Sydney: Part 2

Before I even had a Bucket List, "holding a koala" topped the list--preceding "going to Australia." Although I haven't physically held one yet, petting one can come in for the next best thing. Sydney has a law that prohibits people to hold the creatures because they are easily frightened and according to Christian, my TEAN orientation leader, "Sydney actually cares about its animals and Queensland doesn't care about a damn thing." Now that I'm in Queensland, I'll scope out around the area where I can successfully check that item off my now existent Bucket List but I'll still remember this moment for a long, long time.

As well as this one...

Told ya I'm stepping out of my comfort zone!

The snake didn't feel like I expected; it was leathery and a little squishy but not at all slimy. When it started wrapping around in front of me, I was ready to hand it back to the zookeeper and keep composure. Also while I was at Feathertail Wildlife Park, a kangaroo ate food from my hand and I saw a crocodile too close for comfort open its mouth to the width of my body and stand still looking right at me. I respectfully walked away with a little faster heartbeat. There were peacocks and colorful birds lollygagging around the park while penguins marched and macaws said "hello" to me. 

It's places like this wildlife park that make me realize everything seems just so much better in Australia. Or maybe that I just feel so much better. Like, I can hold snakes at Brookfield or Lincoln Park Zoo, or visit the bird cages and get a bird to say "hello" to me. But it's this new surrounding I'm in that makes it just so great--and feel so rare to me. I like that feeling. I like to feel like I'm allowed to let my walls down and be scared but push through it and just do it. I don't know that I would hold that snake in Brookfield or Lincoln Park Zoo. In fact, just last year I ran like a little girl out of a backyard because there was a garden snake when I moved a rock. That should read "like a little girl who hasn't quite learned a limit on her scream decibel." I regret nothing. 

We spent our time at that park and then moved onto the scenery of Sydney. Bondi Beach is one of the most iconic beaches in the world so you bet your bottom dollar I stepped foot in the water. It wouldn't be my life if it went without a casualty so of course I should have expected a little surprise. 

It was breathtaking and inspiring and majestic. The views were nothing like I've ever seen and the people there were even more inspiring. Taking wave after wave and getting up each and every time; they love what they do and persist until they're satisfied. You can tell in their demeanor and speech. They're happy to be here and they're willing to help you with anything--directions, suggestions for restaurants, cheaper alternatives. I may or may not politely ask them to repeat what they've said so I can hear their accent more. 

I took on the public transportation (they're big on this, not many have cars) for the way back from Bondi Junction and I have to say I've never sat in a cleaner bus (in my three total trips on the CTA in Chicago). Or been in a cleaner city for that matter. Sydney really does a wonderful maintenance on their big city. We even saw store owners shampooing/power washing sidewalks. It's a friendly city as well. Almost all of the restaurants/fast food places have seating outside that connects with the inside, like a constant flow of conversation. But it does make for a cold seating experience if it's a little chilly out because there really aren't doors, just wide open space with fresh air. My kinda town. 

The best has yet to come! Wait for part 3!