A Sydney NYE

It was around 1 pm when we left Byron Bay. A German guy named Tony, who I’d met in Cairns. Jamie, a guy from San Fransico, and myself in a red Holden commodore station wagon with all or belongings stuffed in the back. Our destination: Sydney. Our goal: watching the world famous fireworks which they ignite form the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

Since we left a bit late in the day, due to Tony’s talent of being unorganized which turned out to be a source of annoyance throughout our trip, we decided not to drive the 768 km in one go. We stopped for the night just past Port Macquirie in a little town called Lake Cathie. We bought some bread, cheese and cold cut meat to whip up a travelers dinner and drove down to the beach. At a beautiful spot in a nature reserve overlooking the beach next to a sign that said NO CAMPING, we pitched our tent and turned in for the night. Tony and I both had a tent to ourselves and Jamie slept in the car. It had been several years that I had camped and I got reminded why I don’t do it more often. I woke up with an aching back and ants crawling over my face.

But we did get greeted by an amazing sunrise. The sun hidden behind a slither of clouds, its golden rays creeping towards the beach over the blue gray water of the Pacific Ocean. Waves crashing on a small cluster of boulders shimmering like opals as the sunlight bounced of reflected by the water running off its sides.

Camping illegally and with the town waking up slowly we didn’t linger long, packed up our stuff and left for Sydney. Since we woke up quite early, we arrived in Sydney at around 11 am.

 The first day and night we spend with Slim and Stav, two of Jamies friends, who lived in the North part of the city. We played some footy in the park and went out for some drinks in the afternoon. Jamie would stay with his buddies for a few days, but Tony and I only had the one night we could stay there. So as soon as we arrived in Sydney, our main goal for the day was finding a place to stay for the coming night. And somehow we managed.

Tony knew some girls he had met on Fraser Island that lived in Clovelly, a suburb in the south eastern part of town, close to the famous Bondi Beach. We stayed there for a few nights, chilled on the beach and went out in Bondi. 

The funny thing about traveling in Australia is that you keep bumping into people you’ve met briefly at the other side of the country. I met Kyle, a Canadian guy who I did a pub crawl with in Cairns. Irene and Norman who I’d met in Byron Bay 6 months ago. And Jossline, my French, who Tony and I shared a room with in the hostel we worked at in Cairns.

The 31^st of December arrived. Time for the big party we came here for and it seemed like the entire city was full of anticipation. All over town where parties and events for New Year’s Eve. All of which you had to pay a lot of money for to stand in a too crowded area paying too much money for too little drink.

Stav and Slim had invited a bunch of people to an old BP site near Balls Head Point on the north side the Bridge.

A big circular area, with a tall 10 mtr high crescent shaped cliff of brown and red colored rock at the back and an amazing view of the Harbor Bridge and the city in the front. A group of 15 to 20 people where there to come watch the fire works together. Of course there were more people there but it never got crowded. In an attempt to keep most of the crowd out we had put up some red/white danger tape and a cardboard sign that said ‘Private Function’. It did not look official at all and was meant more as a joke than a as a serious barrier, but it worked! Lot of people walked up to it, read the sign, saw a rowdy bunch of tipsy people playing music and acting a fool and walked on.

All of the public space in Sydney had become an alcohol free zone for the New Year’s celebrations. The police came by twice in force to confiscate any alcohol. I didn’t mind since I disguised my vodka as apple juice and the police did not take it. There was a cute police officer amongst them and Tony and I took the opportunity to chat her up. We asked her if she could meet us after her shift with the bottles that they had taken. She seemed inclined until her sergeant gave her shit for chatting with us. It was all very funny.

The moment we had waited for was upon us. Midnight and the start of one of the biggest and most well-known fire work shows in the world. With cameras at the ready and drinks in hand we counted down and let the spectacle wash over us. It was an impressive show that lasted for 12 minutes. Fireworks were ignited form the bridge but also from several barges that were spread out over the harbor. All beautifully orchestrated, timed and color coordinated. 

After the fireworks most of the crowd dispersed and head for home. As did we. Tony and I accompanied Dan, one of Jamies friends who lived in Sydney, to his place in Kirribilli. Right next the house of the prime minister of Australia. I was so tired that I crashed on the couch and fell asleep right away.

The next morning was again all about finding a new place to stay and doing that with a hang over is not advisable. But we did manage. We moved to the house of girl I’d met in Cairns. The last spot was located in West Pymble, a suburb so far out of town it was almost not a part of Sydney anymore. She lived with her parents, who were incredibly friendly and hospitable. They really made us feel at home, although they didn’t know us and I only had a drunken conversation with their daughter in bar 3 months ago. We stayed for 2 more days, visited a fancy night club in the city center and chilled on the beach with friends for Tony his 24^th birthday on the 3^rd of Jan. 

A week after Tony and I arrived we left Sydney. He had found a farm to work on, to acquire his 2^nd year visa, near Melbourne and I decided to tag along and check out another city.

I had a good time in Sydney, met some cool people and made new friends, but I do not really like the city. It feels a bit un-personal, uptight and pretentious. It is see and be seen. Fancy shoes and button up shirts. Egos bumping heads. No room for humor. Rules and regulations for everything. I’m sure not everyone will agree, but this is my take on the city and was happy to leave. To continue my adventure in a place where I feel more at ease. Where they are a bit more laid back, where they don’t take life that serious and therefor get more out of life.