25 and under. Way down under.

Mick, my BBQ host Sunday!

Well, Nomalita is off on her next adventure, leaving Daniel and I once again in the throes of public transportation.

Sydney was a welcome homecoming. Briyah and the other housemates welcomed me back to 30 Great Buckingham with open arms, and once again am I blessed with a room, a couch, a full-on kitchen and unlimited internet.

But it has been a week of goodbyes. Daniel and I bid farewell to the van on a gloomy Wednesday, now one week ago. I bid farewell to Daniel Sunday, only a few days later. He was off to the Sapphire Coast to spend a week at the beach, while I’d be staying in Sydney soaking up the city life. I never thought it was possible, but I have reached my beach saturation point. Though the exceptional beaches of Sydney are minutes away, I’m perfectly content to hit the rooftop pool (compliments of Briyah’s former housemate’s former apartment key, if you can grasp that), lounge in the park and wander the streets. I washed the sand out of my bag, people. I washed the sand out!

So Sydney. Our first night back was spent at Daniel’s friend Fabrice’s in Darlinghurst. We stayed up late playing Texas Hold ‘Em, and I lost — badly. Fortunately it was just with chips, unfortunately I apparently still cannot play poker.

By Thursday, I was truly in “city” mode once more. Briyah and I went to the Opera House to see a caberet show starring the indefatiguable Camille O’Sullivan. A veteran of the infamous Spiegeltent and a chanteuse truly in her own category. Friday I was out on the town in Paddington, Saturday at the movies with my housemate, Sunday at an apt. BBQ in Annandale and Tuesday out to dinner and to see a gig at The Annandale Hotel. (Sidenote: The Annandale was grimy, dirty and smelled like 3-day old fermented puke — I loved it.)

I have a coffee lesson Saturday at a small cafe, and various dinners, events and galas until I leave for Ayers Rock Feb. 26.

Here’s the calendar, as well. Everyone keeps asking me what I’m doing the rest of my time here!

Feb. 13 - Feb. 26: Sydney

Feb. 26 - March 1: Alice Springs/Uluru

March 1 - March 7: Melbourne

March 7 - March 16: Austin, TX, for SXSW

March 16 - ?: NY