Australia Day #1: That fateful night.
Okay, the people who knew, knew. But for those who didn't, here's the thing. We boarded a Qantas flight from Queenstown to Sydney. However, our baggage boarded another plane, which destination was Auckland. How unjust it was; our bag actually set their "feet" on North Island. North Island I tell youuu. So anyway, to make things complicated (not THAT complicated really, just to spice up the situation), we arrived at Sydney near sunset, and we had to collect our rented car for us to stay the night in Wollongong, which still in NSW thankfully, and to drive to Ibu's university next day. Wollongong is about an hour away from Sydney.
So after syncing with Qantas on how and when will our baggage be delivered, they gave us a credit card with AUD 240 in it and four sets of overnight-toiletries bag, which consisted of a tee, a pair of shorts, toothbrush, a Colgate, soap and shampoo, a comb and a deodorant that smells strangely like a not-properly-cleaned-toilet.
So, with only that and our carry-ons, Ayah drove us to Wollongong, ate some dinner at this Halal, cosy little Indian restaurant, and bought some breads and tidbits for tomorrow's breakfast.
Australia Day #2: Harbour, university, wildlife park and Sydney's favorite attractions.
Wollongong Harbour.
It's known widely that while I'm the winter's princess, I am also a certified merperson.
So trust me when I say, when the smell of the brine and the cold wintery breeze mixed together,
I got intoxicated.
A natural rock pool, which, according to Ibu, is like a private swimming ocean.
Ibu's favorite spot, also according to her, is not this one, but another one at the other side of the harbour.
Remember that annoying "MINE MINE MINE" birds in Finding Nemo?
Yeaaaah here they are!
Not-so-realistic size.
Now here's the real size hahahahah
Definitely intoxicated.
Not-showdown tho, but the plant's so beautiful I can't even
Hey hey heeeey!
Exactly ten years after visiting Ayah's university in TN, USA, we've finally visited Ibu's university :')
It's pronounced as something else I can't remember, but to me this will always be pronounced as wol-LON-gong.
#sorrynotsorry dearest Ibu :p
Continuing our journey, to Featherdale's Wildlife Park.
It's hard to describe the level of freedom for both both the animals and visitors.
Some animals were set free to roam about the park, like this fella who has not respect towards incoming traffic HAHAHAH I mean, it almost langgar Ayah and jump around like "Yeah it's normal for me, mate" kind-of attitude.
Ayah got geram already.
WOMBAT!
Sleeping wombat.
No. Giant, humongous, sleeping wombat.
Okay this is my favorite koala pose: the merenung masa hadapan pose.
In case y'all don't know, this is the original angry bird. Hahah, kidding. She's just grumpy looking.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE ANIMAL THANKS TO LOONEY TUNES: TASMANIAN DEVILS!
Hi babi. Like, literally.
Feeding time, bitches.
Sweet cute Dingoes, I wish I could keep em.
Totally will recommend this place. Toootally.
Back to Sydney; on one of the famous landmarks.
Right you are, people. the Sydney Harbour Bridge!
Yeah this is definitely from the camera. The bridge was quite dim, so by using not-that-slow shutter, I got this awesome shot.
The world-famous Opera House.
I was given the rare opportunity to explore two famous cities at night. One was Sydney, with its Opera House and Harbour Bridge and the other one was Paris, with its Eiffel Tower lit up like a Christmas tree every hour after sunset.
And from the two experience, I'd definitely want to do more nighttime-sightseeing. Without the sunlight, everything looks even more mysterious, eerily gorgeous, enigmatically beautiful.
Sydney's downtown.
Australia Day #3: Express sightseeing and home-bound :)
We stayed, again at the Ibis Sydney Budget Hotel, Sydney Airport and since our flight was in the afternoon, we spent the morning by doing some sightseeing and of course, a traditional Malaysians-must-do.
Or is it a traditional Rosmans-must-do? Hihi.
Pyrmont Bridge!
If I wasn't mistaken, this submarine's a part of the maritime museum at the Darling Harbour.
Daaaaarling, hahah.
Family tradition, from afar.
Family tradition, up close.
While waiting for the Rock Shop to be opened.
It's almost time to go back.
Spot my Wombie!
Wombie didn't realize that she's only a stuffed animal, that she decided to sit at the table.
Most probably because the immigration and customs officers demanded to see her passport, so she feels almost human.
Girl, you only have a Featherdale Passport, ya hear me?
A rare one, don't ya think?
Bye Sydney!
Sigh. With the exception of Sydney, I have truly fallen in love with the small-town-life. Maybe in the future, I'd like to live in, say, Queenstown, and enjoy the rest of my life there. Maybe. But yes, I've been to the side of the world, and I thought, hey I think I want to be a New Yorker, or a Belgian. But, Alhamdulillah, when I was given the chance to explore this side of the world, I've never wanted to have a life in another country as badly I want to be in New Zealand.
Both countries has this cool, friendly and talkative kind of citizen, a trait which I love so much since that actually helps me to overcome my shyness and awkwardness around strangers. Well, if I were given another chance to visit and do more exploring in both countries, I wouldn't hesitate even for a millisecond to grab the it again.
Well guys, I guess that's it. My first (and complete) travelog. Till next time, yeah? G'day mates! :)