My Last, Final, Ultimate Week in Sydney AUSTRALIAAAA

This was it. My nearly two-month long travel expedition through New Zealand and Australia had come to an end, and now I was back in Sydney for one last week. I couldn't believe it. It felt like just yesterday that I stepped off the plane and stared in amazement at the Sydney Opera House and bridge, and now in just a few more days I would be stepping on a plane that would take me away from it all and bring me back to my real home in New York. It was a bitter, but sweet thought.

I spent my final week crashing at Natasha's place in Leichhardt, the Little Italy of Sydney. I focused my time and energy on three things: 1) seeing as many of my Sydney friends as possible, from my dozens of foreign roommates back at 60 Bourke Street to my Summit mates to my American companions (such as Aubrey, Sara was back home for the holidays); 2) spending as much time at the fabulous Sydney beaches as possible (mainly Manly, Bondi and Coogee); and 3) eating the best cuisine that Sydney had to offer including Greek, Italian and Chinese deliciousness. My final night in Sydney I had a goodbye dinner with some of my favorites: Natasha, Aubrey, Matt and Andy (both mutual friends of Sara's who became mine too). Matt, the unbelievably kind gentleman that he is, treated us all to the finest pizza that Sydney has to offer at Lucio's (it's no New York pizza, but it was good). Then we went to his favorite cocktail bar where I was treated to a magical potion of a cocktail which required wearing goggles to enjoy the smoky preparation of the drink concoction. Fortunately, it didn't taste like a chemistry experiment. Then the bunch ventured onward to another laid back lounge where we sipped on wine and played jenga for the remainder of the evening. I couldn't think of a better way to spend my final night in Sydney. I was in a state of bliss as I enjoyed the evening with these fantastic people whom I was proud to call friends. There was no doubt I was going to miss them, and there was certainly no doubt that I was going to miss Sydney and Australia.

Out for Pizza (Natasha and Matt)

My chemistry cocktail

Sad to say goodbye

With Aussie Andy

Playing Jenga

With my girl Aubrey

I think I would have been in a state of depression were it not for the fact that miss Natasha was coming back with me to New York for two weeks. She had never been outside of Australia and had always dreamed of going to New York. As an avid fan of Sex and The City, an art history major, a classical pianist, a model, and a shopaholic, New York City was Natasha's heaven on earth. She had stacks of New York City books in her room (and by stacks I mean two or three books). Visions of the Empire State Building, Metropolitan Museum of Art and Burberry fluttered through her mind at night as she slept. She was excited to come to New York as I was to come to Sydney. Now was her chance, and I was so excited to be there to share this momentous occasion with her. I had just spent six months in Natasha's world, and now she was going to get to experience mine. How cool. This coupled with my eagerness to see my beloved parents, sister and friends was a powerful enough antidote to ward off any depression I would have otherwise felt. My exciting journey wasn't over quite yet.

What more can I say that I haven't already said in this blog? My time in Australia wasn't everything I had hoped it would be; it was so much more. I developed friendships with amazing people from around the world; saw astonishing, mind-bogglingly beautiful places; and participated in one thrilling adventure after another.  It's hard to express how grateful I am to have had this experience and how I've changed and grown as a person, but undoubtedly I am departing Australia a different but better Sarah than the one who arrived.  I will forever cherish my time in Australia, my second home away from home. Already I am looking forward to the day I return to Oz. I saw a lot, but there is still so much more of Australia I have yet to see, like the inside of the Sydney Opera House (oops, how did I manage to forgo that one?) and wild kangaroos (six months in Australia and I didn't see a single wild kangaroo! That's just not right). It's funny, many people I talk to about my travels to Australia tell me, "Good for you! Do it now while you can and get it out of your system" but I don't want to get this out of my system. I want to keep this passion for travelling, thrill for adventures and joy of life in my system always. And that means one very important thing: that there will be many more "travel diaries in foreign lands" to come. So stay tuned!

I'd like to give a shout out to my very dedicated and loyal followers (Greg, Mom & Dad). You rock. This girl is almost officially signing out (I will be posting one more follow-up blog about my time in NY with Natasha). As the Aussie's say, "G'day Mate!"