Fun Runs and Scenic Views

A photo essay of my recent trip to Sydney and beyond.

After a travel hiatus of five years, I finally made up with a visit to Australia last month. My first stop was Sydney, where I spent three days with my family exploring the familiar and unfamiliar spots in one of Australia’s most popular cities. While I may have a soft spot for another Australian city (to be revealed soon), there is no denying that Sydney is and always will be a fun, exciting city with lots to explore.

My first stop was to collect running bibs for the 4.2 km Fun Run for myself and my family. Although the queue was long, the reward for waiting was worth it: seeing the city skyline on a beautiful day.

After enjoying a surprisingly good Roti Telur (a fluffy, crispy crepe with a savory egg filling) at the local ”Mamak” shop for dinner, my family and I got just enough sleep before waking up at 6 AM to make it to the starting line for the run.

Note: The photo above is deceiving. Yes, the sun was out, but it was also cold—around 16 degrees or so (my memory fails me on the details). Still, my family and I managed to finish the run within a reasonable amount of time, despite some minor challenges, and we even received medals for our efforts. Naturally, my nieces, aged 12 and 9, were pleased to have something to show for waking up at an ungodly hour and facing the cold day.

With the run over, we explored the streets of Sydney by car, visiting Bondi on a tremendously windy day. (I felt like I was going to be blown away, no joke.) After eating to our hearts’ content (post-run and all), we headed back to the hotel for a good rest before the next part of our journey.

The next day, the five of us headed back to their home in Canberra, Australia’s capital city—but not without a pit stop, of course. Our first destination was a little beach town called Kiama, about 120 km south of Sydney. Known for the Kiama Blowhole, a sea-cliff cavern carved by ancient volcanic lava, it was amazing to witness water shooting 30 metres into the air—you just had to be there.

What is it about lighthouses? I just love them. Maybe it’s because they are beacons of bright light, vital for the safety and navigation of boats and ships. Or maybe they just look cool. Perhaps it’s both.

We had lunch and spent some time checking out the shops, but we couldn’t stay too long in Kiama, as it was time to head to Canberra, where a brand new adventure awaited me. The next part of my Australian trip will be up soon, so stay tuned.