G'DAY FROM SYDNEY!
01 AUGUST 2014
Hi all
I hope you are all well.
The last update seems like a very long time ago, but it's actually only been four weeks, but four amazing weeks in two countries I didn't plan on visiting!
Before I left the UK, a couple of people challenged me saying my high-level plan, (which by the way was three sentences!), was too detailed. Of course, at the time I disagreed, but now I totally get it and I'm loving the fact, that which the exception of Singapore, nothing is planned and anything could happen over the next eight months!
So I'm currently in Sydney - you probably worked that out from the title?!? And for those of you who know Sydney, I'm currently sitting on the grass just in front of Mrs Macquarie's chair, overlooking the harbour, with the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House to my left. There's a bit of wind, but lots of sunshine, and to be honest, it's quite nice weather for a so-called winter.
So I arrived last Wednesday and I absolutely love it here! Although, I left home four months ago, for the first time I actually feel like I'm 'travelling' and I have a real sense of freedom - the volunteering had a framework and in Mauri I was with the fam.
Time is such a precious commodity and I'm loving the fact that I don't really have a plan and I make up what I do each day. So far I seem to spend a lot of my day just talking to random people I meet throughout the day, reading, going to museums and galleries, getting to know the city and its suburbs and spending time just doing nothing - and it's so liberating! (I'll obviously also use my newfound time to reply to your emails).
I also have met my cousin, which is interesting as a) up until a few weeks ago I didn't know that I had a cousin living here, and b) I didn't plan on coming here. Anyway, we reckon we last saw each 23 years ago, but we got on like a house on fire, so excited to get to know him better.
I left Mauri about ten days ago and I had a nice time, mainly catching up with the fam and whenever possible, trying to be a tourist. The last time I was there was ten years ago and it's changed so much and become really westernised. Nice toilets and loo roll is obviously a good thing, but do we really need all of those shops?!?
Mauri is a funny little island. It's approx. 50 miles north to south and approx. 40 miles east to west, and it's weird hearing locals talk about places being so far away.
It was winter whilst I was there, which basically very similar to our British summer, but due to its multiple micro-climates, you could drive 15 mins up the road and it's cold, wet and a bit miz. Luckily, where Mum, Dad and I were staying, the weather was really nice.
I like the markets, especially the food markets, where the food is displayed is so artistically. I ate way too many gâteaux d'huile, which is basically fried street food. It's not particularly good for you, but it tastes so good! I've also had a very good quota of dholl puris, which are super thin 'wraps' with crushed channa dholl. You then fill your dholl puri with various curries and add a bit of chilly sauce and then experience a little bit of heaven.
Also whilst I was there my cousins and I visited a few of the (even smaller) islands north of Mauri - Ile Plâte, Ile Gabriel and Coin de Mire - nice, quiet beaches, warm water and of course great company!
Anyway, enough for now - I'm running low on battery. If you have any recommendations in Sydney, please let me know.
Lots of love,
Vidia xxx
#freeasabird
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