Lessons Learned in Sydney, Days 2 and 3 (1/3 and 1/4/12 for me!)

Don’t panic – everything will work out ok.

Take it slow – enjoy the sights and the sounds.

Even big cities can be quiet and peaceful,
while busy.

Eating alone encourages me to slow down and savor the experience.

When the internet is charged by the minute, do your writing off-line, log on and post quickly
and get off! 

I can feel awkward and lonely or at peace – it is my choice,and no one else cares.

Breathe it all in – this is the moment!

                Every moment is to be seized!

There is beauty everywhere and in everyone.

Watch the children – they know how to live and express fully and authentically.

Playing in the fountains when it’s hot out is a smart thing to do, and it’s OK!

You don’t get your own waiter or waitress here – whoever is free will help.

Let your bank know before you travel abroad so that you can get to your cash!

No matter what language people speak, we can still communicate with one another.

Silence offers great opportunity.

So, I admit I take baby steps in being brave and expand my comfort zone slowly. 

Day 1 I explored Darling Harbour and got my bearings.

Day 2, I owned the Harbour, and ventured on to a ferry to take me around Sydney Harbour and to Taronga Zoo (Taronga means Beautiful Water Views, or something like that – indeed!)

I spent about 4 hours at the zoo, beginning with a cable car ride up the hill to the entrance –

gorgeous views of the harbor.  The weather has been perfect – hot, sunny, and nothing

but blue sky!  It’s a big city, but it has an island feel to it and an island pace to it, which I love!

I enjoyed seeing the koalas – so fuzzy and cute and the sleeping kangaroos up close.

They had really nice open enclosures and it was a pleasant way to spend the day.

On the ferry I got to see the Sydney Opera House and how different it looks from different

angles and in different lighting.  Saw the Sydney Harbour Bridge with people walking along the

very top railings – yikes!! No interest in that!  Saw the Radiance of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean

cruise ship, at port in Circular Quay, where my ship will be docked today, and I got excited

for that trip.

I did some shopping for souvenirs in the Harbourside Mall (though I admit a mall is a mall, and I wanted out pretty quickly!).  Just enjoyed a day to myself to explore.

I did have trouble with my bank denying my ATM card, so got a little worried about my cash situation for a bit – got down to my last Australian 10 cents after dinner andan ice cream! 
Credit cards are accepted, but often have a $20 minimum on them – so, I could have bought the $16 piece of cake at the Belgian Chocolate Café, but opted to pay for my meal with my last $10 instead!  Cake that’s twice the cost of my dinner

just seemed wrong, no matter how pretty!

A text from Tom later told me that the bank had called to verify my charges – thankfully he was home to let them know that indeed CVS and (attempted) cash in Australia were both legitimate charges!  Today it worked, so I had enough for breakfast, the Chinese Garden of Friendship, and the taxi to the ship.

I took my time in Darling Harbour this morning, soaking in the sights and appreciating

the cleanliness and beauty.  I knew that this would be my last day here for this trip,

so wanted to linger… It’s like Disney World in a way – lots of people, but before 10 AM

the workers are out picking up the rubbish (isn’t that a great word!?), checking thepeople movers, cleaning the brick walkways, and getting ready for the day.  Horn honking  is rare and when I did hear it, it made me realize how peaceful a big city can be when it’s not all hustle and bustle and noise! That’s a new experience!

After a nice breakfast at a sidewalk café (where the sweet hostess offered to take my

picture with the harbor behind me), I strolled along and decided to explore the  Chinese

Garden – a gift from the Chinese community in Sydney to Australia in 1988 to mark the

Chinese-Australian friendship.  It is very serene, with lots of resting places to listen to the water and the birds. Saw 1 tiny gold lizard that looked like a chameleon, and another bigger guy more like an iguana – gave him space and didn’t even move in for a photo!

Then back to the hotel to write and post this blog, pack up, and head over to the ship. 

We sail at 6:30, but can board at 1:00, so I may as well get on and get settled there. 

Today I meet my roommate and the South Pacific Writers/Speakers workshop begins!