P Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way Syd… Sydney… “Finding Nemo”
In 2014, I went on an amazing adventure “down under”, to Australia…
I spent 2 packed months in this beautiful country. I stayed in Sydney for a month, then moved to Cairns for a week, Perth for 2 weeks and Melbourne for a week. I spend most of my time in Sydney and Perth with family and travelled on my own in Cairns and Melbourne. It was R10 odd for 1 Australian Dollar in 2014 but things were reasonable priced and most of the time worked out the the same in Rands.
This was the first time I left South Africa and was so excited and a bit scared at the same time. I had watched enough of border security on DSTV to know to pack my own bags. The time grew close and it was so sad to leave me home and family for 2 months, but I saved up all my money for this, for “My” adventure!
Sydney:
Sydney is beautiful, it’s such an upmarket, fast paced city, I arrived in January 2014, 2 days after the heat wave had left, you know the one on the news that said “heat wave hits Sydney, melting tennis balls” yip that’s the one! The first few days rained, and then it arrived…the Sun. I stayed with family to attend a wedding and lived in the “suburbs”, which was about a 45 minute drive from the City. I did most of my sight seeing and tours with my granny and we spent basically every day in the City or Harbour, there is so much to do and stuff I missed. The easiest way to get around is by train or Ferry for those that stay in Mainly or North Sydney over the bridge. I did all my research beforehand and knew exactly where I wanted to go, I visited Madame Tussaunds, Taronga Zoo, Sydney Opera House & Bridge, Blue Mountain, Mainly Beach, The Famous Bondi Beach, Hard Rock café and so much more…
Cairns:
When you go to Australia, there is one place you cannot miss, it’s the Great Barrier Reef! I spent a week in Cairns, the city is very small and there’s not much to do in the city beside relaxing, shopping, eating and seeing the Reef ofcourse. I stayed in a hotel (that was across from a few trees filled with thousands of bats) right in front of the sea with just a road to separate us. I spent the first few days exploring the city, shopping and going to the mall and I even watched a movie as it was raining. On a side note, in most of the cinemas I visited you don’t have designated cinema seats, so you can sit where you wish. The second last day was spent out at sea. The morning was so dull and it rained…That was not how I wanted to experience the Great Barrier Reef. We first visited an Island to snorkel or swim, but it was jellyfish season so I kept my feet out of the water and rather wanted to risk the threat at the Reef. I was so scared when we got the the plantoon at the Reef. We first had a lovely lunch and then went it a submarine with a glass bottom. It was so beautiful to see the reef, the coral and fish. What we watch on Nat Geo was what I longed to see myself, but what I saw was dead and broken coral…It looked dark down there. It was time to suit up! In a wet suit that is. With my flippers and goggles in hand I sat at the edge of the boat and contemplated if I’d actually take the leap into the deep blue sea, you see I never swam in a deep sea before and swimming at the beaches in Cape Town is very different. “You came all this way to Australia Prenisha, you have to try this, just once, go and swim with the fish!” Then, it happened…the sun made its appearance and that was my sign to give it a go. I asked a lady tourist to go with my to the buoys they had to rest at, it wasn’t a long swim but it was a scary one as I knew what was under the water. I leaped off the boat with a helpful lady tourist and I swam to the buoy with my head kept out of the water facing the sky. I reached the buoy and I built the courage to take a look and see what was under the water, it was beautiful. Although the reef was not colourful and full of fish, it was still the reef. After I got use to the idea and amazement that I was here, I snorkelled! I saw a handful of baby fish and a diving group following an instructor who was calling a massive fish towards it, towards me! This huge fish was brown with a blue shimmer and it came so close to me, I got a chance to touch it. So slimy but worth it!
Perth:
Perth is a city that is still developing, with construction throughout the city, it was clear that this city had amazing plans for the future. Here, I spent most of my week days in the city, shopping, visit museums, the Perth mint, wine estates, Fremantle, their factory outlets and Rottnest Island and weekend with my aunty and her family. Fremantle is where all the youngster go, to the beach, it remains me of Camps Bay. I visited an old Prison in Fremantle and went on an art tour, where I was taken around the Prison and show all the art, graffiti in and around prison cells. Rottnest Island was another place where I had to overcome some fears, I chose the Rottnest Island Express boat tour, which was a speedboat ride around the island that stopped at certain spots to show us the island. There where only 8 of us on the boat that can normally accommodate 30 odd. I thought, speedboat…hah that’s okay, and It won’t be fast at all (I hate going on fast rides, i.e. I haven’t gone on the cobra at Ratanga Junction as yet. Too scared) So, I got on the speedboat and oi oi, why do I try extreme adventures when I’m so scared?! This boat was too much for me, but came over another fear!
Melbourne:
Melbourne is cool, a fast paced city with so much of history. I stayed in the city in an small modern boutique hotel. I did a lot of historical site seeing, shopping, visited museums, casinos, movies and the tallest tower in Melbourne. The Skywalk Tower, which is a tour that you must go on when in Melbourne as you get the best views of the entire city from up there. I again choose another fearful top up tour. You can go to the top floor of the skywalk and walk around to see the city from above and you can go to the Skywalk. The Skywalk is a room you go into and this room/cube extends horizontally off the building and the entire block is made up of glass. On top of this amazing feature you have to wear socks when in the Skywalk to protect the glass and I personally think to make you more scared.
Would I go again to Australia? Yes ….Would I move there? Yes…
So here is Australia, in 30 Frames…
Prenisha x
