Day 5: Syndey, Australia (Tuesday May 16th, 2023)

Last night I had been debating between going to the Blue Mountains today or spending another day in Sydney. I woke up around 5:30, and although I slept much better than the night before (which isn't saying much) - the blue mountains felt like a push. I still felt tired and low energy from not getting deep sleep and my allergies flaring up. So I decided to spend another day in Sydney instead. 

I desperately needed to do laundry though before leaving Australia and didn't want to leave it until the night before. The machines were often full, especially in the evenings because a lot of people at the hostel were working in Australia and needed to wash their uniforms. So since I was awake early, I threw my laundry in and went back to bed. I woke up again around 8:30 feeling much more rested and switched my laundry. While I waited for it, I did my morning routine, including 30min of yoga and meditating. 

I got ready for the day, ate breakfast, and left around 10:30. Although this is later than I wanted, it was nice to have a relaxing morning. I took the time and space that I needed to for my body, which is also a win. 

Afterwards, I took a bus to the beach at Coogee and got a coffee. I was planning to do part of the Bondi to Coogee cliff walk, just starting at the other end since it was more of a direct bus from my hostel. 

Along the way I saw tide pools and a guy spear fishing. He caught a black fish and then gutted it right there in the tide pools.

The walk was a beautiful cliff walk along the ocean. I took my time and walked slow for my knees. Thinking about my foot placement, knee over toes, and engaging my quads. I took it slow, which also forced my to take in the sites, sounds, and smells. Being more present and aware of my surroundings. 

People were passing me, and that's okay. I was going slow, but that's okay. I was LISTENING to my body and doing what it NEEDED even if it isn't what I WANTED - which is the most important thing. It was practicing patience with myself. 

Didn't go all the way to Bondi beach - it was just too much. I ended at Bronte beach, which was still 2.3 miles and farther than I should have gone with my knees. It would have been another 1.3 to Bondi beach. So I found a spot at Bronte beach and relaxed for a bit while enjoying my picnic lunch. 

Afterwards, I caught the bus back to my hostel to regroup. Once back, I wanted to explore more of the harbour to see the botanical gardens and Badu Gili light show on the Operah House sails. 

The botanical gardens were nice, but nothing spectacular. Although it was fall in Australia, so a few things were still in bloom from summer but there was also a lot of maintenance going on. 

Afterwards, I headed down to the Operah House to enjoy sunset on the bay. 

Once the sun went down, I stayed to watch the Badu Gili light show on the Operah House sails. It was an interesting production to experience different first nation stories. 

Once the show was over, I took the tram back to my hostel for the night. I cooked dinner (ramen still), ate, showered, and went to bed.