The plan for the day involved a significant amount of time exploring Sydney’s CBD. Rising at approximately 9 am, I found the room unoccupied. After a quick dental routine, I messaged Daniel, confirming he was awake, and we agreed to meet downstairs later. Seizing the opportunity, I snapped some pictures of our room and the view it offered. While in the room, I encountered an Italian guy named Andrea. Although I had heard about Hannah’s friend Jasmine, our paths did not cross; she had arrived late the previous night and left the dorm early for work.
Sydney’s Central Business District
Subsequently, I accompanied Daniel to Sydney’s CBD, where I was captivated by its skyline, reveling in the breathtaking views. The idea of ascending the Sydney Tower Eye or Westfield Tower sparked my interest, so I planned to explore the details online and ascertain the associated costs. The stroll from our hostel to the CBD consumed a mere 10 minutes. The majestic Saint Mary’s Cathedral and the panoramic Sydney skyline left me in awe; the experience was truly remarkable.
We veered right onto the first main street, heading in a northern direction. While I initially assumed Daniel was familiar with the city, he confessed he wasn’t. To navigate our way, I consulted Google Maps and searched for a Ray-Ban outlet. Numerous options appeared, with the closest one being a mere 10-minute walk from our present location.
After a while, we took a left and entered a courtyard, known as Martin Street. Subsequently, we turned right and strolled along George Street. Sydney’s layout can be confusing, even with the help of Google Maps. Thankfully, the app facilitated our search; otherwise, it might have taken us ages to find an optometrist for my glasses. Upon reaching the optometrist, I was informed that repairing my glasses would take four weeks, as they needed to order the lenses. They suggested checking out the Sunglass Hut as an alternative.
Fancy Shopping Mall
We departed from the optometrist and headed to the Optus Yes store, a phone company. I purchased a $30 prepaid charge because I needed to call my grandpa tonight; it was his birthday. Following that, we strolled through the city once more, and I took numerous pictures. It was a great experience being in a city again with all the conveniences at hand.
Daniel and I explored various shopping malls, but we only indulged in some window shopping. Daniel was financially strained; he was set to depart from Australia the following week and was urgently trying to sell his van. Despite reducing the price from 5000 dollars to 3000, he was struggling to find a buyer for the van.
We strolled around and purchased frozen cokes at Hungry Jack’s. It was refreshing to explore with a chilled drink in hand. Daniel expressed his desire to visit a store for caps, so I accompanied him to Culture Kings, situated on George Street.
We explored the store for about ten minutes. In the end, Daniel found it too pricey as the average cap cost around 50 Australian dollars. We then headed towards Sydney Central, as Daniel was curious to see it. However, after walking for about 10 minutes, we grew a bit bored. I spotted an attractive building adorned with green plants and wondered if we could access the rooftop. Upon entering, we discovered it was a compact four-floor mall.
Table Tennis
Within the mall, they were filming a commercial for the movie “Carrie.” I had seen a trailer for the movie back home and was eager to watch it, mainly because my favorite actress, Cloe Moritz, had a role in it. We took some pictures of the actress on the other side of the mall. Afterwards, we stumbled upon a small cafe and spent some time playing table tennis there.
Back to the Dorm
In the late afternoon, we opted to return to Sydney’s CBD. Daniel had plans to meet up with his friend from Germany, Lena. We encountered her at a hostel in the CBD. Lena, along with her two friends, Anna and Veronique, was planning a trip to the east coast, and we assisted them in the planning process. Jonathan, another German guy in the dorm, joined our conversation.
Around 6 or 7 pm, we returned to our hostel, a 15-minute walk from there. We planned to meet the girls around 9 or 9:30 pm tonight to explore the Botanic Gardens and capture some pictures of Sydney’s skyline. Back at the hostel, I relaxed and charged my phone. However, I had to move out of my room because someone else had booked it, which was a bit inconvenient. Now, I had to settle into a larger 8-bed dormitory.
The girl at the reception, Lisa, updated the arrangements and guided me to my new room. Upon entering, I observed an available locker. Planning to get a padlock from my car the next morning, I intended to secure the locker for my use. My reservation at Elephant Backpackers Sydney extended until April 1st. However, I wasn’t fond of this dorm since the power outlet was inconveniently distant from my bed. Given my phone’s aging battery, needing a recharge every 4 hours, this setup posed a challenge.
Later, I approached Hannah to clarify the situation. She was pleased that I had joined their room, and I shared in her satisfaction. Subsequently, I had the opportunity to meet Jasmine, and we engaged in a conversation. Additionally, I expressed my gratitude to Hannah for providing me with all the seasons of Game of Thrones.
After visiting Hannah’s room, I proceeded to Daniel’s room and transferred numerous movies from his hard drive. Finally, I had some exciting films to watch in the evening. At around 9:30 am, we departed from the hostel. We were accompanied by Jeong, a friendly 30-year-old traveler from South Korea and a friend of Daniel, who was exploring Australia.
Mrs Macquarie’s Chair
We rendezvoused with the three German girls, Lena, Anna, and Veronique, along with Jonathan, the German guy, in front of St. Mary’s Cathedral at Hyde Park near Sydney’s CBD. Together, we strolled to the Botanic Gardens, approximately a 20-minute walk. Upon reaching the area near Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, we enjoyed a fantastic vantage point. Daniel, equipped with his professional camera, captured some stunning photographs from this spot.
Following the photo session, I took a moment to call my grandfather and extend my birthday wishes. Our conversation lasted about ten minutes, and once concluded, we bid farewell to the quaint park. We retraced our steps back to our hostel, while the four Germans headed to their accommodation in Sydney’s CBD. I was feeling weary, considering it had been a long day filled with various activities. Unfortunately, my night in room 211 turned out to be less than ideal due to the noise and bustle of fellow backpackers.
