I am going to Sydney, Australia today. Since my husband is an airline employee, I got tickets for me and my mom. My mom said her dream was to go to Australia someday. Finally, today, I am going to Sydney for her. :) The plane was full, so my mom and I couldn't sit next to each other. but I had no worries.. because the flight attendants would take good care of her. I chose champagne as a welcome drink, And I tried to relieve my nervousness about the flight by watching a movie. Actually, I packed my bags in the morning and couldn't make any travel plans. Travel to Sydney relying only on Google Maps... I edited last week's vlog after eating. While I was editing the video, it was already 6 am..! I start to see Sydney beyond the small windows. Good morning Sydney, anyway! I arrived at Sydney Airport and passed immigration safely. There was still time to check in at the hotel, so I decided to take the train to the city. But that was the wrong choice... It was rush hour, so there were a lot of people on the train, and my bag was big.. Once I got out of the city, I was able to breathe easier. I finally arrived near the hotel ! wow, it really is Summer..! I arrived at the ‘View Sydney’ hotel where I will stay for 3 days. I left my luggage at the hotel and went out to the terrace in front of the lobby. (I just found out that ‘University of Oregon’ was written on my clothes, but the year of establishment was wrong..) Anyway, it was so hot because we were the only ones wearing winter clothes in summer. But I couldn't sit there for hours, so I went out. I got on the bus safely with my VISA card. and cross the bridge and depart for Sydney's main harbour. Just like in Korea, I tapped my card when getting off. I arrived at Circular Quay station, where the Opera House is located near. Since the weather was so nice, I decided to take a tour bus. As is my habit, I signed roughly at the card machine, and my payment had cancelled. I forgot that it had to match the signature on the back of my card. It was a moment when I really realized that I had come to a different country. I boarded a city tour bus that allows me to hop on and off for 24 hours. Now, let's go! This bus departs from Sydney's main harbor and traverses the city centre. Pass by ‘Hyde Park’ in the middle of the city, I encountered picturesque landscapes created by nature. I will also pass by St. Mary's Cathedral. However, there is tremendous sunshine on the roofless second floor. I recommend that you bring a wide-brimmed hat. The sun was hot, but the air was clear and refreshing. I'm in the process of building a house, so the pretty windows and terrace catch my eye. It was a great choice for spending time carrying a heavy laptop. As I looked at the scenery, an hour and a half on the bus passed so quickly. I returned to the port where I departed. The real trip starts now... It's heavy, hot, and it's still 12am... I became desperate for a cool iced latte. There was an alley with many cafes behind the bus stop, so I walked along. (The Rocks) The street was very pretty, just like some streets in Europe. It was so hot that for a moment it felt like a desert. I came to a cafe that still had a table. There were many people because it was lunch time. I wasn't hungry, but I didn't know when I would come here again, so I ordered a sandwich. I finally got the iced latte I was longing for. This coffee saved my life... They say the Rocks market is held along this road on weekends. I can see the street scenes now. It's almost time to check in for the hotel. My mom was surprised by the Sydney sun, so she bought a hat, I departed for North Sydney, where the hotel is located. I could get here by crossing just one bridge from Circular Quay. I was still feeling thirsty, so I bought another orange juice. I also stopped by the supermarket right in front of the hotel. It's always fun to see exotic food ingredients. But I didn't buy much food because it was after lunch. I bought some mangoes and cherries. I checked in at the Hotel, and the staff recommended a few nearby beaches. Since the room is on the 8th floor, I think it has a good view. oh! I booked this room at a sale price, but the view was amazing! I took a shower first, and I went out to dinner feeling refreshed. It's the same place as morning, but the wind feels even more refreshing. I finally broke away from being a Oregon university student. haha In front of the hotel, there was a highly rated chicken restaurant called ‘Bon Pollo’. I was very excited because this is a Lebanese restaurant that is not common in Korea. The chicken platter and chicken burger I ordered arrived! I will be honest. but the chicken at this place was really, really great.!! The chicken wasn't dry at all, it was soft and moist. Crispy French fries dipped in chili sauce were also great. The chicken was so good. so no matter how I ate it, it was just delicious! The burger with soft bread that goes well with moist chicken was also amazing. I wonder what the secret is to such moist chicken. I was full, so I took a walk down the alley near the hotel. I looked it up later and found out that this neighborhood is famous for purple cherry blossoms in spring. The name of the road was pretty, 'Lavender street.' And I could see 'Lavender Bay' It was an evening where the first day in Sydney was coming to an end, It was the evening where my mom secretly take out her regrets that were buried deep in her heart. If we had lived differently, would we be happier now..? Slightly cloudy Saturday morning I was going to the beach about an hour away from the city. It was ‘Bondi Beach’, with has impressive high waves and wide sandy beach. I decided to have breakfast nearby and take a walk again. I found a brunch cafe on Google Maps. I ordered banana pancakes and a big brunch set. Perhaps because it was a heat wave that day, all the butter melted. The banana pancakes were a little too sweet for my taste. But if you come here with kids, they will love it! I liked the menu my mom ordered. it was diverse and delicious. (Big Breaky) Now shall we walk along the beach again? Bondi Beach had high waves, so many people enjoyed surfing. Because it was the weekend, there were many people who came as families. It looked good to see them having a healthy weekend. I went to the sandy beach and my legs got all wet. haha I walked to the other side of the beach, and I could see the spectacular view of strong waves flooding into the outdoor swimming pool. This was the famous ‘Bondi Icebergs swimming pool.' I stood there for a long time without even noticing that my skin was turning red. Now I am going to take the bus back to the city. There was a bus that goes from the beach to the city in one go :) When traveling, charging my iPhone on the go is essential. I got off at Hyde Park, which I saw on the tour bus yesterday. I could hear birds singing somewhere, There was adequate shade thanks to the large trees, It was a park in the city center that was perfect for a walk. I crossed Hyde Park and went to the Royal Botanic Garden. Around 2012... I stayed in Sydney for just one day. I think I went to Hyde Park and Botanical Gardens back then. As I was walking, I realized it. I recalled that I walked this path back then. The end of the Botanical Garden is connected to the Opera House. Now if I remember Sydney again, I will think of the sound of a Saturday summer night, and my mom standing quietly in it. I didn't ask her what she was thinking. I somehow felt like I knew. Today I decided to take the ferry back to my hotel. I heard that the sunset seen from the ferry was so pretty. I waited for the ferry departing around 7:30 just in time for the 8 o'clock sunset. It was convenient because I could ride everything with the same card. I didn't know which seat would be best, so I sat in the outdoor seats on the second floor. The sky was gradually turning orange and pink And the burn was getting redder and redder... haha The ferry was truly a sunset spot..! I was about to get off at one stop, but I fell in love with the sunset and ended up at the last stop. Thanks to this, I returned to the hotel while enjoying the night view of Sydney. Yesterday, I walked a lot and so.. passed out. I wanted to sleep in late.. but I was forced to be diligent when traveling. Today was my last day staying at this hotel, so I decided to explore 'North Sydney.' I think I got a burn a little yesterday. There is a heat wave warning today as well, so I need to be careful. As I walked, I saw a market that opens on the weekends. (Kirribilli Markets). From food to clothes, props, and paintings... the market was quite big. It was so hot it was hard to look around.. Let's go to a local restaurant across the street! I came here because I was craving soup. (Cool Mac) I ordered Niku Udon and Tantan Udon. I heared the coffee here was also great! This udon was spicy and had a curry flavor. Niku Udon tasted better to me! It was a pleasant Sunday breakfast :) I walked slowly through the neighborhood behind the cafe. I thought the houses were unusual, so, I looked it up and found out that this neighborhood is one of the richest villages. It was quiet because it wasn't a place where tourists came. All I could say was that it's just.. good After sitting for a while, I decided to explore other neighborhoods. Neutral Bay is about 20 minutes away by bus. As I walk, I start thinking about iced coffee again. so I looked at Google map and found the bakery. (Bourke Street Bakery) I ordered it without knowing, but the almond croissant was so good. I almost spilled coffee on my white pants, but luckily it only ended up on my sleeve! The coffee was delicious too, What did they do to the croissant..! It's really delicious...!! It was too hot, so I added a glass of orange juice. I packed the remaining bread for breakfast tomorrow. I like to take walks in neighborhoods that are a bit outside the tourist areas. For a moment, I imagine what it would be like to live in a place like this. Is it possible to live the life I dream of only if i live in a country like this? A life of elaborate cooking, gardening on the weekends, and taking walks in the park in front of the house. Even though it seems like a simple life, why is it not easy in reality? I think I walked over 10,000 steps today. I return to the hotel with tired heavy legs There is a wine shop in front of the hotel, so I stopped by for a moment. I asked about the Australian wine I enjoyed drinking in Korea. In Australia, there is no wine in supermarkets, so you have to go to a liquor store. Why are my steps on the way to the hotel with wine so light? lol I left the wine at the hotel, change into sneakers and go to dinner. This restaurant was famous for delicious bread and food. (LouLou) It was early evening so not many people yet. Although the price here was not cheap, but the taste does not betray the price! I wanted rate both the steak and dessert five stars. It was so good. The morning of the fourth day, greeted by a pretty bird I eat breakfast with mangoes and carrots that my mom peels, Today we're going across the river to another hotel in the city. I thought 3 nights in a hotel with a view + 3 nights in a city hotel would be nice. When I reserved this place, I simply booked it because it was near Central Station. When I came here, I found out that this neighborhood was located in a pretty trendy one in Sydney. I wasn't expecting early check-in, but the staff said he would give me a room in half an hour! so I went to the 'Single O' cafe, which is a 1-minute walk away to wait. (Single O) At first, I didn't know this place was that famous. I came here because it was close. but people were waiting in line all the time! I was thirsty from carrying my luggage all morning, so I ordered two iced lattes. Wow.. this coffee..!!!!! Even though it is a decaffeinated coffee, it was savory and well-balanced. This was the first coffee that my mom said was delicious. I was going to just drink coffee, but I wanted something more, so I ordered toast. I thought I would have to make breakfast like this when I go back to Korea. I bought some decaffeinated coffee beans and went back to the hotel. This is a small hotel right in front of Central Station. (202 Elizabeth) Since the hotel opened last year, there weren't many reviews. Since it was a new hotel, the soundproofing was very good. I couldn't hear any noise from the train! However, as soon as I opened the terrace, mosquitoes invaded, so I kept the door closed. Today, I was going near Sydney University. I was curious because many of the travelers mentioned going to Sydney University. I was curious about why people visit university in other country. The place most tourists visit was the clock tower. (University of Sydney Quadrangle) The University of Sydney is one of the top 10 most beautiful campuses in the world. So, people can take great pictures by sitting anywhere in this building..! There is a reason why many people visit the same place... Now I'm heading to my real destination : New Town This is a cake cafe recommended by my Instagram friend. (Black Star Pastry) She studied in Sydney and said she liked the watermelon cake here. This is my first time tasting watermelon cake! My first long black coffee since coming to Sydney. The cake had watermelon and was also topped with strawberries and dried roses. This cake might only available in Sydney :) The streets of Newtown were lined with cafes, design prop shops, and bookstores. I finally found a gift that Hami would like! The cat ceramic that was to hang with oil sprayed on the back was also cute. I was happy to find Hami gifts on the streets of Newtown. :) After a few steps, I could see a nice bookstore. I love being exposed to books and food really.. There are picture books that are hard to find in Korea, so I bought two for Hami. And after a few more steps, I found out a vintage second hand bookstore. .. and I found a treasure as soon as I came in! It was so pretty, and it was half the price! There were many foreign books that were difficult to find in Korea. I was so happy to find them. And I was surprised by many of pretty picture books in Australia :) The book was too heavy, so I left it at my hotel and went out to dinner. I was heading to a noodle restaurant in the city that my friend told me about. This was 'Malay Chinese Noodle Bar' in the city center She said that the spicy laksa noodles in rich chicken broth were super delicious. It was cold, and since I mostly ate bread.. so I missed the spicy taste. This bowl of noodles gave me so much strength and energy... Isn’t this why the food you eat once while traveling is remembered for a lifetime? I thought whatever I did for the rest of the day would be satisfying after eating this. After eating, it was 4:30 PM. I came to buy fruit before the supermarket closed. I also brought snacks to give to my family. It was much cheaper to buy snacks at the supermarket than at the duty-free shop. I'm thinking of waiting for the sunset at the Sydney Observatory this evening. The shortcut stairs were blocked, so I went back up the hill, but... There were still two hours left until sunset so I went up slowly. I didn't bring a picnic mat, so I sat down with a supermarket bag. lol I wondered if I would be able to see the sunset because it had been cloudy, However, traveling is always about experiencing the process, not the result. Spending a beautiful evening here, breathing the fresh air and waiting for sunset, All these moments were a journey itself. I was tired, but I had work to do. I ate cherries and watched YouTube videos... It was a precious night when I didn't want to sleep for a long time. It's the morning of the 5th day of my trip to Sydney. I was slowly getting used to starting my morning with a latte. It was cloudy since yesterday, but today it was raining lightly. so I bought an umbrella and some snacks. The raindrops get thicker as soon as I buy an umbrella. I went into a nearby store to escape the rain. It's near the Rocks street, and it's full of cute baby care items. While I was looking around, the rain stopped so I walked again. I went to the coffee bean roasting cafe (ASLAN Coffee) that I wanted to come. Of all the cafes in Sydney, I wanted to stop by this one. There were only few tables, but we were lucky enough to find a seat! I was a little unfamiliar with the names of the coffee beans and the cafe menu, A kind Korean employee came to me and offered me a cup of freshly brewed coffee. She kindly explained the coffee beans and also took a picture me with my mom. I was very touched by the unexpected kindness. The fresh coffee and the almond croissant were all very delicious. It was a heart-warming moment that made me feel warm that day. After looking at the weather forecast, I made a reservation for the Opera House tour last night. It starts at 2:15, but I came 30 minutes early and looked at the souvenir shop. At this time, I had no idea what would happen 30 minutes later. Participants in the English tour were gathering, and those who booked the Korean tour were told to stand at pillar number 3. It was almost the time.. but why is no one coming..?? After 5 minutes, I felt something was wrong. so I asked the English guide. The full story of the incident I found out after hastily receiving the audio guide... I paid for this tour at night, but there was an error with my card, so I had to do it again. I thought it was strange that the price of $32 per person changed to $42 at the time of payment. I thought I saw something wrong because I was tired. While putting it back in the shopping cart and paying, I clicked on the wrong product. TKorean tour was 30 minutes and the English was 1 hour. so the prices were different. Since I couldn't change to Korean, I went looking for an English tour that started. Fortunately, the guide went around every corner and found the group I had missed. Finally I found my English group..! The English tour lasted a long time, so I was able to see inside in more detail. The exterior of the Opera House was fascinating, made up of over a million tiles. and especially the Opera House Concert Hall..! As soon as I entered, I was impressed by the sense of space and sound. I think it's because not only the stage but also the audience seats are all made of wood. My mom didn't understand all the English explanations, but she said it was fun. It was a time where I could feel the Opera House with all senses. wow, but when I came out, the wind was so strong! almost a typhoon..? Even if a typhoon comes, I had to eat what I got recommended. I came to a gelato shop (Messina) Which one should I choose? It picked macadamia, and I think it would be good to eat on a hot day. Not a good choice for weather like today. I went to a restaurant on the second floor of the same building. (Hurricane's Grill) I heard that this is a Sydney restaurant that many Korean travellers go to. But at first I didn't want to come because it didn't seem that special. I came as soon as the store opened and was able to sit in the window seat. Ordering was easy because I could select the menu and pay through QR code. the view was great too! I ordered beef ribs and steak, which many people order. I was concerned about the amount of ribs, but a half size was sufficient. It was a taste that everyone would like, and overall I was satisfied. On the way back to the hotel, I bought the delicious snacks I ate in Sydney. (Pods) the last day in Sydney I once again came to the cafe I will miss the most (Single O) cafes in Sydney open at 7pm and close around 3-4pm. So I came early in the morning. I think it was probably the week I drank the most lattes in my life. I also ordered avocado toast for breakfast, I also bought a few more coffee beans. (I should have bought more...) I think my younger sister would love this coffee beans. The weather was going to be moody today too. As I move, I kept looking to see if the sun would come out. I had a hard time with the heat wave on the first day, but now I miss the sunshine. Today I came to the Museum of Contemporary Art. (MCA Sydney) When I was in my twenties, I only knew about the Mona Lisa... I wasn't really interested in art. Then, as I raised a daughter who liked to draw.. It was truly amazing to see a young child expressing his thoughts through drawings. Just as I record precious moments in video, I think that paintings contain the same feeling, so all art feels much more familiar. I bought a book that Hami would like at the art museum, I also visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales. I could see a unique exhibit. The art gallery had a variety of works, from classics to modern times, paintings to sculptures. I felt like Sydney's art galleries were really welcoming people. I won't forget how kind they were for a long time. The freshness and clear air that filled every corner of the city, Even the relaxed nature of the people in it. Now, I am going to my last destination, ‘Surry Hills’. While passing by, I found a pretty grocery store. Wow... look at the size of the vegetables here! I've never seen such a big eggplant! I wanted to buy some cheese, but it was a refrigerated product.. There was a lot of delicious-looking granola too. Next time I come to Sydney, I want to stay in an Airbnb with a kitchen. The last destination was the frozen yogurt shop in front of the supermarket (YoChi) First, I chose yogurt of my desired flavor, plain & vanilla. and I followed the line of toppings and added what I wanted to eat. When HAMI and I come to Sydney, I must come here again! Then I calculated the weight and paid accordingly. The toppings combined with the fresh yogurt were very harmonious. It was a truly sweet ending. and now It's time to leave.. I spent a long time editing video and felt like I was traveling to Sydney again. It was Sydney with my dear mom, Sydney taught me that it's okay to stop for pursuing the important things in life. When life is full of impatience with no reason, I need to remember the slow happiness I learned in Sydney. Even the days that seem to be under dark clouds forever, In fact, there is such a clear sky above it. I won't forget this either. Thank you for being with me for such a long time.
