A Sydney Blog

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Sydney en version courte

 

Without a doubt, our stop in Sydney is nothing short of special. We had the most magnificent time, and had such a unique and memorable experience that no other tourists could possibly compare theirs to ours. That's right, I'm going to make such bold statement, one that could not be made possible had it not been for the incredible people there. Some I've known and loved for a long time, some as a reunion from old days, and some Antoine and I have been introduced to.

So where should I begin to tell such wonderous a tale? (Line stolen from a play done years ago) Well, to make things easier, I will subtitle them because I may lose some readers if I wrote in one long paragraph!

Chez Annie

Annie and her family generously opened their home for us to stay for 2 weeks. They live in Greenwich, a beautiful residential district along the Parramata river, North of Sydney. We were given the granny flat behind the family home, with its own kitchen and bathroom. Close to trains and the Sydney ferry, we had no trouble getting to the CBD.

Sights of Sydney

As all good visitors in Sydney, we did some sightseeing. The obvious being: Opera House, Botanic Gardens, Harbour Bridge, and the Queen Victoria Building (posh shopping complex). Not too obvious sights, which our friends directed us to, were: Glebe Point (a harbour view to-die-for), The Rocks (beautiful small alleyways and sidestreets with loads of character), Sydney Uni Campus (with its Harry Potter buidings and lawns), Museum of Contemporary Art, and various clubs and pubs on George Street and Oxford Street.

Fun with the Locals

Sydney was what it was because of the people in it. To name the hall of fame, we had Annie, Katie, Paris, Alisha, Conrad, Anna + Nathan, Dom + Alister, Luca + Chillie (best dogs ever). We couldn't get enough of these people (and dogs), and they all have so much charisma and fun, that sometimes it was hard to keep up! Here are a few highlights with them:

Un trio d enfer pour aller camper au milieu de nulle part
We posed for so long, for Antoine to get this long-exposure shot!

Mudgee Camping

Of all people, Annie and Alisha suggested to go camping for a weekend. Not in any way do I demean them, but these girls are certainly city girls in every way! The destination was Mudgee, a good 3 to 4 hours west of Sydney. Annie's family friends owned a deer farm there, so it was a good opportunity to sneak in a visit as well. The deers were such cute little animals. They grew up with humans so were tame enough to come right up to you at the fence and eat the grass from your hand. Alisha's dog, Chillie, came along too. As a little sausage dog no taller than a toaster, he showed everyone that size doesn't matter. He was barking and jumping at the deers like no tomorrow! After all the excitement we decided to get to the camping site to set up Annie's “big” tent before dark. “Big” was an understatement. 8 to 10 people would have comfortably fitted into that mother tent. It took some time to figure out the endless clips, pegs and holes, but we got it up and ready in time for dinner. For the happy campers, there was a cooked 'Chook' (chicken), salads of all varieties, a dozen (and more) bread rolls and a bottle of wine. We inhaled the food as a result of all the hard work and when dark rolled in, we were ready for bed. Darkness in the forest seem to have an effect on Annie and Alisha. Every snap of a twig, every rustle of the leaves, and every bark from Chillie, made them jump. To the point that Antoine and I started to also doubt our safety! Nevertheless we did manage to fall asleep. Thinking that daylight would save us all from further distress, was too naive! We woke up to pitter-patter of rain. Annie's mega-tent kept us nice and dry, but as it went on, we had to eventually get out and pack  with everything soaking wet – including us. Still, it was a memorable adventure and we had a good many laughs both at each other and with one another.

Party, party, party

Sydneyers know how to have a drink and have a boogy. In two weeks, Annie took us to numerous clubs and pubs of all shapes and sizes. Of course, it would not be the same without pre-drinks at Alisha's house first! With her giant flat screen TV on the music channel, we always headed to the club with a skip in our step and just the right amount intoxicated. To name a few places, we partied in Side Bar, Ivy Club, University-organised Beach Ball, Dr Pong (bar with a ping pong table!), Columbia Hotel, gay bars, clubs along Darling Harbour, and a handful of house parties. In preparation for these outings, Annie kindly let me raid and invade her closet. What a feeling it is to have nice, new clothes! I even got to wear heels, bonus!

Traveling to the travelors

Before arriving to Australia, we had met countless interesting, like-minded, and good-humoured people. Anna and Nathan we had met in Yekaterenburg, Russia and later spent 3 weeks with them in Mongolia. They were migrating to Sydney from London, taking the long way home! We were eager to meet up with them and relive and update our travel stories. We had loads of fun with them, such great people with buckets of personality. We even had a chance to stretch our talents on Nathan's playstation.

We also caught up with Dom and Alister, who we met and partied with in St Petersburg. They introduced us to the rows and rows of bars on Oxford Street, and we thoroughly enjoyed reminiscing over shots of vodka!

Opera House Caberet

With all this reminder of Russia, Antoine and I realised that we could make up for not seeing a ballet in Moscow, by watching a show at the Sydney Opera House. We bought tickets to see 'Meow to the World – Crisis is born again', a comedy caberet show featuring performer 'Meow Meow'. Paris and Mick joined us that evening, and when we got out of the studio, we couldn't stop raving about it! It was 100% entertaining. Delicious singing, devilish comedy with great atmosphere. It was so much more than we expected! If she is performing near you – go see it!

Le pont de Sydney vu de l arrivee des ferries
Sydney in sephia

Other Highlights

When we were not partying, watching shows, camping or sightseeing, we were spending quality time with Annie, Paris and Conrad. We visited Glebe Point with Paris and her boyfriend Mick. Antoine and I were mesmorised by this place. We arrived jjust before sunset, and we sat ourselves by the shore and watched the world drift slowly by. Runners, dog walkers and baby strollers came and went, as the lights gradually changed from clear blue to warm orange. We had the view of sailing boats and the bridge, really enjoying just relaxing and appreciating our surroundings. If we were to settle in Sydney, Glebe Point would be the place!

Conrad, Antoine's only constant male company in Sydney, invited (us) to play football with his friends. So we donned our sneakers and split ourselves into 2 teams, ready to do some damage. It was great fun! Perhaps I was not the most useful of all teammates, but I was there and ready. It was a very friendly, light-hearted game, but Antoine and I still managed to walk away sweaty and out of breath! It was 'Hungarian Rules' (as Conrad is half Hungarian), where the goals were smaller, and the free kicks further. There were no off-side rules, so everyone had a great time running wherever they pleased, whenever. Finally, a time for Antoine to stretch his legs be a boy!

But what he really loves are picnics, I am sure. We organised a little picnic at the Sydney Botanic Gardens with Paris and some of Antoine's friends from France. To true tradition we made quiche, drank lemonade and nibbled on salads. It was a gorgeous afternoon, and as our spot was next to a little pond, ducks and other birds joined us in our conversations (but more eying the quiche).

Our last night in Sydney probably was the most memorable. Annie, Conrad, Antoine and I decided to go out for dinner and simply enjoy each others' company. We wined and dined and made conversation (on all topics, might I add. Of both serious and light nature), before making our way to lunar park to take photos of the scary clown engulfing the entrance, and admire Sydney by night. Finally, we got home for a round or two of Mushk (the Mongolian card game). This is what Antoine and I miss the most whilst we are traveling. We see and learn so many new things, that we sometimes forget about the simple pleasures of being home. Of being with friends and family and just sharing the laughter with the people you care the most.

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Apres le texte de 3 pages de Jen, je vais vous eviter des longueurs narratives pour parler de notre sejour a Sydney. Nous y sommes restes presque 3 semaines, avec entre temps un week-end camping a Mudgee (nourd ouest de sydney), et 4 jours dans les montagnes bleues (a l ouest de la ville). Nous parlerons de notre sejour dans les Blue Mountains lors de notre prochain article.

A Sydney, nous sommes heberges chez les Barnard, dont la fille ainee, Annie, est la meilleure amie de Jen, du temps ou elles vivaient encore a Hong Kong. La maison se trouve juste de l autre cote du pont relliant le centre ville (donc acces facile et rapide), et nous beneficions de notre propre maison. En effet, au fond du jardin, un petit studio avec salle de bain, cuisine et chambre nous permettra de nous retrancher afin de ne pas deranger la famille trop souvent. Un luxe pour nous, apres 3 semaines de camping...

Des les premiers jours, le train de vie est eleve, avec visites de l universite d Annie et du quartier central (le port, le quai circulaire et l Opera), la ville de Manly et sa plage hupee au nord de Sydney, Bondi et sa plage encore plus prisee au sud, son lieu de travail, le musee d art contemporain, le quartier italien, le jardin botanic, etc... Tout cela combine a des soirees arrosees en boite de nuit jusqu a point d heure. Nous avons fait la connaissance d Alisha, l amie fidele d Annie, et de son chien Chilli. Ton au long de notre sejour, Alisha aura ete presente a la plupart de nos activites.

Notre passage a Sydney aura egalement ete l occasion de retrouver nos desormains excellents amis Anna et Nathan. Souvenez-vous, au mois de septembre et octobre... Nous rencontrons un couple australo-anglais a Yekaterimbourg, que nous croisons a nouveau au lac Baikal, puis dans le train jusqu a Ulan Baatar. C est la que nous nous embarquons avec eux pendant 3 semaines pour un tour de la Mongolie, une de nos meilleures experiences. A Pekin, nos chemins se separent, et nous promettons de nous revoir a Sydney... Voila chose faite. Aujourd hui, ils ont une nouvelle maison, un travail et une vie bien installee 2 mois seulement apres leur retour. Nous nous sommes revus lors de 2 diners, le temps de se rappeler a nos bons souvenirs d une epoque pas si lointaine.

A l Opera, la delirante Meow Meow nous a fait passe une soiree des plus burlesques
Meow Meow with her 'orphans'/innocent young bystanders!

Anna et Nathan ne sont pas les seuls que nous retrouvons, il y a egalement Dominique et Alister, rencontres a St Petersburg, avec qui nous avions echanges quelques shots de vodka.

N oublions pas Paris, qui nous avait heberge pendant une semaine a Peth, que nous avons retrouve lors de plusieurs diners et un pique nique au jardin botanique, mais egalement lors d une excellente soiree a l Opera de Sydney. Nous sommes alles voir un cabaret, un one-woman show, ou l artiste nous a fait rire par son genre dejante et ses chansons a texte hors du commun.

Pour en revenir au pique nique cite precedement, l occasion etait principalement dediee a Carole et ses amis, de passage a Sydney. Carole est une amie qui remonte du temps ou l on vivait a Orleans. En vacances en Australie pendant 3 semaines, elle m a contacte pour qu on puisse se croiser. Rien de tel qu un dejeuner sur herbe dans un parc ou les arbres exotiques se melangent a des oiseaux etranges.

Au milieu de toutes ces visites et ces retrouvailles, nous sommes partis faire du camping avec 2 filles de la ville, Annie et Alisha. Le coffre charge a bloc, nous avons rejoind Mudgee pour faire coucou a des amis de la famille Barnard, avant de rejoindre notre lieu de camping juste avant la tombee de la nuit. Monter la tente fut toute une affaire, puisqu elle nous avait ete pretee et que nous ne la connaissions pas... Il nous a fallu 3 essais pour la monter dans le bon sens, et le resultat nous a donne 2 chambres de 3 personnes, et une piece commune au milieu. Seuls dans notre lieu de camping, la nuit noire a apporte quelques frayeurs a nos campeuses debutantes, qui sursautaient au moindre bruit et imaginaient d affreuses creatures pretes a les attaquer. Heureusement, Chilli etait la pour nous proteger. Pour l anecdote, il s est mis a pleuvoir lourdement au milieu de la nuit, et la tente nous a bien gardes au sec. L ironie du sort est que notre petite tente n est pas etanches, mais en 3 semaines de camping, il n a pas plu une seule fois. La seule nuit ou il pleut, nous sommes dans une autre tente... Touchons du bois !

Le lendemain, degustations de vin et d olives, puis retour a la ville.

Une partie de football avec Conrad (l ex petit ami d Annie) et ses amis fait partie des moments forts de notre sejour. Jen, impressionnante tout au long de la partie, a eu l occasion de placer quelques dribles, sauver son camp de plusieurs buts et marquer en toute fin de match. De mon cote, j ai couru tant que j ai pu, de gauche a droite, d avant en arriere... L esprit Funky Team toujours present en moi depuis notre derniere annee a l ESSCA.

Pour conclure, nos 3 semaines a Sydney auront ete bien remplies, entre rencontres et activites diverses. La ville en elle-meme merite bien un sejour prolonge. Elle est moderne et propre, magnifique au coucher du soleil lorsque vous vous trouvez a un point de vue sur le port, le pont, l opera, avec les voiliers dans l estuaire. Traverser le pont a pied offre des points de vue imprenables, et prendre le ferry en journee est fortement recommande. Il faut prendre le temps de se promener dans les rues de Central et dans le jardin botanique, et une soiree a l opera constitue la cerise sur le gateau.

Merci a Annie, qui a ete une hotesse parfaite et qui a passe beaucoup de temps avec nous. Une petite pensee a son chien Luca, dont les ressemblances avec Mowgli sont plus que flagrantes... Conrad, Alisha et Katie sont des acteurs majeurs de nos bons moments a Sydney, et je tient egalement a les remercier, meme si aucun d entre eux ne sera capable de lire ce commentaire.