The plan for the day was to visit Wild Life Sydney Zoo and Madame Tussaud’s. I rose early, or at least early by my standards during my stay in Sydney, around 10 am. Upon waking, my first order of business was to text Daniel about heading to the sunglass store. Sorting out everything with my insurance was a priority today, as time was ticking. I had a three-week window to respond, and although the deadline was next week, I aimed to complete it as soon as possible. I had already postponed it once, courtesy of Daniel and his activities—haha. Setting out alone to the CBD that morning, I took the opportunity to capture some pictures along the way.
The sunglass store and the opal museum
Entering the sunglass store, I was fortunate that the man remembered me from a few days ago. In compliance with my insurance requirements, I requested an official statement. The gentleman was kind enough to print one, including the repair costs and his signature. Expressing my gratitude three times, I left the store, pleased that everything was falling into place as per my plan—always a satisfying feeling. Moving on, I turned to Google Maps to locate a Subway store and found one conveniently situated just a five-minute walk away.
En route to Subway, I came across a free exposition, and naturally, I couldn’t resist such an offer, especially in Australia! Making my way to the escalator, I was determined to explore and uncover the details of this exposition.
The exposition focused on opal gems and fossils. Despite its small size, I didn’t mind, considering it was free and the subject intrigued me. With no one else in sight, I leisurely explored. However, I could only capture photos of the exposition itself, not the adjacent jewelry shop. While attempting to take some pictures, I encountered challenges due to reflections in the glass.
It’s truly remarkable how stunning these gems were—nature’s artistry over time. The most impressive gem, locked in a vault (captured in the first and second pictures on the lowest row above), was truly immense! It brought to mind my cousin Dion back in the Netherlands, who had a deep appreciation for gems and beautiful stones.
In the end, I spent 30 minutes exploring the exposition before taking my leave. I expressed gratitude to the man for the informative exhibit, and he kindly allowed me to capture some pictures. Feeling hungry, I briskly walked to the Subway store and indulged in a substantial sandwich. Following my meal, I headed back towards Hyde Park, situated close to my hostel. I bought a frozen coke and decided to enjoy it in the park.
Hyde Park and Darling Harbour
The weather was delightful, and many people were enjoying the park. Initially, I sat on the grass, but I thought it would be more comfortable to use an empty bench. After some searching, I found one and reclined, putting on some music to unwind. The temperature was exceptionally pleasant—neither too hot nor too cold. The highlight was the captivating view of the Westfield Tower and the skyline. The sun’s gentle rays added to the overall relaxing ambiance. As I enjoyed the music, I also chatted with Daniel through Facebook. I shared my location and sent him a picture. About 20 minutes later, he managed to locate me in the expansive Hyde Park.
Daniel and I opted to explore other attractions, with Madame Tussaud’s topping our list. As we strolled through the CBD, Daniel expressed a desire for a frozen coke. Without hesitation, we both grabbed one and proceeded to Darling Harbour, the hub for various attractions.
Darling Harbour is a stunning location, and last Saturday, I had been eager to visit because of an anticipated fireworks display. Fortunately, I discovered online in advance that the fireworks were canceled due to Earth Hour, an ecological initiative aimed at preserving the Earth. Although disappointed that I wouldn’t witness fireworks in a global city like Sydney, I opted to join Hannah at the bar instead of attending the canceled event last Saturday.
Madame Tussaud’s
Upon entering Madame Tussaud’s, we faced some misfortune as a large group of Asian tourists arrived simultaneously, occupying all the statues for their photo sessions. Deciding to bide my time, I informed Daniel that I needed to use the restroom and excused myself. Upon our return to the statues, the Asian group had departed, granting us the opportunity to enjoy the place to ourselves. From that point on, the experience became enjoyable, and we had a great time capturing silly and goofy pictures. Though initially not thrilled with the situation, in hindsight, we were pleased that we decided to visit Madame Tussaud’s.
Madame Tussaud’s housed numerous statues, including several national celebrities I was unfamiliar with. We spent around an hour exploring the exhibits. Following that, Daniel and I made the decision to visit Wild Life Sydney Zoo, conveniently located right next to Madame Tussaud’s.
The Wild Life Sydney Zoo
Upon entering the Wild Life Sydney Zoo, Daniel and I were immediately surprised by its extensive layout and the diverse array of animals. The zoo follows a one-way lane, guiding visitors through a variety of animal exhibits. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, especially appreciating the fact that there weren’t too many tourists around. This allowed us to get up close to the animals, capturing some fantastic pictures in the process.
The incredible animals and breathtaking views made the visit enjoyable. The organization of the Wild Life Sydney Zoo, with everything conveniently nearby, added to the experience. Unlike larger parks, like Australia Zoo, where different animals are situated miles apart, here everything was within easy reach. After about an hour, we initially thought we had seen it all, but to our surprise, there was still a significant highlight—the expansive aquarium featuring a crocodile. Though the final section of the small zoo, it proved to be equally fascinating.
An employee shared fascinating information about the crocodile, highlighting its remarkable abilities. We were amazed to learn that crocodiles can stay submerged for two hours without needing air. During this time, they enter a slumber mode, and their heartbeat drops to an astonishing 2-4 beats per minute. As we listened to these facts, we initially thought we were observing a crocodile statue, only to be surprised when it suddenly started moving after the employee concluded their story.
After our experience at the Wild life Sydney Zoo and Madame Tussaud’s, Daniel and I headed back to the CBD. Opting for a McDonald’s menu priced at 10 dollars, we relished our meal before returning to the hostel. Earlier, we had also purchased groceries, and our plan was to craft our own Subway-style sandwiches in the hostel. Despite splitting the costs, it turned out to be pricier than getting a large sub. In the communal kitchen, we prepared our sandwiches amidst the presence of several others engaged in cooking activities.
New Plans for Tomorrow
In the kitchen, I encountered a Dutch girl named Sharon from Harderwijk. She shared her experience of Coogee Beach and the scenic walk available there. Despite having done it on a rainy day, she described the 8-kilometer walk to the other beach as incredible, with breathtaking sights along the way. Intrigued, I expressed my interest in doing the walk. She mentioned that it concludes at Sydney’s renowned Bondi Beach. Impressed by her description, I told Sharon that I was likely to embark on this adventure tomorrow.
In the evening, I visited the supermarket to grab some coke and snacks. My main agenda for the night was to unwind and enjoy movies and TV shows on my laptop. As part of tomorrow’s plan, I intended to retrieve post stamps from my car. I needed to send some cards to family and friends, and the stamps were still in my car.
