middle-aged man whose eyes were exceptionally bright. His gaze and the calmness in his tone settled me down instantly. Sometimes I am amazed how well life is treating me.



The chocolate ice-cream was very tempting...hmmmm

After learning I was traveling alone, the monk gave me this saying it would keep me safe

Despite there was a crying baby sitting right behind me, I found the flight pretty ok...At least I got just enough sleep not to feel too tired. The best part of the flight was, of course, the SUNRISE! It was one of the moments in the trip that took my breath away. I almost screamed when I saw it (when every one was still sound asleep).

As soon as I walked out of the Sydney airport, I have got myself the Airport Link at the train station. It gave people unlimited access to all public transports in Sydney including ferries, buses, trains and light rails within a certain period of time. I found it extremely useful for tourists, especially when I was staying in a suburb lodge.

My adventure in Sydney began at the Rocks Sunday market. It was only 8 am when I got to Circular Quay, while the market usually opens after 9. So I walked around and had a nice big breakfast at a restaurant named Baroque.

It was a very beautiful Sunday morning

2 eggs in a pot with cheese, mushrooms and potatoes. I swapped bacon for more tomatoes...yumm!

 I didn't know if it was the fresh air, the gentle sea breeze or the bright morning sun made me feel extremely good at the Rocks market. I have got myself a necklace made of Eucalyptus leaf dipped in silver.

My Eucalyptus leaf necklace

My original plan was to go to the aquarium at the Daring Harbour and catch a ferry to Drummoyne, where my lodge was located. I took a free City shuttle bus to the Central Business District, hopped off at Town Hall station and walked all the way to the Darling Harbour via Queen Victoria Building, Strand Arcade, the Hyde Park, St. Mary's Cathedral and various shopping malls that I couldn't name. I have to confess it was not a planned visit to all of these places. I was simply lost and got there by (a series of) accident(s).

The Queen Victoria Building



The Hyde Park

 St. Mary's Cathedral

I felt extremely tired when I finally got to the aquarium after a 2-hour walk (when it was supposed to be just 10 mins away from Town Hall), so I decided to grab some food and go check-in the lodge instead. There was a ferry that would take me directly to Drummoyne, however I caught the wrong ferry that sailed the opposite direction and it took me back to Circular Quay......lol

The Darling Harbour 

My Lunch at the aquarium's food court

But no it was not a problem at all. Just look at the spectacular view of the harbour.

Drummoyne was just 15 mins away from Circular Quay by ferry. It was a clean, quiet and beautiful suburb. The lodge was reasonably near to the wharf and was unbelievably cozy. I have got a City View double room and it was very spacious. There were no more than 20 rooms in the lodge and we shared a kitchen and few bathrooms. There was a garden in the middle of the lodge.

The very beautiful neighborhood of Drummoyne

The lodge

The garden inside the lodge

My room

I am obsessed with sunrises and sunsets and I believed the Sydney Tower might be a good idea. Therefore I quickly dropped my bag and dashed out again. Sadly when I got to the Tower at around 5pm, the staff there told me it would take at least 45 mins to get to the top, so I would very possibly miss the sunset...oh dear :-(  

Instead of standing there and wait, I decided to dash to the harbour trying to catch a last glimpse of the sun. And it didn't let me down.

Before getting back to the Sydney Tower I quickly grabbed a sushi roll at wharf 5 for AUD 3, and it actually tasted not (too) bad.

 Besides sunrises and sunsets I also have an obsession with colourful fruits, especially golden kiwis. I have got myself 2 golden kiwis and a pomegranate before heading back to the lodge.

And I am going to end this day's entry with an impressive view of Sydney taken from the Sydney Tower.

Goodnight <3