Week 2

Another Week In Sydney

As the week winds down, I can look back and say it was filled with adventures and new experiences. While it was not as busy as my first couple, I made time to go see friends and new places I have not yet explored.

The week started with me visiting family friends. While walking there, I stumbled upon a classic Porsche. I am a huge car fanatic so I was very excited to see such a unique and classic car parked along the street. After a delicious lunch and dessert, we watched the Australian Open.

For Australia day, Keri and I made the most of the day. First, we had to walk all the way to the Opera House as public transit was closed. At first this was annoying, but very quickly it turned into a fun adventure as the weather was great, and the whole city was celebrating the holiday.

The festivities for the holiday included a flyover from a f-35, cannon shots, and salute from a navy destroyer. It was a sight to see, everyone was waving a flag, people were cheering, there was music, and the city was more alive than I have ever seen it. Afterwords Keri and had a quick bite to eat, and then walked along the harbor all the way back home. It was my first time walking this way along the harbor, but it surely will not be my last. The views and scenery along the way was incredible, and I cannot wait to do it again.

Lastly, I love to end my days with a walk along the harbor. It gives me time to decompress and take in the beautiful city and views. When the sun sets, the weather is perfect and the vibes are immaculate. Being so close to the harbor, it seems only right that I make use of this supreme location.

Week 3

Life in Sydney sure is different than Lewsiburg! This week was full of new adventures, places and people. There is so much to see and do in Sydney, it is hard to keep up, but here is a little snapshot of life so far.

First, the weekend started with a trip to Manley Peninsula. This treasure of a place has some of the best shops, food, and beaches I have seen so far. However, I have to say, the best part of the trip was the ferry ride over. The route takes you through the harbor where you get views of the opera house, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the beautiful surrounding scenery. To add some excitement to the ride, there was a sailing race going on and our ferry passed right through it causing a stir and some of the boats to capsize!

As the week progressed, I visited some longtime family friends. My Grandma has known them for almost 80 years as they were best friends since a very young age when they were both growing up in Adelaide. We had lunch at their house, accompanied by their grandchildren. What a time, steak, salad, wine, and good times, not much more you could ask for. As a former senior politician in the Australian government, the conversations we had ranged from the time he met JFK, to the current political climate. It was very interesting to hear the perspective from someone who was involved in these big political decisions for Australia. Their house was in the rocks district of Sydney, so it had great views of the Harbour Bridge and surrounding area. I cant wait to go back and continue our fascinating talks.

Lastly, one of my favorite things to do in Sydney is after a long day of classes or going to the beach, is to take a sunset walk along the harbor and just relax. Because we are so close, the walk is a nice way to end the day without having to travel too far. When the sun sets, the harbor lights up with a gold/red color, there is no better way to end the day.

Week 4

This was another jam packed week in Sydney. While the weather may not have been as good, I still made the most of my time here, going to dinners, the beach, and to new areas of the city I had not explored. Hopefully the weather this week is better!

Over the weekend, I hit the beach again. Since it was a hot sunny day, I could not pass up on the opportunity to go to Bondi. Boy was it hot, the sun was out and the UV index hit a whopping 12, which is classified as extreme. Keri and I got our tan in, and followed it up with a much needed refreshing swim. It is days like this that remind me of the luxury we have of being in Sydney versus Lewisburg, you cannot go to the beach in Lewisburg in February.

I ended the weekend by trying some new food. I am a sucker for fried chicken, and wanted to try some new kind of fried chicken while here. There is a place that makes fried chicken, except it is asian style. Instead of getting drumsticks or wings, they give you a whole big piece of chicken, and you get to choose your toppings. Let me say, this was much better than KFC! It was crispy but not fattening, and because it was so thin it was very easy to eat. The restaurant was also super cool, decorated with flowers and LED lights, I would be happy enough to go back just for the ambiance.

Lastly, I took this week to go see some new museums I have not yet visited. One includes the sea museum, which has lots of cool boats that you can tour. One of them was a submarine, which was really cool to tour and see how sailors live. It also reminded me how I could never live on one because of how small and cramped all the spaces onboard were. The coolest boat however was a ship that was a full replica of the boat Captain Cook sailed on when he first arrived in the 1700s. Interestingly, the boat is actually operational, and is going to be sailed to New Zealand this week to be included in a movie being shot there.

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Another Exciting Week

Another great week in Sydney. Just when I thought I had seen it all, this week showed me again just how much there is to see. I started this week by heading to a new beach, Cronulla beach which was an hour train ride. This beach was just spectacular. It was a hot, sunny day, and Keri, Maura, and I made the most of it. We explored the town, walked along the rocks, and had an amazing lunch at a Lebanese place. Since the town has deep Middle Eastern Roots, we had to try some authentic cuisine. Let me say, this might have been the best meal I had so far in Sydney. It was delicious.

Later in the week, I stopped by a mall in the city. I had some lunch and walked around the shops. One of the shops there was a watch shop, and it had some incredible pieces. I am a huge watch fanatic, and seeing some of these watches was super cool. From Rolexes to Patek Philippes and even a fully iced out watch, they really had it all. I was surprised by how many people were there, it was very busy will lots of people looking and buying these incredible watches. I hope one day to be able to buy one of them, it certainly motivates me to work harder!

Lastly, on a rainy Thursday, Keri, Maura and I decided to go to a new museum we had not yet seen. Out of all the museums we had been to, I think this one was the best. It had a range of pieces from planes, a mock of the Space Shuttle, trains, and so much more. I really like going to museums that are not focus on art, you learn so much about the history of how people used to live from seeing the very things they used for daily life, such as wagons, engines, and old billboards.

Another Great Week

This week might have been my favorite one so far in Sydney, because I actually was not in Sydney for part of it. I have family in Adelaide, and this past weekend I flew and visited them. Flying to Adelaide was pretty cool because of how empty Australia is everywhere besides the coasts. It was great to see them since it has been years since I last saw them. This was my second time in Adelaide, and I forgot how much I liked it the first time. It is much smaller than Sydney, and much less populated. The suburbs there are like the ones back home, except these also have a beach which is super nice.

While in Adelaide I had a great time exploring and seeing the city. My relatives showed me around, taking me to their school, city, beach, and the yacht club. It was interesting to see how different some things are compared to back home. For example, their public school also had boarding students attend, something that our public schools do not really have. It was also very interesting to learn how different their college system is to ours. Most of Australians don’t live at college and only go to classes some days of the week. Most of them agreed that they wish they experienced American College, especially since we live away from home.

Lastly, on my final day in Adelaide we all got a great lunch at a historical pub. My grandma had actually grown up going to the pub, and the owner actually knew her which was super cool. The pub was located right outside Adelaide in the wine country, so to get there you had to drive though vineyards and winding roads through the hills. I have had Australian wine before, but this stuff was next level, the reds were delicious and whites were just spectacular. On top of that, the chef fixed us a special menu so we got to try all different kinds of food, from lamb to pork loins and foie gras. It was such a fun day and a great way to finish off my trip to see my relatives.

Week 7 in Sydney

This was another fantastic week in Sydney. While the weather was not fantastic, there was still plenty to do and keep busy with. I went out to breakfast many times, getting the same thing every time, a iced latte and breakfast sandwich. While I have ordered it many times, it never disappoints. I love the walk to the restaurant in the morning and sitting at a table right next to the grassy area. Its such a vibe and wonderful way to start the day.

Additionally, my mom visited me this week, which was really fun. She has been to Sydney several times before, and being able to spend time with her here was a real treat. We spent most days just walking around, going to museums, shopping, and eating great food. One day we went thrifting in Newtown which was super fun. Both of us got some great clothing for pretty good prices. Another day we just walked around where her hotel was, the Kings Cross area. This was fun as it was nice to see a new area that I had not been to yet. There are also some little shops which were super nice to explore.

Lastly, since the weather was not that nice I didn’t get to go on walks at night as I usually do. However, their was one night when the weather was nice, and I walked instead of taking the light-rail back. What a spectacular walk, all the buildings were lit up and the sky was clear. There water in the harbor looked pitch black, and it reminded me of what I will miss about Sydney the most.

Final Week in Sydney

Wow I cannot believe this is our final Friday in Sydney, time has flown by. I feel like it was just yesterday we all arrived here to start this crazy journey. While I reflect on my time here, I can safely say I feel like I made the most of my time here. These past two months have been a whirlwind of fun, with trips to see my relatives, trips to the beach, going out with friends, and immersing myself in the Australian culture. As I am sad to be leaving Sydney, I cannot wait for my trip to
Caines and to Singapore after. This semester abroad has been even better than I imagined, and its sad its ending its first stage. I am happy to say this last week was one of the best so far, and we went out with a bang.

This week was the mardi gras pride parade, and world pride which was super fun to go to. They shut down all of Oxford street and had a four hour parade take place in which floats and dancers paraded through. I have never seen Sydney so busy before in my life. The street was jam packed with people, the bars were bursting full with people, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and having a great time. The prime minister of Australia even walked with the parade, which was super cool to see. There were performances by Kylie Minogue, Charli XCX and many more. Out of all my days in Sydney, this may have been the most exciting and fun Saturday I had.

To finish off our last week, Kerri and I took a trip to Bronte Beach, which was spectacular. The weather was just amazing, and the water was warm. This beach is less popular, so it was not as packed which was nice. I was able to tan and read my book, just really relax and soak up the sun. It is always nice to just have a lazy day to relax and have some quiet time at the beach. Additionally, the food stores near the beach serve classic American food, burgers, milkshakes and fires. So if the day wasn’t good enough then, finishing it off with a burger and milkshake will definitely do the trick. It is always nice to just take the day at a slower pace, and this is exactly what Kerri and I did, we had nothing to do and all day to do it.

Spring Break and First Week in Singapore

What and exciting two weeks it has been. From spring break to settling into our new home of Singapore, life has been moving quickly lately. This post will recap the past two weeks, which has been full of excitement and adventure. Firstly, my time in Cairns for spring break was incredible, and jam packed with activities and adventures. We explored waterfalls, went to a zoo with crocodiles, and much more. I have never swam under a waterfall before, and experiencing that was insane. The water was crashing down with awesome power and literally pushing you away from it. To then swim under it was pretty scary but also cool. Furthermore, we saw a more waterfalls and riptides. When we saw them, it had been raining all day so the water level was elevated, along with the speed and current of the water. It was moving so quickly and was pretty scary to be honest. On the third day of our spring break, we all went snorkeling which was amazing. I had never done it before, and seeing the great barrier reef from under water was something I will never forget. The coral and fish were just amazing to see, and it truly was a highlight of the trip.

Another highlight of our spring break was the second to last day when most of us went skydiving. I am terrified of heights, and for me this was something I never thought I would do. The whole day I was jittery and anxious because diving out of a plane is not something you do everyday. I thought the dive would be from 5,000 feet, boy was I wrong. We would be diving from 14,000 feet, half the altitude a jet cruises at. The flight up lasted 20 minutes, climbing to the correct altitude and spot which we would jump from. When it finally came time to jump, I think I blacked out for a second, but eventually opened my eyes to the earth rapidly approaching me as I free fell through the sky. The free fall lasted a minute, but it felt like ten seconds. After that you fly around for a bit then land. Once I landed my fellow classmates made me aware that they could apparently hear me screaming from the ground.

This past week in Singapore has been great. The city is clean as can be and the people are nice. I will say, however, it gets confusing to navigate sometimes. The city has a vast network of tunnels that connect streets, and are impossible to navigate. Crossing the street may require you to take a couple escalators and walk underground instead of simply using a crosswalk. The city is very cool, however. On Thursday we went to the Marina Bay Sands which was incredible. I plan on going up to the roof one day after work and having a drink there. It apparently has incredible views and great vibes.

Week 2 in Singapore

This was a very exciting week. Not only did I get to see more of Singapore, but I ventured out to Bali for my birthday. It was quite the experience, and something I will never forget. The trip started with me landing to quite a hectic scene, people asking for me to exchange money, trying to sell me rides and sim cards, to much more. The fist day I was there, we went to a monkey sanctuary. I have never seen monkeys up close before, and I don’t think I need to again. While they were cool to see, they were also pretty gross. The coolest thing the monkeys did was they took a selfie with us, making for a super funny picture.

My favorite part of the trip was the second day. We spend the entire day on a boat, going to four different sites to snorkel. The first site we went to had manta rays, something I had never seen before. Wow were they cool and amazingly big in size. Almost 15 feet across they looked like huge birds in the sea, and glided through the water. The spots we went to had beautiful views and just incredible scenery. For lunch we ventured on an island called Nusa, and traveled up to a spot on the side of a hill overlooking the water. It looked like something out of a commercial, the sky was perfect blue and the water crystal blue. Their was a pool overlooking the water, it was heaven on earth.

My last day in Bali was spent going to a temple and a coffee farm. The temple was interesting because we had to wear classic Indonesian clothing that covered most if not all our skin. Being in a very important religious and cultural center, the locals took this very seriously. Everyone their was dressed in the attire. The coffee farm had an array of classic Bali coffees and teas. I think there were 15 total that we got to try. The guide explained all of them, and their different attributes. Some had healing qualities, some were good for blood pressure, some helped with your vision. The most memorable coffee was the one locally known as Luwak. This was a traditional coffee to Bali, and made by feeding coffee beans to cats, and then using their poop to make coffee. It true, and doesn’t taste too bad.

Week 3 in Singapore

This has been one of the more low-key weeks since I have been abroad. I didn’t really do much, and I have to say the change of pace has been nice. Work has not been too busy, and I have just been chipping away at one assignment the whole time. Additionally, I have been able to work from home which is always nice. I can take calls and join meetings from the pool, something that makes working much more fun. This week we have been hitting the hocker centers a lot. Almost every night this week we have gone to one, allowing for me to try all different types of food.

Along with trying new foods, the hocker centers have some staples that I get every time I am there. Most notably is the Japanese milk ice cream. This soft serve ice cream is honestly one of the best things I have ever eaten, and never disappoints. It not too sweet, doest have a ton of flavor, but is just delicious. I think I have gotten it ten times now.

Something new I have started doing is going to a new cafe everyday. Singapore is known for having some amazing cafes, and I have been slowly seeking them out. On Saturday I went to one fairly far away, but it had some delicious food. I had this spread of eggs with bacon and tater tots along with a treat afterwords. This caramel-chocolate cake was just delicious, I could have eaten ten of them. I think this is something I am going to continue to do as I spend time in Singapore. There are cafes across the city, and I plan on going to as many as possible.

Week 4 in Singapore

Wow another week in Singapore! Time sure is flying here, we are halfway done with our time in Singapore. This week I was super busy with work so I didn’t get to go out much, although I did make one trip to the Gardens by the Bay. Located right next to the famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel, The Gardens by the Bay is an amazing layout of plants, manmade trees, and home to one of the worlds largest greenhouses. When I first arrived, it was a bit overwhelming, the grounds are sprawling and the complexes are just enormous. I decided to see the greenhouse and indoor flower exhibit. The greenhouse was just incredible. They have over 1 million plants from over 19,000 different plant species. Everything from cactus to sakura trees from Japan. It was truly and endless spectacle. The sheer scale of the structure was a site to see. It covers the whole place, and it made up of glass panels so the sunlight can seep through.

The second exhibit I went to was the flower garden. This was much smaller than the other one, however I liked it more. The whole place is covered in flowers. They grow in all different directions, down from the ceiling, from the side of the walls, really all over the place. The different flower colors was just beautiful, from reds to pinks and oranges, I loved it. This exhibit was also a lot less crowded which made it much easier to walk around and really stop and look at the flowers. Overall, I would totally visit it again.

Week 5 Singapore

Wow time is just flying by. Another week in Singapore, how did that happen? This week was a pretty quiet which I liked. I didn’t do too much, and that was just alright with me. I started the week with going to get breakfast at my favorite place. It is a really cute cafe right near my office, and it has the best breakfast. It is a waffle served with bacon, eggs, and a sausage. Pair that with a ice late and I am in heaven! For Tuesday I went to the office and finished the project I had been working on for the past three weeks. It was a lot of work, and I am super happy to have completed it. I ended Tuesday by grabbing a drink with Maura at a place near us. I love this beer they serve here, Kronenbourg. It is always nice to relax with a friend after a long day of work.

One highlight of my week was seeing the brand new Ferrari sf90. The most powerful Ferrari ever produced, it is a monster of a car. Not only that, but the one I saw was in a beautiful purple that changed colors depending on how the light hit it. An already expensive car, it costs nearly 2 million dollars here because of taxes and import costs. What a spectacular car to see in person, it really was one of my weeks highlights.

Week 6 in Singapore

This was quite a week. The group all traveled to Phuket Thailand, where we stayed in an Airbnb and has quite the adventure. We explored all over the island. Our first day there we decided to hike to the big Buddha. This huge Buddha towered over everything there, and made everything seem small compare to it. It was quite interesting because it was actually in use, with monks inside practicing when we went.

The next day we had a boat tour the whole day. It was amazing to travel around to the different island and see all the beautiful sites. Thailand is quite an amazing place to be, that is for sure. We went snorkeling, swimming, and. jet skiing. It was quite the day. While the weather was amazing for the most part, toward the end it took a turn for the worst and started to downpour. I cannot explain what is was like boarding the boat to go back to the docks, the rain was coming down, it was getting wavey and a bit dicey. Other than that, it was truly a great excursion in Thailand.

To finish the day, we went to a muaythai fight. I have never been to nay kind of fight before so I was very excited to see what it was going to be like. Wow, these guys were tough. To see it in person versus the T.V. was night and day. The punches and kicks were harder and I could feel the pain these guys were in. It was quite the night, with five knockouts total.

Week 7 in Singapore

Wow, where did all the time go? I cannot believe I only have one week left until I go home. Time truly does fly by when you are having fun. This was a much more low key week compared to the others. I was very busy with work, so that kept me on my toes. I had to process and compute almost 300k worth of payments at my job, which took a lot of time. Additionally, I had to look errors that had been discovered and figure out what happened, and how to fix them. Turns out around 25k worth of payments were stuck in an account and I had to figure out why it happened and how to get them into the correct account. After a long time I figured it out, but it wasn’t easy. I am really going to miss my co-workers, they were amazing people. I hope if they ever come to NY they let me know. Lastly, I stopped by my favorite dinner place on Thursday. I ordered my go-to, duck on rice. Wow, it never fails to hit the spot.

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