After walking home with Joe from the Kuri-ngai Partners group meeting on Friday, the Pow girls and I got ready and headed into town for some Japanese cuisine! After feasting on a delicious meal of sushi and stir-fry, we caught a train to Circular Quay, otherwise known as Sydney Harbor! Last week, Sydney hosted their annual "Vivid Festival," in which incredibly complex, beautiful, and dramatic light images are cast onto the faces of the buildings in the harbor, including the famous Sydney Opera House!
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| The view from under the Sydney Harbour Bridge! |
Paired with instrumental music that floated through the air so naturally, it was quite the way to experience the famous harbor for the first time! After wandering around for a bit, Sarah, Rachel and I hopped onto one of the ferry boats and enjoyed an amazing ride around the harbor! Passing under the Sydney Harbor Bridge and sailing just feet away from the Sydney Opera House - simply exhilarating! It was truly a night to remember.
Saturday, despite the rain, proved to be another wonderful day full of touristy activities! Elizabeth took me, Sarah, Rachel and Joe to Featherdale Nature Preserve in Western Sydney, where we saw all sorts of native Australian animals. The preserve allows their kangaroos to roam freely throughout the park - quite an overwhelming and exciting sight for an American! I was even able to pet a napping koala! From wombats to kookaburras, we were treated to a diverse array of animals we do not have exposure to in the States!
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| So sweet :) |
After visiting the preserve, we enjoyed some lunch back at home before hopping back in the car and exploring Sydney Olympic Park, this time with Laura joining us!
Strathfield, the town where we are staying, is less than five minutes away from where the main events of the 2000 Sydney Olympics took place, and so exploring was a must. The girls recounted memories of watching the events live and took us on a tour of Bicentennial Park! After sufficiently soaking our clothes and shoes, we ventured off for some warm coffee's and wonderful conversation. We finished our evening with dinner at "Cookies," a local pub, and officially celebrated Joe's 21st birthday!
Strathfield, the town where we are staying, is less than five minutes away from where the main events of the 2000 Sydney Olympics took place, and so exploring was a must. The girls recounted memories of watching the events live and took us on a tour of Bicentennial Park! After sufficiently soaking our clothes and shoes, we ventured off for some warm coffee's and wonderful conversation. We finished our evening with dinner at "Cookies," a local pub, and officially celebrated Joe's 21st birthday!
Sunday provided more rain, but that didn't stop us from exploring Sydney's most famous landmark - the Opera House! Rachel, Sarah, Elizabeth and I met Sim, Laura and Joe and we all traveled back to Circular Quay, where we enjoyed some lunch and hot chocolate's while overlooking the Sydney Harbor. Then in 21st century tourist fashion, we donned some stylish headphones and walked around the Sydney Opera House, where we learned about the interesting history of the iconic building. Afterward, we enjoyed a rainy yet pleasant walk around the harbor before returning home for Sunday mass and a Thai dinner!
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| The Sydney Harbour Bridge from under the Opera House! |
What a wonderful and eyeopening weekend it was here in Sydney, but only because of our incredible home stay families! But alas, now it's back to the work grind. Here's to a fruitful week full of service, learning and perspective!
Em :)
Em :)
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