What would a visit to Sydney, Australia be like without seeing kangaroos and koalas? Our host was kind enough to drive us around the Central Coast. He took us to Lake Macquarie where us to Lake Macquarie where I got to meet the kangaroos. They seemed harmless and nice but they tend to hop away as we tried to get out of the car.
We had better luck when we went to the famous Australian Reptile Park. There were kangaroos which were literally sitting on the grass. People were taking photos with them - except me. Animals scare the shit out of me (except our dog).
My companions were forcing me to stand behind the kangaroo and touch its head. I politely declined after seeing a 5-year-old Aussie kid get kicked by a kangaroo when he accidentally touched its tail. Poor kid.
And of course, the cutest animals are the koalas. They're simply adorable! The park attendant warned us that they have sharp claws and they tend to scratch visitors. I was satisfied with simply admiring them from a distance.
And there were other interesting creatures:
I still couldn't believe it's the middle of the winter and people were still surfing and paddle boarding. How can they stand that temperature?! I think I would die as soon as I hit the water - even with a good wet suit!
As I was freezing to death, I saw this cute little coffee shop on the boardwalk. I am not a coffee fan but that coffee was fantastic. Or maybe it just made me warm for a minute which is why I loved it so much.
The best part of my day was seeing these folks:
It was finally time to finally be out and about in Sydney. After a drunken night with my bestfriend, she decided to show me all the touristy places.
I only dreamed of being in Sydney before this. I finally saw the majestic Sydney Opera House in all its glory.
It was very gloomy that day so my photos aren't great. Still, the beautiful structure stood out. And oh, yeah I got to see the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge too.
At the back of the Opera House was the gorgeous botanical garden. We hopped on a Choochoo Express train and took a trip around the garden. The driver was giving us a brief history of the trees and structures while we admired their beauty.
There were street performers along Circular Quay. One of them, a stunt performer, said it's his full time job. I wonder if I can live like that every day.
We walked and walked until we reached a place called The Rocks. It reminds me of Old Intramuros (Old Manila).
A quick train ride took us to the other side of the Sydney Harbour where the only theme park in Sydney is found. It's called Luna Park. The rides were pretty old and we weren't in the mood to go on any of them. (Translation: the Ride All You Can pass was too freaking expensive!) We waited until the all the lights were turned on.
The best part is that it gave us a different view of the Harbour Tunnel and the Sydney Opera House:
