Sydney: Sights and Sounds
As somebody who had never been to Australia before, I had few expectations upon arriving in the city of Sydney. I was of course looking forward to a bit of sun, surfing - perhaps a barbeque or two - but without doing much research beyond the Sydney Opera House, I had no real idea as to what an (actual, not stereotypical) holiday here would entail.
But much like the swathes of ex-pats who emigrate to the sunny climate of New South Wales each year, it wasn’t long before I had fallen for the place hook line and sinker. You see, there is a reason many view Australia as the ultimate idyll; with its combination of weather, culture and laid-back lifestyle - which, in comparison, makes London seem like it needs a good dose of Prozac – it’s a location which is pretty darn easy to love.
So to the highlights of my trip… Well on my first day, I decided to scout out a few of the more popular and undeniably touristy places in the city. After all, if you don’t know where to start – you can’t go wrong with a bit of guide book persuasion. So after a restful night’s sleep in the lovely Cambridge Hotel – (which, despite there being lots of affordable Sydney accommodation to choose from, stood out for its location and style) I headed towards the Royal Botanical Gardens: an oasis of 30 hectares located at the foot of the Opera House. Despite choosing this activity on a whim, it actually turned out to be the perfect way to see Sydney in all its surrounding glory. The central location allows for tremendous views of the harbour, bridge and skyline, but as well as the spectacular backdrop, the inside of the Gardens are similarly impressive. Filled with beautiful foliage, plantations, and natural landscape – not to mention a plethora of exotic birds and wildlife I didn’t expect to see in the middle of one of the world’s most populated cities – it made for a wonderfully tranquil experience. We walked for hours, taking in the wildlife and scenery and making the most of the naturally glorious weather.
A similarly memorable day in Sydney was the one spent exploring another of Sydney’s famous hotspots: Bondi Beach. Having heard tales of its golden sands and untold glamour, I was keen to see what it was really like. Surprisingly, despite the perfectly toned and tanned bodies resulting in a few feelings of inadequacy, it turned out to be one of the best beach experiences I’ve had to date. Deciding to get away from the crowds – as it has to he said, the sands became a little too busy towards midday – we went on the walk from Bondi to Coogee. As we walked along the cliff tops as the distant surfers danced in and out of the waves below, we stopped to appreciate what is probably some of the most breathtaking coastal scenery in the world. Weston Super Mare, eat your heart out….
Finally, despite my rather misguided assumptions about Australian cuisine, one of the things I found I loved most about Sydney was the food. As well as the surprising dedication to good coffee (I really did have some amazing latte’s), I found the Asian inspired cuisine to be a revelation. A particular favourite was the meal I had at Spice Temple on our last night of the holiday – a restaurant which serves up modern Chinese food but with fusion twists from various cuisines from around the world. Since arriving back in London, I’ve actually found myself craving the authentic spice and savoury delights of the new wave of Aussie dining…
All in all, I can now see why us Brits are so desperate to escape to the other side of the world. With cities like Sydney paving the way for modern, yet stress-free Aussie style of living… it really does hold endless amounts of appeal. I’ll certainly be returning for another holiday, that’s for sure.
