Just one more week

I’ve only got one more week in Sydney — one more week!

To make the most of it, I figure I better get out there and see everything I previously thought I’d have heaps of time to do. This includes visiting new neighborhoods, shopping for souvenirs and going to as many gigs as monetarily possible.

What I love about Sydney, it should be noted, is its endless dedication to free entertainment. There have been events all month for the Chinese New Year, and Saturday I finally made it down to Darling Harbour to watch the dragon boat races. It’s a serious rowing sport, and teams ranged from senior citizen clubs to school teams. Even better, the $60 Bondi Lifesaving Club sweatshirt I wanted was on sale for $20 in Darling Harbour. Looks like the year of the Rat will be a lucky one!

Sunday brought Sydney the annual Tropfest — billed as the world’s largest short film festival in the world. Some 150,000 people participate in every state capital around Australia, and the judging panel this year included Geoffrey Rush and Naomi Watts. It’s all free (take that Tribeca), and it’s a fantastic day. Karen and I bought picnic stuffs from Woolie’s and set up our feast in the park. We spent the day lounging around, eating, drinking and watching 16 extraordinary short films about murder, mouse racing, young love, sharks and more. In the end, Marry Me, a short film about what we do for love, even when we’re young, won the big prize: a trip to LA to meet with industry big-wigs. Karen and I also made a date — Tropfest NY will be held October 11 in Battery Park.

On tap this week; making the most out of Sydney:

Souvenir shopping at Paddy’s Market

The Essential Tour of the Opera House

Pubs and markets in Balmain (a cool nabe in the North)

A gala dinner with Briyah Tues night

Rocky Horror Picture show opening night

Dan Deacon at the Oxford Arts Factory

Pics and more (VDay, Tropfest, etc.) on Flickr.com/photos/sillyrobin 

So Long, Farewell, Auf…nope, not trying that one.

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

Finished with the van!

Please read and catch up over at http://journals.worldnomads.com/dazey311/

I’ll be back here for my LAST month! And the countdown begins.