Three happy weeks filled with my Bondi Beach family, a trip to Byron Bay, and Mackenzie visiting me (and staying a day longer than planned).
Day 200: Saturday, March 30th
DAY TWO HUNDRED! I survived 200 days in Australia, the country where everything wants to kill you. Not only that, but I have so much to look forward to over the next three weeks: today I fly back to Sydney and see Jamie tonight, I have eight days with my Bondi Backpackers family, I’m writing a few more blogs for Wake Up!, I have plans to see Jen tomorrow, Jamie Koffman arrives in a few days, I’m going back to Byron Bay, and then Mackenzie visits me for an entire week. I am so thankful for the challenges and hands-on nature experiences that the west coast and outback brought me, but I’m also looking forward to consistent access to flushing toilets and a bed. At Ayers Rock Airport, I decided to pair my incontrollable excitement with a triple shot espresso on a nearly empty stomach. I was literally shaking on the plane from the caffeine. In Sydney on the train back to Bondi Backpackers, I ran into none other than my tentmate Clara from my tour a week ago. Returning to Bondi Beach and seeing so many familiar faces felt like coming home. After settling in, I got coffee and visited Watson’s Bay with Jamie in the evening. I was elated to see him again after five weeks. Today, I was also told that I have “mom” sunglasses and urgently need to replace them so if anyone has any recommendations, please send them my way ASAP. I stayed up until 2 am to wait for Sierra to get back from work and catch up with her. I couldn’t have asked for a better first night back in Sydney.
Day 201: Sunday, March 31st
At 11 am, I went to a popular Acai spot called Oak Berry with essentially everyone from my group of friends who is still at the hostel. I felt so welcomed and happy to be back. It’s rare to find connections like these in such a short amount of time and I’m thankful to feel part of something. I went to Bondi markets for a bit and then met with Jen to walk from Bondi to Bronte and back before grabbing food and a cider at the bar below my hostel. I cooked my own meal for the first time in weeks and booked flights and accommodation to go to Byron Bay next Sunday for five nights! Mackenzie’s golden retriever puppy named Harvey also officially became my godson.
Day 202: Monday, April 1st
I spent the day catching up with everyone at the hostel, relaxing, and playing a lot of card games. In the evening, I took a hip hop class with Rachel. It was the first dance class I’ve taken in at least a year and it was an absolute blast. The studio reminded me of Westlake Dance Center at home because it’s also focused on Adult drop-in classes. I was nervous before the class but to my surprise, I wasn’t half bad. Hopefully I can go again!
Day 203: Tuesday, April 2nd
I joined the free yoga class in the morning before meeting Jen to eat at Lentil as Anything in Newtown, a restaurant that is entirely volunteer-run, vegan, and pay-what-you-can. We got lost on the way there, but the food made the journey more than worth it. After lunch, we wandered around Newtown and got a drink at Young Henry’s brewery. Jen and I said goodbye and I took the train to Central to see the office and kitchen staff at Wake Up!. After, I met with Jamie Koffman who was staying at Wake Up! while she backpacked Australia as part of her post-graduation travels. I hadn’t seen anyone from home in a long time so it was refreshing. At the same time, it was strange to have my Seattle and Sydney worlds collide. We walked to Darling Harbour, grabbed a few ciders, and went for dinner at Spice Alley. Before I went back to Bondi, we stopped at Side Bar so she could see the bar that I spent too much time in when I was working.
Day 204: Wednesday, April 3rd
I jumped straight into the ocean after the Personal Training session before a delightfully unproductive day. I met Danielle, who I’ve known longer than anyone else in Australia, for happy hour at El Camino. After two frozen margaritas, we went to a nearby museum to check out their rooftop event. We were ecstatic to discover a phenomenal view of the bridge and Opera House at sunset. We snapped a few pictures together because we may not see each other again this year. Back in Bondi, I went to the Wine & Cheese night and Beach Road Hotel. I spent some time downstairs talking to Rachel before venturing upstairs to find the rest of the group.
Day 205: Thursday, April 4th
Jamie Koffman arrived in the morning to spend two nights at Bondi Backpackers and get a little taste of the life I love here. We did the coastal walk and spent the day with the group at the hostel. In the evening, we all went to trivia where we got second place, AKA the first loser. I’m not bitter, not bitter at all.
Day 206: Friday, April 5th
Jamie and I went to the personal training session in the morning. During the touch rugby game at the end of the session, one of the guys was so invested in the game that he ended up running straight off of the wall and fell onto the pavement below. He was so scraped up and had to get stiches in his elbow. I booked a Hunter Valley wine tour for Mackenzie and I, as well as a workout class with a fitness influencer that we have both been following for years. In the evening, Jamie and I went to the hostel’s BBQ where I played water pong and took loads of pictures with my Bondi family. Went to Hotel Bondi and then to Beach Road Hotel to bug my favourite bartender Sierra at work.
Day 207: Saturday, April 6th
Sierra and I got Oak Berry acai bowls in the morning and then went to the beach to tan and swim. After a few hours, Sierra and I headed back to do some trip planning. When my visa ends in September, I plan to continue traveling for at least a few more months. Sierra and I have started talking about going to Greece together at some point so we sat down to do some research and tentative planning. We know we want to wing most of it, but wanted to make sure we were on the same page as far as travel style. It was so exciting to look at pictures of the different islands in Greece and think about the possibilities. A big group of us had a movie night upstairs with a massive pile of pillows and duvets.
Day 208: Sunday, April 7th
Packed up my stuff, bought a falafel wrap from the market, and headed to the airport at 11 am for my flight to Byron Bay. I talked to mom for a while at the airport, which has become my airport tradition. When I arrived in Byron Bay, Jamie and I were in the same room! I headed out to catch up on my journal and wander around. It felt so good and oddly nostalgic to be back in Byron Bay. It made me realize just how far I’ve come in seven months because last time I was here was at the very beginning of my travels. Byron Bay has a brand new supermarket that I spent far too long exploring. I can’t help my love for supermarkets. Jamie and I met at Elixiba for dinner where I ordered a long-awaited plate of nachos. I still have fond memories of the burger I bought here seven months ago, and the nachos didn’t let me down. We shared a fancy dessert, too. I stopped at a bottle shop and stumbled upon an entire brand of vegan goon (boxed wine). On the walk back to the hostel, we listened to a few buskers in the street.
Day 209: Monday, April 8th
Jamie and I attended the free yoga session in the morning, kicking our day off on a positive note. Jamie did the lighthouse walk while I hung out on the beach. There were bluebottle jellyfish in the water, but I took the risk and swam anyway. Jamie and I met back up for lunch at Manna Haven, a healthy vegetarian restaurant. We shopped for a few hours but didn’t buy anything. The shops in Byron are adorable and very chic.
Day 210: Tuesday, April 9th
Before Jamie had to leave for her flight to Brisbane, we went to the personal training session and relaxed on the beach. It was wonderful to see her and spend time with someone who I didn’t have to make small talk with. We realised we’ve known each other for about nine years now. In the afternoon, I hired a free bike from Wake Up! Byron Bay and headed to a part of Byron Bay that I’d never been before. I found a three different health food shops and multiple cafes with vegan options. The area had rusty car parts used as street décor. I love the atmosphere of Byron Bay and how bike-friendly it is. I stopped at one of the cafes for a smoothie and to write in my journal. Two of my roommates were going to head to town for dinner and drinks so I went with. One was an Australian named Kyle and the other was a Canadian named Nicole. We went to an outdoor pub and a Japanese restaurant before heading back to the hostel to have a few drinks and play games.
Day 211: Wednesday, April 10th
My Australian roommate Kyle had a rental car and offered to bring Nicole and I with him to two nearby waterfalls. After breakfast, we headed off. The first stop was Killen Falls. This spot didn’t involve much hiking but did lead to a beautiful waterfall and swimming hole because it had been raining. The water was cold and refreshing. The next stop was Minyon Falls. We were freezing but opted to do the 4.5k (each way, which we learned halfway through) hike down to the falls through the forest. Many of the trees along the way were engulfed by other trees, creating these intricate twisting designs. A few hours into the hike we were cold and hungry. But turning around wasn’t an option. I almost didn’t swim once we got to the bottom, but I jumped in with my clothes on and loved it! It was a crisp, ice-cold experience. After swimming for half an hour, we hiked up a different side of the cliff with the hope that it was a shorter hike. We couldn’t have had better luck! At the top, someone offered to drive us back to our car. It was almost 4 pm and none of us had eaten since 9 am. When we finally got back to Byron Bay, we found a burger shop with a vegan burger. I don’t know if I was just starving or if it really was delicious, but I inhaled it. In the evening, I went to the wine & cheese night for a bit where I met an abnormally high number of Americans.
Day 212: Thursday, April 11th
Opted out of the free yoga class to check out the morning farmers market in town. I bought a spikey cucumber, starfruit, and a samosa. I spent the next few hours working on a few blogs for Wake Up! at Combi, a little café with a fantastic vegan toastie. When I needed a break, I went back and Facetimed Kevin for nearly two hours! It’d been way too long since we talked so we had a lot to catch up on. I also Facetimed dad.
Day 213: Friday, April 12th
Seven months! I joined the sunrise journey to the lighthouse in the morning and walked back to town in the rain. I stopped at Combi again for coffee and vegan pancakes. The walk back to Wake Up! Byron Bay along the beach was almost euphoric. With the low tide and dogs splashing in the water, I felt so privileged and blessed to be in Australia where life by the beach is normal. It was a wonderful way to begin the day. I checked out of my room and worked on more blogs for Wake Up! until my shuttle to the tiny airport. Back at Wake Up! in Sydney where I was staying, I picked up dinner and happened to run into a ridiculous number of people who were there when I lived there.
Day 214: Saturday, April 13th
Mackenzie arrived!!! I was bursting with joy (and pacing back and forth) at the airport. How lucky am I to have a best friend who travels halfway around the world to visit me for a week!? We went right back to being us. Mom sent a package in her suitcase that I got to open while Makenzie showered. It was filled with Easter eggs (filled with little gifts, how cute is that?), chocolate, cheesy snacks, and so much more! My Grandma even sent chocolate. Mackenzie and I got breakfast at a place called Nutie Donuts where we shared two donuts and each got a main dish. She’s gluten free and I’m vegan, so we are pretty much as complicated as you can get. We walked through the city to the harbour after brunch to see the bridge and Opera House. In the afternoon, we had tickets to do a workout with Kelsey Wells, a fitness influencer who we both admire and whose workout program we both use. Meeting Kelsey was a bittersweet realization that her abs are just as glorious in person as they are on Instagram. The workout was at a fitness show, which was an interesting spectacle. The workout was amazing and we tried a few of the samples, including Halo Top ice cream, as we weaved our way back out of the event. After showering, we got pizza and sangria at Macchiato pizza. We took a nap after dinner but I forced both of us to wake up and stay awake until 10 to ward off her jet leg. We entered the beer pong competition, sat at a table people watching, and went back upstairs shortly after losing the game.
Day 215: Sunday, April 14th
We slept in a bit, had acai bowls from the café I used to work at, and headed to El Camino for lunch. If I remember right, today was also the morning that we Facetimed Caitlin. We shared a few dishes and a margarita tower. I forced Mackenzie to take some photos with me at the Harbour. After lunch, we went to Opera Bar and shared a pitcher of sangria. It was just so nice being back with someone who knows me almost as well as I know myself and catching up on the lives of people in Seattle who I haven’t seen in months. We headed back to Wake Up! to join the pub crawl where Mackenzie tried goon for the first time (she’s not a fan, either). Originally, we were going to get our navels pierced tomorrow because it’s something we’d been talking about for years. I stupidly looked up a video of the piercing being done and we immediately changed our minds. We ended the night at Side Bar.
Day 216: Monday, April 15th
As soon as we woke up, we changed and went to the park to work out. I’ve missed having my workout buddy! It’s so much more motivating to push myself when Mackenzie is next to me doing the same thing. We got brunch at Organic Produce and she Facetimed her mom. The food was delicious. After walking back to Wake Up! and changing, we took a ferry to Manly Beach. We ordered burgers and sat by the water before taking the ferry back and heading to Holey Moley, a bar with mini golf. It was only $10 for unlimited play so we conquered all three courses. Halfway through, we both became desperate for dessert and began brainstorming our options. We found a health foods shop that reminded me of PCC, but didn’t find the right kind of dessert. We opted to eat chocolate from my mom as Mackenzie read us a sarcastic book about Australia that she brought along.
Day 217: Tuesday, April 16th
Early rise and checkout for our day in Hunter Valley wine country. I discovered that I truly hate red wine. We both enjoyed the organic vodka tasting the most. Mackenzie tried the chili flavour of everything and barely even flinched. The guide said the chili vodka has made adults cry before and she was thriving. The lychee and chocolate flavoured vodkas were my favourite. We each bought a bottle of wine for later in the week. Oddly enough, two of the other guests on our tour were from Seattle. We spent lunch talking about Greek life with the guy from Seattle who had been in a fraternity when he was at UW. When the day was over, we moved hostels to Bondi. It was fun to be greeted by everyone at Bondi again. Mackenzie and I grabbed food and watched a movie before bed.
Day 218: Wednesday, April 17th
Mackenzie and I intended to wake up for the personal training session but instead slept until 11. We changed and got coffee at Gusto’s and an acai bowl at Oak Berry. After, we changed into workout clothes and did the coastal walk. Along the way, we stopped and worked out. Mackenzie has become fantastic at head stands. We had a quick lunch at Zambrero, Australia’s not-as-good version of Chipotle. We showered and napped before watching more Shrek and grabbing dinner.
Day 219: Thursday, April 18th
We slept in again and I got a smoothie while Mackenzie got an another acai bowl for breakfast. We headed straight to the beach to tan for a few hours. In the usual fashion of being Mackenzie and I, I got sick. Mackenzie dug a big hole in the sand and I forced her to swim in the ocean before we left to get tacos for lunch. In the early evening, we showered and took a bus to Watson’s Bay. We started at the park next door and walked by the boats where we took pictures of each other. At the hotel, we shared a pitcher of watermelon margaritas and a gin cocktail. For dinner, we had salads at the bar downstairs and stuck around for trivia. Our group did so well and we should have won but another group cheated. So we got second place. NOT bitter, not bitter AT ALL. We debated what to do once trivia was over. Mackenzie suggested ice cream and that’s why she’s my best friend.
Day 220: Friday, April 19th
I felt better today but we still slept in before getting Oak Berry acai bowls for breakfast and going straight to the beach. Unfortunately, Mackenzie trusted me to put sunscreen on her back. Although I thought I slathered it on, I failed miserably and she ended up with a horrible sunburn. It was bad. Oops. We got salads for lunch and shared our wine since it was her last night. We tried to go out to show her the bars but since it was Good Friday, everything closed at 10 pm. We retired to our room and watched Marvellous Mrs. Maisel for hours. I’m so sad to have her leave. It’s been such an incredible week being back together. She made me feel homesick talking about life in Seattle. I’ll miss having her around.
Day 221: Saturday, April 20th
We headed to the airport early. At the airport, Mackenzie started feeling really sick. Things took a turn for the worse and she changed her flight to the next day. Bondi was booked so we got her a room for the day at Wake Up! to rest. I went back to Bondi to quickly grab my bags and say goodbye to whoever was around. If only she hadn’t fulfilled our reputation and gotten sick, too. Once Mackenzie started feeling better, we made a dinner of gluten free noodles with vegan butter and watched Marvellous Mrs. Maisel all night. I was so glad to have Mackenzie here for one more night (minus the sickness aspect) and it felt positive ending my Sydney experience with someone who means so much to me. Who knows why we both got sick, but luckily it passed quickly.
Day 222: Sunday, April 21st
I took Mackenzie to the train station. I didn’t think I was going to cry, but I did tear up saying goodbye. It was reassuring knowing we could jump right back into being us. After dropping her off, I actually managed to fit everything into my bag, checked out, and went to Shift Eatery to get a massive sandwich for brunch. I called Averill and chatted with her for a bit. I took the train to the harbour. It only felt right to spend my last day in Sydney (maybe for the rest of the year) at the iconic place that always feels surreal. I walked to the Opera House and took a few pictures before finding a grassy spot to sit and journal. It was warmer than I expected, another treat for the day. I took the train back to Wake Up! and finished editing a few blogs for Wake Up!. I also Facetimed mom who was at my Grandma’s with my Uncle’s side of the family. Ran into Simen, who I’ve known since December, in the lobby and caught up with him until I had to leave for the airport. I checked into my hostel in Cairns, ate leftovers, and discovered my roommates snore and like to turn the lights on in the middle of the night. I moved to Cairns to find a job in the tourism and hospitality industry so that I can earn a second year in Australia. My goal is to find a job, a gym, and an apartment this week!
Day 200: Saturday, March 30th
DAY TWO HUNDRED! I survived 200 days in Australia, the country where everything wants to kill you. Not only that, but I have so much to look forward to over the next three weeks: today I fly back to Sydney and see Jamie tonight, I have eight days with my Bondi Backpackers family, I’m writing a few more blogs for Wake Up!, I have plans to see Jen tomorrow, Jamie Koffman arrives in a few days, I’m going back to Byron Bay, and then Mackenzie visits me for an entire week. I am so thankful for the challenges and hands-on nature experiences that the west coast and outback brought me, but I’m also looking forward to consistent access to flushing toilets and a bed. At Ayers Rock Airport, I decided to pair my incontrollable excitement with a triple shot espresso on a nearly empty stomach. I was literally shaking on the plane from the caffeine. In Sydney on the train back to Bondi Backpackers, I ran into none other than my tentmate Clara from my tour a week ago. Returning to Bondi Beach and seeing so many familiar faces felt like coming home. After settling in, I got coffee and visited Watson’s Bay with Jamie in the evening. I was elated to see him again after five weeks. Today, I was also told that I have “mom” sunglasses and urgently need to replace them so if anyone has any recommendations, please send them my way ASAP. I stayed up until 2 am to wait for Sierra to get back from work and catch up with her. I couldn’t have asked for a better first night back in Sydney.
Day 201: Sunday, March 31st
At 11 am, I went to a popular Acai spot called Oak Berry with essentially everyone from my group of friends who is still at the hostel. I felt so welcomed and happy to be back. It’s rare to find connections like these in such a short amount of time and I’m thankful to feel part of something. I went to Bondi markets for a bit and then met with Jen to walk from Bondi to Bronte and back before grabbing food and a cider at the bar below my hostel. I cooked my own meal for the first time in weeks and booked flights and accommodation to go to Byron Bay next Sunday for five nights! Mackenzie’s golden retriever puppy named Harvey also officially became my godson.
Day 202: Monday, April 1st
I spent the day catching up with everyone at the hostel, relaxing, and playing a lot of card games. In the evening, I took a hip hop class with Rachel. It was the first dance class I’ve taken in at least a year and it was an absolute blast. The studio reminded me of Westlake Dance Center at home because it’s also focused on Adult drop-in classes. I was nervous before the class but to my surprise, I wasn’t half bad. Hopefully I can go again!
Day 203: Tuesday, April 2nd
I joined the free yoga class in the morning before meeting Jen to eat at Lentil as Anything in Newtown, a restaurant that is entirely volunteer-run, vegan, and pay-what-you-can. We got lost on the way there, but the food made the journey more than worth it. After lunch, we wandered around Newtown and got a drink at Young Henry’s brewery. Jen and I said goodbye and I took the train to Central to see the office and kitchen staff at Wake Up!. After, I met with Jamie Koffman who was staying at Wake Up! while she backpacked Australia as part of her post-graduation travels. I hadn’t seen anyone from home in a long time so it was refreshing. At the same time, it was strange to have my Seattle and Sydney worlds collide. We walked to Darling Harbour, grabbed a few ciders, and went for dinner at Spice Alley. Before I went back to Bondi, we stopped at Side Bar so she could see the bar that I spent too much time in when I was working.
Day 204: Wednesday, April 3rd
I jumped straight into the ocean after the Personal Training session before a delightfully unproductive day. I met Danielle, who I’ve known longer than anyone else in Australia, for happy hour at El Camino. After two frozen margaritas, we went to a nearby museum to check out their rooftop event. We were ecstatic to discover a phenomenal view of the bridge and Opera House at sunset. We snapped a few pictures together because we may not see each other again this year. Back in Bondi, I went to the Wine & Cheese night and Beach Road Hotel. I spent some time downstairs talking to Rachel before venturing upstairs to find the rest of the group.
Day 205: Thursday, April 4th
Jamie Koffman arrived in the morning to spend two nights at Bondi Backpackers and get a little taste of the life I love here. We did the coastal walk and spent the day with the group at the hostel. In the evening, we all went to trivia where we got second place, AKA the first loser. I’m not bitter, not bitter at all.
Day 206: Friday, April 5th
Jamie and I went to the personal training session in the morning. During the touch rugby game at the end of the session, one of the guys was so invested in the game that he ended up running straight off of the wall and fell onto the pavement below. He was so scraped up and had to get stiches in his elbow. I booked a Hunter Valley wine tour for Mackenzie and I, as well as a workout class with a fitness influencer that we have both been following for years. In the evening, Jamie and I went to the hostel’s BBQ where I played water pong and took loads of pictures with my Bondi family. Went to Hotel Bondi and then to Beach Road Hotel to bug my favourite bartender Sierra at work.
Day 207: Saturday, April 6th
Sierra and I got Oak Berry acai bowls in the morning and then went to the beach to tan and swim. After a few hours, Sierra and I headed back to do some trip planning. When my visa ends in September, I plan to continue traveling for at least a few more months. Sierra and I have started talking about going to Greece together at some point so we sat down to do some research and tentative planning. We know we want to wing most of it, but wanted to make sure we were on the same page as far as travel style. It was so exciting to look at pictures of the different islands in Greece and think about the possibilities. A big group of us had a movie night upstairs with a massive pile of pillows and duvets.
Day 208: Sunday, April 7th
Packed up my stuff, bought a falafel wrap from the market, and headed to the airport at 11 am for my flight to Byron Bay. I talked to mom for a while at the airport, which has become my airport tradition. When I arrived in Byron Bay, Jamie and I were in the same room! I headed out to catch up on my journal and wander around. It felt so good and oddly nostalgic to be back in Byron Bay. It made me realize just how far I’ve come in seven months because last time I was here was at the very beginning of my travels. Byron Bay has a brand new supermarket that I spent far too long exploring. I can’t help my love for supermarkets. Jamie and I met at Elixiba for dinner where I ordered a long-awaited plate of nachos. I still have fond memories of the burger I bought here seven months ago, and the nachos didn’t let me down. We shared a fancy dessert, too. I stopped at a bottle shop and stumbled upon an entire brand of vegan goon (boxed wine). On the walk back to the hostel, we listened to a few buskers in the street.
Day 209: Monday, April 8th
Jamie and I attended the free yoga session in the morning, kicking our day off on a positive note. Jamie did the lighthouse walk while I hung out on the beach. There were bluebottle jellyfish in the water, but I took the risk and swam anyway. Jamie and I met back up for lunch at Manna Haven, a healthy vegetarian restaurant. We shopped for a few hours but didn’t buy anything. The shops in Byron are adorable and very chic.
Day 210: Tuesday, April 9th
Before Jamie had to leave for her flight to Brisbane, we went to the personal training session and relaxed on the beach. It was wonderful to see her and spend time with someone who I didn’t have to make small talk with. We realised we’ve known each other for about nine years now. In the afternoon, I hired a free bike from Wake Up! Byron Bay and headed to a part of Byron Bay that I’d never been before. I found a three different health food shops and multiple cafes with vegan options. The area had rusty car parts used as street décor. I love the atmosphere of Byron Bay and how bike-friendly it is. I stopped at one of the cafes for a smoothie and to write in my journal. Two of my roommates were going to head to town for dinner and drinks so I went with. One was an Australian named Kyle and the other was a Canadian named Nicole. We went to an outdoor pub and a Japanese restaurant before heading back to the hostel to have a few drinks and play games.
Day 211: Wednesday, April 10th
My Australian roommate Kyle had a rental car and offered to bring Nicole and I with him to two nearby waterfalls. After breakfast, we headed off. The first stop was Killen Falls. This spot didn’t involve much hiking but did lead to a beautiful waterfall and swimming hole because it had been raining. The water was cold and refreshing. The next stop was Minyon Falls. We were freezing but opted to do the 4.5k (each way, which we learned halfway through) hike down to the falls through the forest. Many of the trees along the way were engulfed by other trees, creating these intricate twisting designs. A few hours into the hike we were cold and hungry. But turning around wasn’t an option. I almost didn’t swim once we got to the bottom, but I jumped in with my clothes on and loved it! It was a crisp, ice-cold experience. After swimming for half an hour, we hiked up a different side of the cliff with the hope that it was a shorter hike. We couldn’t have had better luck! At the top, someone offered to drive us back to our car. It was almost 4 pm and none of us had eaten since 9 am. When we finally got back to Byron Bay, we found a burger shop with a vegan burger. I don’t know if I was just starving or if it really was delicious, but I inhaled it. In the evening, I went to the wine & cheese night for a bit where I met an abnormally high number of Americans.
Day 212: Thursday, April 11th
Opted out of the free yoga class to check out the morning farmers market in town. I bought a spikey cucumber, starfruit, and a samosa. I spent the next few hours working on a few blogs for Wake Up! at Combi, a little café with a fantastic vegan toastie. When I needed a break, I went back and Facetimed Kevin for nearly two hours! It’d been way too long since we talked so we had a lot to catch up on. I also Facetimed dad.
Day 213: Friday, April 12th
Seven months! I joined the sunrise journey to the lighthouse in the morning and walked back to town in the rain. I stopped at Combi again for coffee and vegan pancakes. The walk back to Wake Up! Byron Bay along the beach was almost euphoric. With the low tide and dogs splashing in the water, I felt so privileged and blessed to be in Australia where life by the beach is normal. It was a wonderful way to begin the day. I checked out of my room and worked on more blogs for Wake Up! until my shuttle to the tiny airport. Back at Wake Up! in Sydney where I was staying, I picked up dinner and happened to run into a ridiculous number of people who were there when I lived there.
Day 214: Saturday, April 13th
Mackenzie arrived!!! I was bursting with joy (and pacing back and forth) at the airport. How lucky am I to have a best friend who travels halfway around the world to visit me for a week!? We went right back to being us. Mom sent a package in her suitcase that I got to open while Makenzie showered. It was filled with Easter eggs (filled with little gifts, how cute is that?), chocolate, cheesy snacks, and so much more! My Grandma even sent chocolate. Mackenzie and I got breakfast at a place called Nutie Donuts where we shared two donuts and each got a main dish. She’s gluten free and I’m vegan, so we are pretty much as complicated as you can get. We walked through the city to the harbour after brunch to see the bridge and Opera House. In the afternoon, we had tickets to do a workout with Kelsey Wells, a fitness influencer who we both admire and whose workout program we both use. Meeting Kelsey was a bittersweet realization that her abs are just as glorious in person as they are on Instagram. The workout was at a fitness show, which was an interesting spectacle. The workout was amazing and we tried a few of the samples, including Halo Top ice cream, as we weaved our way back out of the event. After showering, we got pizza and sangria at Macchiato pizza. We took a nap after dinner but I forced both of us to wake up and stay awake until 10 to ward off her jet leg. We entered the beer pong competition, sat at a table people watching, and went back upstairs shortly after losing the game.
Day 215: Sunday, April 14th
We slept in a bit, had acai bowls from the café I used to work at, and headed to El Camino for lunch. If I remember right, today was also the morning that we Facetimed Caitlin. We shared a few dishes and a margarita tower. I forced Mackenzie to take some photos with me at the Harbour. After lunch, we went to Opera Bar and shared a pitcher of sangria. It was just so nice being back with someone who knows me almost as well as I know myself and catching up on the lives of people in Seattle who I haven’t seen in months. We headed back to Wake Up! to join the pub crawl where Mackenzie tried goon for the first time (she’s not a fan, either). Originally, we were going to get our navels pierced tomorrow because it’s something we’d been talking about for years. I stupidly looked up a video of the piercing being done and we immediately changed our minds. We ended the night at Side Bar.
Day 216: Monday, April 15th
As soon as we woke up, we changed and went to the park to work out. I’ve missed having my workout buddy! It’s so much more motivating to push myself when Mackenzie is next to me doing the same thing. We got brunch at Organic Produce and she Facetimed her mom. The food was delicious. After walking back to Wake Up! and changing, we took a ferry to Manly Beach. We ordered burgers and sat by the water before taking the ferry back and heading to Holey Moley, a bar with mini golf. It was only $10 for unlimited play so we conquered all three courses. Halfway through, we both became desperate for dessert and began brainstorming our options. We found a health foods shop that reminded me of PCC, but didn’t find the right kind of dessert. We opted to eat chocolate from my mom as Mackenzie read us a sarcastic book about Australia that she brought along.
Day 217: Tuesday, April 16th
Early rise and checkout for our day in Hunter Valley wine country. I discovered that I truly hate red wine. We both enjoyed the organic vodka tasting the most. Mackenzie tried the chili flavour of everything and barely even flinched. The guide said the chili vodka has made adults cry before and she was thriving. The lychee and chocolate flavoured vodkas were my favourite. We each bought a bottle of wine for later in the week. Oddly enough, two of the other guests on our tour were from Seattle. We spent lunch talking about Greek life with the guy from Seattle who had been in a fraternity when he was at UW. When the day was over, we moved hostels to Bondi. It was fun to be greeted by everyone at Bondi again. Mackenzie and I grabbed food and watched a movie before bed.
Day 218: Wednesday, April 17th
Mackenzie and I intended to wake up for the personal training session but instead slept until 11. We changed and got coffee at Gusto’s and an acai bowl at Oak Berry. After, we changed into workout clothes and did the coastal walk. Along the way, we stopped and worked out. Mackenzie has become fantastic at head stands. We had a quick lunch at Zambrero, Australia’s not-as-good version of Chipotle. We showered and napped before watching more Shrek and grabbing dinner.
Day 219: Thursday, April 18th
We slept in again and I got a smoothie while Mackenzie got an another acai bowl for breakfast. We headed straight to the beach to tan for a few hours. In the usual fashion of being Mackenzie and I, I got sick. Mackenzie dug a big hole in the sand and I forced her to swim in the ocean before we left to get tacos for lunch. In the early evening, we showered and took a bus to Watson’s Bay. We started at the park next door and walked by the boats where we took pictures of each other. At the hotel, we shared a pitcher of watermelon margaritas and a gin cocktail. For dinner, we had salads at the bar downstairs and stuck around for trivia. Our group did so well and we should have won but another group cheated. So we got second place. NOT bitter, not bitter AT ALL. We debated what to do once trivia was over. Mackenzie suggested ice cream and that’s why she’s my best friend.
Day 220: Friday, April 19th
I felt better today but we still slept in before getting Oak Berry acai bowls for breakfast and going straight to the beach. Unfortunately, Mackenzie trusted me to put sunscreen on her back. Although I thought I slathered it on, I failed miserably and she ended up with a horrible sunburn. It was bad. Oops. We got salads for lunch and shared our wine since it was her last night. We tried to go out to show her the bars but since it was Good Friday, everything closed at 10 pm. We retired to our room and watched Marvellous Mrs. Maisel for hours. I’m so sad to have her leave. It’s been such an incredible week being back together. She made me feel homesick talking about life in Seattle. I’ll miss having her around.
Day 221: Saturday, April 20th
We headed to the airport early. At the airport, Mackenzie started feeling really sick. Things took a turn for the worse and she changed her flight to the next day. Bondi was booked so we got her a room for the day at Wake Up! to rest. I went back to Bondi to quickly grab my bags and say goodbye to whoever was around. If only she hadn’t fulfilled our reputation and gotten sick, too. Once Mackenzie started feeling better, we made a dinner of gluten free noodles with vegan butter and watched Marvellous Mrs. Maisel all night. I was so glad to have Mackenzie here for one more night (minus the sickness aspect) and it felt positive ending my Sydney experience with someone who means so much to me. Who knows why we both got sick, but luckily it passed quickly.
Day 222: Sunday, April 21st
I took Mackenzie to the train station. I didn’t think I was going to cry, but I did tear up saying goodbye. It was reassuring knowing we could jump right back into being us. After dropping her off, I actually managed to fit everything into my bag, checked out, and went to Shift Eatery to get a massive sandwich for brunch. I called Averill and chatted with her for a bit. I took the train to the harbour. It only felt right to spend my last day in Sydney (maybe for the rest of the year) at the iconic place that always feels surreal. I walked to the Opera House and took a few pictures before finding a grassy spot to sit and journal. It was warmer than I expected, another treat for the day. I took the train back to Wake Up! and finished editing a few blogs for Wake Up!. I also Facetimed mom who was at my Grandma’s with my Uncle’s side of the family. Ran into Simen, who I’ve known since December, in the lobby and caught up with him until I had to leave for the airport. I checked into my hostel in Cairns, ate leftovers, and discovered my roommates snore and like to turn the lights on in the middle of the night. I moved to Cairns to find a job in the tourism and hospitality industry so that I can earn a second year in Australia. My goal is to find a job, a gym, and an apartment this week!