Katoomba and the Blue Mountains

This weekend I got the opportunity to go to Katoomba for $20 with 19 other international students at CSU, which seemed like a pretty good deal, and I heard some good things about the Blue Mountains so I went.
We had to be ready at around 8am for the bus which took two hours, so we were in Katoomba at around 10. Then we got a bite to eat and made our way to another bus to get to Scenic World which is a place with a cable way, world's steepest rail, and some walkways through the rain forest.

Cableway at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains

After Scenic World we got on the trolley and made our way to Gordon Falls to get some more spectacular views of the Blue Mountains. 

Near Gordon Falls before we got drenched

We were able to get some pictures in, and then we saw some dark ominous clouds heading our way, but hoped it would hold off. Our hoping didn't work very well, so we quickly got all our cameras and everything wrapped in a waterproof jacket and put in a backpack and then the rain came. Us three north americans got totally drenched when the rain started hitting. And when we got to where we thought we needed to be, the trolly never came (or it was way late) so us three soaked guys were able to get a ride from two girls that were doing some camping the area.

Overall it was a good trip and something I will not soon forget being in the rainforest getting drenched in a large rain storm and trying to get back to Katoomba. Not sure what I am doing next weekend quite yet, but in two weeks I will be going to New Zealand during the fall break.

Another interesting weekend in Sydney

This weekend me and another Canadian decided to go to Sydney again to check out things like the Taronga zoo. We were able to get a ride with someone from the uni, so we didn't have to suffer the boring 4 hour train ride. We made it to Sydney to discover that since it was Mardi gras weekend, literally all the hostels were booked full in the city. So after a bit of searching on the web we found the Pittwater YHA located about an hour by bus and water ferry from Manly. So we booked that and made our way there with another person from the uni as well. It was a long but nice trip, the scenery out that way is beautiful.

Hammock at the Pittwater YHA

We stayed there the night, and then made out way to the Taronga zoo the next day. The zoo was really cool, especially with the view over the city and we also did the Koala encounter (Against the law to touch them though).

After the zoo they wanted to go to the mardi gras parade, so we made our way out there and it was crazy busy with between 200,000 and 300,000 people expected! I did not stay for the whole thing because I had to go back to the hostel in time for the last bus. The other two stayed at another friends place overnight or pulled an all nighter. In the morning me and the other Canadian met up again by Manly Beach and just relaxed at the beach for a few hours till our ride back to the Uni was ready.
I think next weekend I will stay around the Uni and probably go on the Katoomba trip in the Blue Mountains with the CSU international department. If there is still space that is, will find out later.

Weekend in Sydney

I just could not resist going back to Sydney again with the amazing weather to go to Manly Beach and meet up with Marcel. So on Friday some other roomies were heading back to Sydney as well, so I got a ride with them. On Friday evening I took the train from Sam's place to Circular Quay to see the botanical gardens and some other sights in that area in the few hours I had that evening. On my way to the botanical gardens I met a British girl who's friend was doing the bridge climb, who was also trying to find the botanical gardens, so we chatted for a bit before she had to go back to her friend. By that time, I was getting hungry, so I went to "The Rocks" and got a gourmet meatball wrap at the market there. I sat down near the harbor and met a Canadian girl from Ontario doing a 1 year working holiday, so we chatted for a bit and before we knew it, it was getting dark and she had to head back to the hostel, and me back to my buddies place.

At "The Rocks" near the Sydney Harbor Bridge

This is probably what I love most about travelling, its the totally random and interesting people you meet along the way all on different journeys.
The next day I went off to the ferry warf to go to Manly Beach and the surrounding area. I heard some good things about the area and they were right, its a spectacularly beautiful area as you can see below. I went swimming for a while and then walked around the area for a bit, where I got my last shot from.

Manly Beach

The Corso

On the way to Shelly Beach

Nice end to the day

On Sunday I made my way back to the city, to the botanical gardens and after having some difficulties, finally got a hold of Marcel, who I wanted to me while in Sydney. So we met up and had a very good (and expensive burger...worth it though) by the Opera House, before I had to make my way back to the train station to catch the last train back to Bathurst.
Overall it was a pretty good weekend and I am looking forward to this weekend as I will head back into Sydney again and check out things like the Thuronga Zoo.

O-Week at CSU

I arrived at CSU (Charles Sturt University) on the 19th and moved into my room. I also met my roommates which seem like a great bunch of people. Before I knew it, I even got offers from the parents offering to let me stay at their place whenever I am in Sydney which just shows how friendly the Aussie people are.
O-week was a great start the the school year with things like dag night, who I want to be when I grow up night, etc. So that was really good. And my RA, Alex is probably one of the nicest and best RA's out there. She is great at helping with whatever needs to be done and organizing events for us in the catered cottages.
The Windradyne cottages are part of the diggings group, and during our O-week we all got something to put on our arms to show which housing group we belong to. The gym is right across the road and is free for students, so hopefully I can get enough modivation to actually go at least once in a while. I have been having quite a few 50cent McDonald's cones the last few weeks.

Our Cottage (8 rooms)

My Room!

My first few weeks in Australia

I am finally getting a bit of time to update my blog as the last few weeks have been pretty busy.

The flight to Sydney was really good on Air Canada, the food was good, the people were good, and I was lucky enough to have a seat right behind the bulkhead for some extra legroom. Not sure how much sleep I got, but I do remember being quite sleepy. After the 15.5 hour flight, I was able to quickly get a look in the cockpit which was really neat. The relief pilot said that out of the 6 wide-bodies he has flown, this was his favorite (777-200LR).

Welcome sign at the Airport

After that I went though customs which was pretty easy and my backpack was waiting for me when I got to the carousel. After that I quickly got a new SIM card for my phone and made a call home. Then it was time to leave the airport, and as soon I left the airport the heat quickly got to me, as I was wearing a few layers because it was pooring rain and like 5c in Vancouver. I got on the train and went to the central station where I found the YHA railway hostel where I stayed for my 3 nights in Sydney. It was a good hostel and I met a few other people from the UK, France, and also Canada. Despite having flown for 15.5 hours it was only around 1pm when I was at the hostel, so I decided to make my way to the Opera house and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I thought the walk would not be to bad, but it turned out to take an hour or so, but it was a good walk and I saw a good amount of the city. To finish off the day I also made my way to Darling Harbour which is another great area in Sydney to check out.

The Sydney Opera House

The next day I made my way back to Circular Quay (Near the Opera House, Train Station, and Ferry Warf) on the 555 shuttle and actually met some other Canadians who were on the same flight which was interesting. I took the ferry (which was nice in the near 30c heat) and made my way to the Sydney Olympic Park which was pretty neat. After just having the Winter Olympics in Vancouver is was interesting seeing the summer venues that were used 10 years prior.

Me in front of the Olympic Cauldron from Sydney 2000

For my last day in Sydney before I had to leave for Uni, I went to Bondi beach which is my first experience at a real ocean beach. I was on the beach for quite a while and I also did some exploring around the area and followed a path leading to some other beautiful beaches nearby. Despite my attempts to use a good amount of sunscreen I still got a bit burnt, but at least now its a nice tan.

Bondi Beach!

On my fourth day in Sydney, I had to leave early at around 7:10 to go to the Uni which is about 3.5 hours by train. I went thought the Blue Mountains and some other very nice areas and before I knew it, I was at the Uni, which was both exciting and a bit depressing, because of the great time I had in Sydney the past few days.