Sydney Russian style

Sunday morning we landed in Sydney around 9 am and our new friend Valya was there to pick us up bright and early! Valya was one of Errol's friends and had been visiting at the B&B in Daintree for the same 2 weeks that we stayed there. So we had gotten to know her a little bit in that time and she invited us to stay at her apartment for the few days we were in Sydney! She's a 70-80 year old Russian lady, and we became good friends with her in our short time!

We were very lucky to have her as our tour guide for these next few days! At the airport she knew exactly how to get to the nearest Church of Christ on the city buses when we told her the street and adress, even though she had never been to or seen the church. We found it very easily (although we wouldn't have without Valya) and upon walking in the church was so happy to have us visiting for the day! The church was very multi-cultural and had a huge focus on helping the poor in the area, and had programs much like The Party ministry in North/Central Regina. We felt right at home. One older Malaysian lady had even lived in Winnipeg and got a degree at the University of Manitoba! We found lots of fun connections to the people and afterwards were given free lunch and visited so many of the members who were so excited for us. And though Valya was not comfortable staying for church, she showed up after to pick us up and they invited her for lunch where she was greeted very warmly and where 'she couldn't believe how friendly they were!" That was a great connection to make for her, having never been a part of a church.

Afterwards we got some food at grocery stores (which Valya was able to take us to) and then back to her apartment, where she insisted we use her room. Then she took us down to Little Bay Beach, a secluded little beach that we had to walk across a golf course to get to (and which Valya didn't seem to mind walking right through during golfers rounds haha). We also got to meet a couple of her Russian friends in the area. She then took us to anther long beach that we walked on for quite a while. We couldn't believe how much she could walk! Literally for hours and hours everyday because she hated sitting!

The next morning we went to Maroubra Beach in hopes of getting surfing lessons to find out it wasn't open. So we went swimming in a man-made ocean-filled swimming pool along the coast. We then we made our way downtown (Sydney is such a beautiful city) and toured the Sydney Art Musuem which was actually kind of fun, albeit weird. Then to the 2nd largest cathedral in Sydney which was very impressive. We weren't supposed to, but we snuck a few photos- shh. We walked over to the Government House, which happened to be closed that day. But that didn't stop Valya from deciding we should go onto the property anyways and go right around to the back, peaking in windows and meandering around on closed-off property. Until a cop came out and made sure we knew what we were doing was not OK. Luckily, Valya played the 'I'm an old Russian lady' card and it worked perfectly! He took us back out, and we got some nice travel tips while we visited with him, and they took our ID information, man it was hilarious. Valya just had no care whatsoever for rules.

From there we went through the huge botanical gardens and Valya was very excited to show us all of the 'very interesting' flowers, trees, bushes, growth, cactuses, and birds. It was really beautiful in there and we were able to get super good pictures of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos!



We then had to somehow make it to the rugby match so we bussed to the main stadium where we got off and Valya continued home. It was only then we realized that the game was at another stadium, over an hour away. So, somehow we miraculously made our way by bus and train to the train station far south of the city centre in the suburbs. From there, we met 2 fans hoping to catch a game-party-bus thing which never came (while it was dark in who-knows-where Sydney) so we shared a cab to the game!

The rugby game was so much fun even though it was a smaller league of the Sharks vs the Rabbitohs and there was only 8000 fans. And the score was 18-0, and we really didn't quite get the rules... but we loved it!



K in spite of how intense she looks, this photo does
not do the lady right behind Mil justice, she was
unreal loud it was stinkin hilarious! Lets go Ribbitoh!

Via train and bus we again made our way back to Valya's, which in all honesty made us feel like heros for having conquered the big scary city public transit system. Even if we had to ask a million people a million questions. And leave Valya worried at home hahaha

Now today was our surfing opportunity! We were up early with direction from Valya to get downtown and then across a ferry to Manley Beach. We were traveling so far because we had found a Groupon for a 2-hour surfing lesson for $35pp, half price! Man alive I love Groupon. From the ferry we had a great view of the Sydney Opera House and the whole downtown area.



Our favourite part was the tight shirts

Statue of David and his sling

Once there we started our surfing lesson with only 2 other girls living in Sydney from other places. Much better than lessons with 30+ people! Our teacher was great, but we found out fast how hard it was. Milessa managed to get on her feet on her first try! Does that surprise anyone? I figured she would. It took me about 4-5 tries before I managed to get on my feet as well, and we both learned a lot. So much fun and so tiring! We also were lucky enough to see dolphins jumping in the waves while we were getting our dry lesson beachside! It was really cool to know dolphins swam in the same area that we were about to surf in!



Afterwards we found Valya near the Opera House and we toured inside, such an incredible building. Valya even gets free tickets to any opera she wants because she knows a guy! So cool. We then went over to the Modern Art Museum which was even weirder than the Art Musuem, but still very cool, and free. Mostly free.



Sooo modern

Later that night we found out that we had also apparently come at the best possible time to Sydney. For 2 weeks, there was a festival going on every night downtown Sydney called Vivid Sydney. Every night, all over downtown, there was lightshows, fireworks, lasershows, and performances going on everywhere. Thousands of people were walking aorund downtown and it had such a fun atmosphere. There was even massive projections on the Opera House and made for some super unique pictures! Also, 2 buildings beside eachother with windows that could light up by a touchscreen that you could control! You might be able to see CANADA written in the buildings in the picture!

The whole Vivid Sydney festival was a super cool and unique experience we are so glad to have been a part of it! There was people and activities and games and so many things to see!

The next morning was bittersweet as we were very excited to land on Asian soil for the first time ever, but also had to say goodbye to our new friend and to Australia. We had a relaxing breakfest and visit with Valya before hopping on a couple buses to the airport.

After saying goodbye to Valya, we boarded our Scoot flight, and found out that not only did they not provide any free food or drink on a 10 hour flight (not a big deal, it was a cheap ticket), but they don't allow you to bring your own food! So, either you pay $15 for food on-board, or go very hungry! Or sneak eating crackers when they weren't looking. And after being told no outside food, we snuck really well, along with a few other couples around our seats and it was hilarious to watch. Next stop was Singapore and our first experience in Asia!

FYI I adopted a LOTR hairstyle recently and it's super fun. Anyone who hasn't tried out an LOTR hairstyle, you should try one at least once. Milessa only liked it because of how curly it made my hair, like an elementary school girl on picture day, unfortunately.





Princess curls



See Canada?