Photos Taken: 28/06/2024 13:10:34
Published: July 15, 2024
It was the end of June, and Sydney was saying goodbye to those long, exuberant summer days. The temperature had taken a nosedive, and winter was here to stay. And let’s be honest, waking up early in winter is basically a crime against nature. Hitting snooze is a national sport this time of year, even for the winter lovers. And for me, it always feels like a Herculean task to leave the cozy warmth of my bed during those early hours. Even if you’re a winter enthusiast, it’s a season to take things a little slower, perhaps?
But Sydney has its own way of keeping the winter blues at bay. Every year, the local government lights up the city with Vivid Sydney, a spectacular festival that transforms the dark winter nights into a vibrant playground. Although it kicks off at the start of winter, the festive vibe lingers. There are colourful events, like tunnels glowing with lights and pulsating with music, turning the dullest moments into bursts of excitement.
Back to the reality of winter life: Sydney shivers under the chill, with freezing cold, breezy, and sometimes rainy weather that always makes you want to curl up under a blanket – that’s our winter in a nutshell. Autumn’s vibrant leaves are just a memory now, replaced by bare branches. But adding to my cherished memories, at least this year, I caught some breathtaking autumnal displays. It was a riot of colours—orange, yellow, and red leaves strewn across footpaths, turning the usually grey and white slabs into a vibrant canvas. It was messy. I have been to places like Blackheath and Bathurst, for instance, where there were those paths covered in colourful leaves – like a giant confetti fight between Mother Nature and the trees! The contrast between the white sidewalks and the glistening orange, yellow, and red leaves was pretty epic.
Especially at night, with the streetlights bouncing off the dew-covered fallen leaves, the scene looks surreal, sometimes even mystical. But hey, all good things must come to an end, and now, we have to wait another year for that magic to return. Kudos to the city corporation, however, for cleaning up those leaves, keeping the streets tidy. It’s necessary because in Sydney, winter means rain—lots of it. When gusty winds blow, the chill becomes unbearable, and it also means leaves gather in big piles everywhere. And if those leaves hang around too long, they get slimy and slippery, making the footpaths hazardous. That’s why the city crews are always on their game, cleaning up to avoid any slip-and-slide accidents.
After a string of cloudy days, I was thrilled to see the bright outdoors at the dawn and this morning was all sunshine and smiles! Perfect timing too, with a photoshoot for my project on the agenda. It’s been a while since I had been out and about being snowed under a truckload of work, and the bright, sunny day was just perfect for my mission. Right before I’d venture out, as I checked my watch, I saw I had only four minutes until the next train. Leisurely stroll to the station? Nah, gotta sprint! And I did it precisely for the next two (2) minutes and then there is a halt! Because of that traffic light right before the station and it turned green just as I was about to cross.
Time to channel my inner Olympic sprinter – gotta catch this train, or it’s a fifteen-minute wait at a deserted station – no thanks! The winter sun felt amazing, like a warm hug, but missing the train wasn’t worth basking in it. Finally, red light! All the traffic came to a halt and now it was me back to sprinting! Spotted the train pulling in – doors are already open! Yep! Made it! Finally, collapsed onto a seat!
Usually, I’d feel drowsy after settling in, but not today. My nerves were on high alert, my breathing rapid and shallow. Sometimes, life’s little dramas keep us on our toes, don’t they? For the next ten or fifteen minutes, I was wired – my adrenaline rush did the trick. Once I calmed down, I got lost in my phone. Scrolling through social media black hole, everything seems like breaking news. High alert—something new, bizarre, or unsettling; something that is hard to ignore always happening, somewhere. Who knows what the next notification might bring? Maybe a cat playing piano or a conspiracy theory involving garden gnomes. Life’s full of surprises!
Several months ago, I encountered an Estonian globetrotter who embarked upon an Australian odyssey—a working holiday that unfolded in the heart of the outback. Amidst the vast expanse of this sunburnt land, she discovered pockets of exhilaration and delight while immersing herself in the untamed wilderness. Today, I bumped into another free-spirited and cheerful soul: a French adventurer who spent months cruising through this land, riding the waves of experience with a big smile.
“I packed bananas 🍌 then I picked avocados 🥑 and worked in a… just with… horses 🐎” – she continued telling stories about her time in Australia. See the video below. So, here is Garance from French. For nearly the past two years, she has been traveling around Australia, collecting memories, only to end up sharing them for a stranger’s project.
Living abroad is always a challenge, especially when you’re surrounded by total strangers in a foreign land. It can be a real test of your nerves being outside your comfort zone without your usual support of your loved ones, adding a layer of excitement (or maybe a dash of stress!) to the mix. But luckily for her, things took a different turn – for the better, of course – in an unexpected way. Despite her demanding job, she formed a deep bond with a Japanese traveller who was sailing in the same boat. And this time a chance encounter with a fellow stranger, also new to the area, blossomed into a beautiful friendship. Together, they navigated the ups and downs, making the whole adventure even more fun and unforgettable.
The grand tapestry of life woven from the threads of time unfurls before us with relentless twists and turns. Along this labyrinthine path, we encounter myriad crossroads—some bathed in the soft glow of serendipity, others shrouded in the weight of responsibility. Some meander through unforeseen delights, while others present unforeseen demands. Some shimmer with the promise of potential, while others etch indelible memories upon our souls. Through this intricate dance of hardship and joy, each journey becomes a brushstroke upon the canvas of our being, shaping our experiences and enriching the very essence of who we are. Each step, whether taken with trepidation or exuberance, contributes to the mosaic of our existence, painting it with hues of resilience, wonder, and growth.
