St Mary’s Cathedral was the only interesting thing on my agenda today, as I felt both tired and exhausted, with plans to take it easy. Around 10 am, I woke up and decided to freshen up with a shower. Following that, I headed downstairs for a drink. Fortunately, Daniel shared the same plan, so I didn’t have to worry about missing out on any exciting activities. However, upon descending to the lower floor, I couldn’t ignore the mess in the dining room and kitchen. The condition of this place was disheartening; the hostel truly repulsed me. Despite my reservations, I chose to stay, primarily because of Daniel’s company. Additionally, the cost was reasonable at 25 dollars per night, and I wasn’t keen on the hassle of relocating.
St Mary’s Cathedral
As it was Sunday, the library wasn’t an option for using their Wi-Fi. Opting for an internet cafe instead, I strolled with Daniel and Jeong to Hyde Park, where they planned to meet friends in front of St. Mary’s Cathedral for their second basketball session. However, feeling lazy and prioritizing vacation relaxation, I decided not to join them. Spotting an internet cafe on Liverpool Street, I bid farewell to Daniel and Jeong at the cathedral, heading towards my destination.
Naturally, I lingered at the cathedral longer than planned, and we even took a peek inside. St Mary’s Cathedral was truly magnificent. Although photography was strictly prohibited inside the cathedral, I couldn’t resist the temptation and surreptitiously snapped a few pictures.
Ten minutes into sightseeing, we stepped outside again. I bid my farewell and proceeded on my journey towards Liverpool Street. En route, I couldn’t resist capturing some pictures, particularly enamored by the water views with the St Mary’s Cathedral as a picturesque backdrop. It seemed to be some kind of aqua park, a uniquely cool decoration.
The Canopy Café
To my surprise, I discovered that the internet cafe was closed on Sunday—quite unbelievable. It seemed like many shops tended to close earlier on Sundays, a peculiar practice that didn’t quite make sense, haha. Undeterred, I strolled around Liverpool Street and stumbled upon a chic cafe called the Canopy. Inquiring about Wi-Fi and a power plug, I was pleased to learn they offered both and were happy to accommodate me. Taking advantage of the atmosphere, I decided to adopt a more relaxed approach towards spending money. Despite the relatively steep price of a drink—6 dollars for a coke—I shrugged it off. After all, I was on vacation and in dire need of relaxation.
During that afternoon, I dedicated my time to working on articles, browsing Facebook, and assessing my financial situation. I spent a solid two hours at the cafe, indulging in two cokes and a plate of olives. As I delved into revisiting some older stories on the website, it struck me how many details I had forgotten. The initial stories prompted a flood of memories and vivid recollections of the moments and sights I had experienced. It felt incredible (and still does, as I rewrite this post in 2021). If you ever embark on a world journey, I highly recommend keeping a diary. For me, it serves as confirmation that maintaining this diary blog was a wise decision, and it continues to inspire me to stay committed to my blogging journey.
In the end, I departed from the cafe, settling a bill of 20 dollars, which also included a small tip. As I made my way back to the church, I couldn’t resist capturing more pictures of the water. This time, I made sure to include the fountains, thinking of a friend back in the Netherlands who has a particular fondness for fountains.
Back to the Hostel
Close to St Mary’s Cathedral, I encountered Daniel, Jeong, and two other fellows from Norway who happened to be friends of Daniel—Marius and Asgeir. Collectively, we headed back to the hostel, allowing me to drop off my laptop. Subsequently, we returned to the CBD.
Their collective appetite led us on a food quest. Initially, we grabbed frozen cokes at Hungry Jack’s, followed by a meal at McDonald’s for the majority. Personally, I opted for an M&M’s ice cream, a delightful treat that set me back 80 cents.
The evening unfolded without much excitement. I took care of arranging a new booking, extending my stay until April 3rd. The reception efficiently handled the details. Although I initially aimed to return to Hannah’s room, unfortunately, it wasn’t feasible. As an alternative, I opted for Daniel’s room, despite it being a bit messier. Nonetheless, it was a step up from the 8-bed dorm, which lacked a power plug for my laptop and was cluttered with bags scattered everywhere.
Time Changes
In the evening, I scheduled a Skype meeting with my eldest brother, Mark. Originally, I was set to be online around 10 pm, but Mark messaged me earlier. He pointed out that the time had changed in the Netherlands and inquired about my updated availability. I had overlooked the time difference, which was now 9 hours instead of the previous 10 hours. This marked the second occasion where I lost track of time; the first instance was on Valentine’s Day in Bali, Indonesia, when I was supposed to meet up with a girl named Ena.
Assuring Mark I would be there in 15 minutes, I headed out at 9:45 pm. Unfortunately, the weather took a turn for the worse, with a light drizzle starting. Navigating through the dimly lit and deserted park to reach the library, I couldn’t help but contemplate taking the usual route on my way back. Despite its vastness, the park was eerily empty, making me reconsider the wisdom of walking through it in the middle of the night—haha.
Upon reaching the library, I anticipated finding a spot beneath some roofs to sit, only to discover homeless individuals scattered everywhere with their blankets and belongings. While a few backpackers also sought shelter, the majority were genuine homeless people. To my surprise, I estimated about thirty individuals in this makeshift community. Regrettably, this made it impractical for me to sit outside the library as originally intended. Instead, I opted to walk to the front side of the library, where I could find some privacy near the entrance and not disturb anyone during my Skype conversation.
Skype Call with my Brother and Friend
It was approximately 1 pm in the Netherlands when I reached out to my eldest brother. We engaged in an hour-long Skype session. Following that, I connected with one of my closest friends for another 30 minutes. While the Skype conversations were delightful, I couldn’t help but wish for better Wi-Fi at our hostel, allowing me to sit comfortably indoors instead of enduring the discomfort of standing outside. The spot I had chosen was plagued with cockroaches, making the two-hour standing session far from ideal—haha. I wrapped up around 11:45 pm.
The streets were filled with peculiar characters during these late hours. Some were shouting, while others engaged in conversations with the window displays of shops. Sydney, like many cities, had its share of mentally ill homeless individuals, exhibiting eccentric behavior. Although unconventional, they didn’t pose any danger, just a touch of craziness. Observing them rummaging through bins during the day or lying on busy streets, begging for money, was a common sight. The night walk shed light on the substantial number of them living in the city.
After my Skype sessions, I made my way back to the hostel, watched halfway through “Lord of the Rings” (part 1), and eventually retired for the night.