It was 1 June – the first day of winter in Australia. It was also the coldest day so far of my stay in Sydney, but at least it wasn’t raining. I was on the 100 bus headed to a wedding gig north of the harbour, my viola case tucked between my legs as we crossed the harbour bridge. I looked to my right for a glimpse of the opera house, illuminated with a pale orange hue at golden hour.
Scenes such as this felt so normal – just another afternoon in one of the greatest cities in the world. After the gig my colleague drove me to a nearby bus stop. I thanked him for helping me get musical work to supplement the normal backpacker type jobs that had otherwise filled my schedule.
In the beginning I thought perhaps I would fall in love with life here and that Sydney would keep me forever. There are many reasons to stay – the beautiful harbour, the diversity, the liveable wages, the friendly people, and the real sense of safety we have in this corner of the world. Not surprisingly the travel itch krept right on back, but thankfully many of the things that have made Sydney great will follow me onward as I travel to the holiday town of Cairns this week.
To give a quick recap of the work and activities I’ve had in the past 13 weeks – I was fortunate to perform a total of six music gigs. Four of these were weddings, and one of these took place on the back patio of the opera house. Otherwise there was a memorable benefit concert with orchestra and chorus for the victims of the recent floods in New South Wales. Lastly I performed Dvořák’s American String Quartet for the very first time with local musicians.
Sydney was also my introduction to hospitality work. Just over a week into my trip I was hired at Little Jean restaurant/cafe in Double Bay. This allowed me to stop spending my American money. In April I was hired as a contractor with the Top Shelf hospitality agency, and began working a series of fascinating events around the city including a very Gossip Girl esque debutante ball at the Randwick Racecourse and the much anticipated Barcelona vs. Sydney football match at Accor Stadium (the site of the 2000 Summer Olympics).
A combination of living in hostels and being generally frugal allowed me to save just over $3000 (AUS) while working only part-time. Many would find my methods to be a bit limiting, as I rarely ever ate out and only partied on two occasions all while living in a dormitory. With that said, there is so much to do in Sydney without having to shell out your hard earned money – and trust me it is easy to quickly blow a lot of money here. I chose to spend my time doing low-cost but fun things around the city including street photography and exploring the abundant national parks.
Recently I celebrated my 29th Birthday, beginning with sunrise at Bondi Beach. Most people would prefer to sleep in on their birthday – but catching the first rays of sun on one of the world’s most iconic beaches was worth it. I was impressed to see how active the beach was on this chilly morning, with Sydneysiders getting in their morning exercise – volleyball, yoga, power-walks with the dog(s), and of course – surfing.
Afterwards I headed back to Potts Point to grab breakfast at Bloom Cafe, located near my hostel. This was my cafe of choice whenever I was in the mood for Instagrammable coffee pictures (and good coffee!) Speaking of – I’ve finally become addicted to coffee … though I’m not sure how it took me so long.
I spent the afternoon at the Taronga Zoo, which has an unbelievable view of the harbour and CBD. When I wasn’t distracted by the views I caught a glimpse of a lounging Komodo Dragon, and even the world’s most venomous snake (the Inland Taipan) as it devoured a mouse. Later I took a moment to chill at an outdoor amphitheatre overlooking the city and called my sister back in America. Facebook Messenger calls work surprisingly well considering the near 10,000 mile (16,000 KM) distance!
Postcards of Sydney always feature the opera house and the harbour bridge, but the suburbs are chocked full of character and are worth visiting. Considering how much it rained during my stay it was often difficult to get the kinds of images I wanted – so much so that early on I was convinced that the city wasn’t photogenic. With better weather and good lighting I began to capture images that showcased the beauty of the streets.
One of the architectural gems of the CBD – the Queen Victoria Building (pictured below) sits right alongside the busy George Street. Many times I walked through its halls to avoid the rain on my way to work. The QVB has a historical charm that contrasts most of Sydney’s newer architecture – and is filled with an array of retail shops and cafes.
Beginning in late May, the Vivid Sydney festival had returned following a two-year pandemic hiatus. Vivid brings light artists from around the world to install immersive light works. One evening during Vivid I walked to Circular Quay and the opera house, where I was caught in the largest crowd I had seen since before the pandemic. I squeezed my way up to The Rocks neighborhood and up to the harbour bridge, where I captured this 15-minute long exposure shot of the glittering harbour.
To conclude this final update from Sydney – I feel like I’ve become a real Sydneysider. I have a slew of favorite coffee shops. I no longer get lost in Central/Town Hall Station or the humongous Bondi Junction mall. I’m confident with the public transit, and I have visited almost all of the best beaches and parks around the city. Reiterating what I wrote earlier, the sight of the opera house doesn’t really phase me anymore, though we all appreciate its status as the symbol of the city.
In the end I was surprisingly not sad to leave. Rather I felt grateful to have had the opportunity to live here, and I feel that the time was very well spent. If I ever chose to settle down somewhere (could I ever?) then Sydney would be the #1 contender. Moving forward, I have my sights on a whirlwind trip around Australia. Below I’ve drawn a *potential* route for the next 9 months that would bring me to most of the major cities and a number of popular holiday towns. My plan of attack is to work my way through as much of the country as possible, and then decide where I might like to return to if I extend my visa into a second year.
Up Next: WHV Australia Part VI. “Return To Cairns“
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