Australia: Where the coconut oil is never solid

Ara here, Happy new year!

First off-luggage was delivered! It was honestly like being an 8 year old on Xmas morning and finding that Santa had delivered the Barbie Picnic Van. The shreiking no doubt alerted neighbours to some extent.

The week has consisted of going from one eatery to the next with enthusiasm. The food in Sydney is on another level. Best brunches I’ve had ever hands down-and they LOVE an avocado. In between eating there has also been a fair amount of drinking. As in; far too much to be fair. Threw in some daily yoga to try balance out the excess, we probably would have needed to do around 4 hours a day to even touch the sides of our hedonism though.

I lived in Sydney about 7 years ago so. there was a lot of nostalgia for me. Even the sounds of the birds just put me right back there. Back to a time which almost seems like a different lifetime, as if it never happened. That being said, I had some great times here before and am glad to be back and look at the city with a matured view. Not sure how mature I am though.

Jet lag is a brutal affliction which up until day 6 was still affecting us, however we powered through with vigour and managed to fit a fair bit in. The penultimate day of the year consisted of a day trip to Beautiful Manly on the ferry. What a great idea! Which, yes it was-however the rest of the population of Sydney also had the same idea. So hoards of people queueing in the scorching heat at circular quay really tested us; we very nearly didn’t make it. (Some comparisons to steerage passengers boarding the Titanic were made-that will give you an idea).

New Year’s Eve was all very last minute. After much deliberation, we decided to give the city centre a miss due to the fact that 1.2 million tourists were making their way in-not to mention the Manly ferry experience had pretty much stifled our tolerance for the general public. We instead stayed local and went to a very questionable Indian restaurant (the only place we could get a booking) which was BYO. This of course meant we panic bought about 15 bottles of prosecco-you know-just in case we ran out. However, the meal and the evening were a great success; we rang in the new year with pure joy and love.

I met with an old friend, an ex-roommate of mine who made the pilgrimage to Sydney many moons. ago. Our friendship solidified about 10 years ago at a weekly indie disco in Dublin, so of course it was fitting for us to go to an indie night in Sydney. When I met her she had a look of disdain on her face-the music wasn’t as promised it seemed. You know it’s game over when you go to an indie night and they play the vengaboys-she had a fair point. We called it a night based on that and the fact that everyone else in the establishment was 19 at a push. Jet-lag was also still preventing me from living my life at this stage.

We ventured to my old hood for some awesome pizza one evening and I acquired a taste for olives! Probably because I had been on the wine and convinced myself I would like them. Nonetheless; a proud feat for me.

Since departing Sydney and bidding adieu to my beautiful gals I have ventured up to Noosa on the Sunshine Coast to visit my Dad and his wife. A sleepy surf town normally is currently in its peak season so is a hubbub of activity for the next few weeks. The weather is a scorcher and my Dad’s skin tone has genuinely changed. Who thought a Limerick man could aquire a shade of olive? I thought that was only possible for the gifted inheritants of strong melanin-not farmer tanned Irishmen. There is hope for us all I guess.

The reunion thus far has been wonderful-minus the fact that I look like a burn victim after missing some spots with the sun-cream, but I’m learning to adjust to the melty temperatures.

I WILL see a koala. Watch this space.

Peace out for now ✌🏽️